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GENEALOGY

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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

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H IS T O R Y

Westchester County

NEW YORK

From Its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1900

13 Y

FREDERIC SHONNAED

AND

W. W. SPOONER

ARMS OF JONAS BRONCK

THE NEW YORK HISTORY COMPANY

114 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK

1900

The New York History Company

114275

EDITOR'S PREFACE

HE preparatory work for this History was begun by the
editor several years ago along the Hues of research and
of the collection and systematizing of materials. The
identification of Mr. Spooner with the enterprise dates
from a later period, but in its relative importance is not to be esti-
mated by its duration. To him the credit of the authorship of the
History is undividedly due. The editor's personal share in the joint
undertaking — apart from the selection of the plan of the work and
the procurement and arrangement of materials — has been mostly
that of supervision; or, more properly expressed, of such co-operation
with Mr. Spooner as personal knowledge of the subject and zealous
interest in the project have enabled him to render in the particulars
specially of recommendation, contribution, and criticism. This His-
tory is therefore not a work of collaboration, except in the sense
here precisely indicated. As a literary work it is the exclusive pro-
duction of Mr. Spooner; and whatever satisfaction the editor may
reasonably — without an excess of complacency — take to himself in
view of his own association in the enterprise, rests in a peculiar
manner upon his appreciation of the conscientious devotion and ac-
complished ability with which Mr. Spooner has brought it to its prac-
tical issue.

Although the previous histories of Westchester County, Bolton's
and Scharfs, are works of great volume and information, they are
works of reference strictly, and as such belong rather to the depart-
ment of historical miscellany than to that of books adapted for pop-
ular reading. Bolton's History is a collection of local chronicles en-
tirely; Scharfs is on the same plan, with a number of general articles
added. Both represent historical labors of great formality and
seriousness, which are entitled to respect and whose aggregate results
possess enduring value for inquiring persons. But mere collections
of historical facts — even if comprehending all the elemental facts of
a given subject — do not afford a satisfying view of history itself.
That can be done only by the adequate treatment of facts — by the
orderly, discreet, and able conjoining of them in a comprehensive
narration. The twentv-five town histories.of Westchester County,

iv PREFACE

however exhaustively and excellently written, do not constitute a his-
tory of the county; and for a consecutive understanding of the
general comity history the reader of Bolton or Scharf must rely upon
his own constructive ingenuity — must indeed be his own historian.

Long before the work now given to the public was conceived as a
practical project, the present editor realized the force of these consid-
erations and cherished not only a hope that a genuine narrative his-
tory of the county might some day be produced, but an ambition to
become personally instrumental in achieving so important a result.
His attention was especially directed to the matter by his observa-
tions during his connection with the schools, from which he became
convinced of the extremely elementary character of the general
knowledge of this county's history, even in relation to the Revolution,
whereof, indeed, anything like a well co-ordinated understanding is
most exceptional among the people, and quite incapable of being
taught to the young because of the unsuitability for that purpose of
all books heretofore published that bear on the subject.

In formulating the plan for the present work the editor had funda-
mentally in view a lucid continuous narrative, thorough in its treat-
ment of the outlines of the subject and reasonably attentive to local
details without extending to minuteness. These lines have been fol-
lowed throughout. All existing materials, so far as accessible, have
been utilized, proper credit being given to the sources from which
borrowings have been made. The work comprehends a variety of
new materials, which have been interwoven in the text. Portions of
the manuscript have been revised or criticised by persons particularly
well informed on certain phases of the subject; and to all of these
critics the editor extends his thankful acknowledgments.

Special credit is due to Mr. -lames L. Wells for his editorial suiter-
vision of the entire work so far as concerns the sections of the original
county now constituting the Borough of the Bronx, New York City;
and thanks must also be expressed to Mr. Wells for the crest of
Jonas Bronck (the first settler of Westchester County), introduced
by his kind permission in the title-page. It is probably not generally
known that from the Bronck crest have been derived some of tin;
essential features of the arms of the State of New York.

" Shonnard Homestead,"
August, 1900.

'^Z^c

CONTENTS

Editor's Preface in

Chapter I
Physical Description of the County 1

Chapter II
The Aboriginal Inhabitants 17

Chapter III
Discovery and Preliminary View 51

Chapter IV
The Earliest Settlers — Bronck, Anno Hutchinson, Throckmorton,
Cornell 73

Chapter Y
The Redoubtable Captain John Underbill— Dr. Adrian Van der
Donck (->i;

Chapter VI
Beginnings of Serious Settlement — Westchester Town, Rye 114

Chapter VII
"The Portion of the North Riding on the Main" — Progress of
Settlement and Beginnings of the Manorial Estates 132

Chapter VIII
The Philipses and the Van Cortlandts 155

Chapter IX
Pelham Manor and Now Rochelh — Caleb Heatlicote and Scars-
dale Manor — General Observations on the Manors 173

Chapter X
General Historical Review to the Beginning of the Eighteenth
Century — Completion of the Work of Original Settlement. . . . 193

Chapter XI
A Glance at the Borough Town of Westchester 226

VI CONTENTS

Chapter XII
The Election on the Green at Eastchester, 1733 235

Chapter XIII
The Aristocratic Families and Their Influences 25.")

Chapter XIV
From the Stain]) Act to the Las1 Session of the Colonial Assembly 277

Chapter XV
Westchester County in Lino for Independence — Events to July
9, L776 296

Chapter XVI
The State of New York Born at White Plains— Events to October
12, 1776 335

Chapter XY1I
The Campaign and Battle of White Plains 357

Chapter XVIII
Fort Washington's Fall — The Delinquency of General Lee 397

Chapter XIX
The Strategic Situation — The Neutral Ground 412

Chapter XX
Events of 1777 and 1778 T25

Chapter XXI
From January. 177(.», to September, 1780 446

Chapter XXII
The Capture of Andre 464

Chapter XXIII
The Westchester Operations of the Allied Armies, 1781 — End of
the War 41)7

Chapter XXIV
Genera] History of the County Concluded — From the Revolution
to the Completion of the Croton Aqueduct ( 1842) 526

Chapter XXV
General History of the County Concluded 573

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY
CHAPTER I

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY

HE County of Westchester, as a definitely bounded and or-
ganized political unit, was created on the 1st of November,
1683, by the provisions of an act of the first Provincial
Assembly of New York, held under the administration of
the Royal Governor Dongan, which formally marked off the province
into the twelve original counties. By the terms of this act, Westchester
County was to comprise " East and West Chester, Bronxland, Ford-
ham, and all as far eastward as the province extends," and to run
northward along the Hudson River to the Highlands, its southern
limits being, of course, Long Island Sound and the waters between the
mainland and Manhattan Island or New York County. Of the bound-
aries thus described, only the western and northern have continued
unchanged to the present time. The precise location of the eastern
line, constituting the boundary between New York and Connecticut,
was a matter of serious contention throughout the early history of the
countv, and, indeed, was not established to the final satisfaction of
both parties to the dispute until 1880. This long-standing and curious
controversy as to the eastern boundary involved, however, nothing
more than rival claims of colonial jurisdiction, arising from mathemat-
ical inaccuracies in original calculations of distance, and from pecu-
liar conditions of early settlement along the Sound, which presented
a mere problem of territorial rectification upon the basis of reciprocal
concessions bv the two provinces and subsequently the two common-
wealths concerned; and. accordingly, while leaving a. portion of the
eastern border line of Westchester County somewhat indeterminable
for two centuries, the issues at stake never affected the integrity of
its aggregate area as allotted at the beginning. On the other hand,
the southern boundary of the old county has undergone extremely
radical modifications,' which are still in progress. Since 1873, by
various legislative acts, large sections of it have been cut away and
transferred to the City of New York, comprising what until recent
vears were known as the " annexed districts " of the metropolis, now

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

officially styled the "Borough of the Bronx" of the Greater City.
Although the county still retains its two most populous municipali-
ties, Yonkers and .Mount Vernon, the New York City line has been
pushed right up to their borders, and there is no reasonable doubt that
within a few more years they, too, will be absorbed. Already forty-
one and one half square miles, or 26,500 acres, have been annexed to
the city.

In these pages the story of old Westchester County is to be told;
and whenever the county as a whole is mentioned without specific
indication of the present limits, the reader will understand that the
original county, including those portions which have actually passed
under a new political jurisdiction, is meant.

Westchester County, thus considered in its primal extent, is some-
thing more than five
hundred square miles in
area, and lies centrally
distant some one hun-
dred miles from Al-
bany. From its north-
western point, Antho-
ny's Nose, at the en-
trance to the Highlands
of the Hudson, to its
southeastern extremity,
Byram Point, on the
Sound, it is entirely sur-
rounded by the waters of
the Hudson River, Spuy-
ten Duyvil ('reek, the
Harlem River, and Long-
Island Sound, forming a
shore line more than one
hundred miles in length
Llowance is made for the

EN DUYVIL

— considerably more, indeed, if scrupulou
windings of the coast along the Sound.

The Hudson River, completing its narrow and tortuous course
through the Highlands at the northern boundary of Westchester
County, runs thence to the sea in an almost due south direction. For
a short distance below Anthony's Nose, however, it continues decid-
edly narrow, until, at the very termination of this portion of its course,
a place called Verplanck's Point, its banks approach quite close to-
gether, being only one mile apart. Here was located the famous
King's Ferry of the Revolution, an extremely important line of inter-

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY 6

communication between the patriot forces of the East and the West;
and on the opposite bank stood the fortress of Stony Point, the
scene of Wayne's midnight exploit. Just below Verplanek's the river
suddenly widens, forming the magnificent Haverstraw Bay. This, in

NORTHWARD VIEW TO INDIAN HEAD (OPPOSITE YONKERS).

its greatest expansion, attains a breadth of oyer four miles. Farther
down the prominent peninsula, of Croton Point juts out from the
Westchester shore a distance of a mile and a half. Next the river
spreads out into another noble bay, called the Tappan Sea. which
extends to near Dobbs Ferry, with an average breadth of three miles.
From there it flows majestically on to the ocean with no marked

4 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

variations of width, the banks having a mean distance apart of a little
more than a mile.

From Anthony's Nose, the northernmost point of Westchester
County on the Hudson, to the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, the southern-
most, is a distance, as the crow flies, of thirty-four miles. The breadth
of the county varies from twenty-five to eight and one-half miles.
Throughout its entire extent along the Hudson the Westchester shore
rises abruptly from the river edge to elevations seldom less than one
hundred feet. Nowhere, however, does the Westchester bank ascend
precipitously in the manner, or even at all resembling the manner, of
the Palisade formation on the western shore. The acclivity is often
quite sharp, but everywhere admits of gradual approach, for both
pedestrians and carriages, to the high ridges. Thus the whole western
border of the county both affords a splendid view of the entrancing
panorama of the Hudson, and is perfectly accessible from the railroad,
which runs along t he bank of the river. Moreover, beyond the ridges in
the interior the land lias a uniform and gentle descent into lovely val-
leys, which permit convenient and rapid travel from all directions.
These physical conditions render the western section of the county one
of the most inviting and favored localities in the world for costly resi-
dences and grand estates; and from the earliest period of European
settlement of this portion of America, the Hudson shore of West-
chester County has been a chosen abode for families of wealth and
distinction. But every other part of the county — at least every part
conveniently reached from the railroads — is also highly esteemed for
select residence purposes; and, indeed, Westchester County through-
out its extent is peculiarly a residential county.

Spuyten Duyvil Creek and the Harlem River, which separate Man-
hattan Island from the mainland and form a portion of the southern
boundary of the old County of Westchester, are in reality only an arm
of the sea: and though to the superficial observer they may appear
to constitute one of the mouths of the Hudson, they have no such
function, and, indeed, receive none of its flow. The two are strictly
to be considered not as a river, but as a strait, connecting the tide
waters of the East River and Sound with those of the North River.
Their length is about eight miles. The Harlem River at its eastern ex-
tremity is divided by Randall's Island into two channels — the south-
ern and principal one communicating with Hellgate, and the northern
one (unnavigable), called the Bronx Kills, passing between the
island and the Westchester shore into Long Island Sound. The
Harlem and Spuyten Duyvil waterway presents the remarkable phe-
nomenon of double tides, which vary decidedly iu height, time of
occurrence, duration of rise and fall, and swiftness of flow. ''The

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY 5

tides in the Harlem River," says General John Newton, in a report
to the War Department, " are chiefly due to the propagated Hellgate
wave, while the latter is the result of the contact of the Sound and
Sandy Hook tides. The tides in the Hudson River and Spuyten Duyvil
are produced by the propagation of the sea. tide through the Upper
and Lower bays." The mean rise of the tide in the Harlem is from
Ave and one-half to six feet; in the Spuyten Duyvil Creek it is three
and eight-tenths feet. The mean high water level in the Hudson
River at Spuyten Duyvil Creek is nearly a foot lower and an hour and
forty minutes earlier than in the Harlem, and the mean duration of
the rise of tide in the former is thirty-six minutes shorter than in the
latter. The westerly current, from Hellgate, is swifter than the east-
erly, from the Hudson. The place of " divide " between the Harlem
River and the Spuyten Duyvil Creek is usually located at Kingsbridge.
In early times the Harlem was navigable for most of its length, but
owing to artificial obstructions (notably that of Macomb's Dam),
which were begun in the first part of the present century, the channel
above the present Central Bridge became both shallow and con-
tracted. The mean natural depth of Spuyten Duyvil Creek has always
been comparatively slight. Owing to the importance of this water-
way as a means of short transit for craft plying between the Hudson
River and ports on the Sound and in New England, the United States
Government has in our own time dredged a channel, which, from the
Hudson to Hellgate, has a depth of from twelve to fifteen feet. This
improvement, known as the Harlem Ship Canal, was opened to com-
merce on the 17th of June, 1805. The Harlem River and Spuyten
Duyvil Creek are crossed at present by thirteen bridges.

Along the Spuyten Duyvil and Harlem River portion of its water
line, as along the Sound, the (old) County of Westchester loses the
comparatively lofty feature which characterizes its Hudson shore,
and the land is generally low, sinking into marshy tracts in some
localities near the Sound. The Westchester coast on the Sound,
stretching from the mouth of the Harlem River to the mouth of the
Byram River (where the Connecticut State line begins), is broken by
numerous necks and points, with corresponding inlets and coves.
Among the more important of the projecting points of land are Stony
Point ( Tort Morris), Oak Point, Barreto Point. Hunt's Point, Cornell's
Neck (Clason's Point), Throgg's Neck (with Fort Schuyler at its ex-
tremity), Rodman's (Pelham) Neck, Davenport's Neck, De Lancey
Point, and Rye Neck. Some of these localities are famous in the his-
tory of the county, the province, and the State. The coast indentations
include the outlets of the Bronx River, Westchester Creek, and the
Hutchinson River; Eastchester Bay, Pelham Bay. De Lancey Cove ami

O HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Larclimont Harbor, Mamaroneck Harbor, and Byram Harbor. Much
of The contraband trade of colonial times was supposed to have found
cover in the unobserved retreats which the deep inlets of this coast
afforded; and of some of the earlier settlements along the Sound it is
supposed that they were undertaken quite as much to provide secure
places of rendezvous for commerce more or less outside the pale of the
law as to promote the development of the country. In close prox-
imity to the shore are manv islands, of which the more notable are

AKI.KM KIVKR IMI'KUVKMK

(DYCKMAN 8 MEADOWS).

those between IVlham Bay and New Rochelle, including City, Hart's,
Hunter's. David's, and Glen Islands.

The New York ( 'ity limits on the Hudson now reach to i he northern
bounds of the hamlei of Mount Saint Vincent, and on the Sound to a
point about opposite, taking in also Hunter's, Hart, and City Islands.
Of the more than one hundred miles of coast line originally and until
1873 possessed by Westchester County, about thirty have passed to
the city — three miles on the Hudson, eight on Spuyten Duyvil Creek
and the Harlem Hirer, and the remainder on the Sound.

The eastern boundary of the county is an entirely arbitrary one.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY 7

in no respect following natural lines of division, of which, indeed,
there are none of a continuous character at this portion of the eastern
confines of New York State. To the reader unfamiliar with the history
of the New York and Connecticut boundary dispute, this zigzag line
will appear to have been traced quite without reference to any sym-
metrical division of territory, but for the accommodation of special
objects in territorial adjustment. This is largely true, although the
line, as finally drawn, was reduced as nearly to a simple construction
as could be done consistently with the very difficult circumstances of
the boundary dispute.

On the north the limit fixed for the county at the time of its erec-
tion was the point where the Highlands of the Hudson begin. Pur-
suant to this provision the line between Westchester and Putnam
Counties starts on the Hudson at Anthony's Nose and follows an east-
erly course to the Connecticut boundary.

The surface of the county consists of several ranges of hills, with
valleys stretching between, in which are numerous streams and an
abundance of lakes. None of the physical features of Westchester
County (if we except its lovely prospect of the Hudson) are in any
wise remarkable from tin1 viewpoint of the tourist in quest of natural
wonders. On the other hand, its entire surface presents scenery of
diversified beauty and interest, not the less gratifying to the contem-
plative eye because unchangeably modest in its pretensions.

The principal chain of hills is the one closely bordering the Hudson,
already noticed. This is the southern prolongation of the Highlands.
Its elevations display a constant diminishing tendency southward.

Another range, likewise extending north and south, is found near
the Connecticut border. The Matteawan .Mountains enter the north-
western corner of the county, and thence cross the Hudson. A high
ridge, called the Stone Hill (the watershed of tin- county), passes
from the town of Mount Pleasant on the Hudson eastward through
the towns of New Castle, Bedford, Pounolridge, and Salem into Con-
necticut, in spite of this exception, however, the general trend of the
hills is north and south, a fact illustrated by the almost uniformly
southerly course of the more considerable streams, and by the usually
level character of the roads running north and south, as contrasted
with the conspicuous unevenness of those which extend east ami west.
Famous in our county's history are the North Castle or Chappaqua
Hills, above White Plains, into which Washington retired with the
Continental army after the engagement near the latter place (October
28, 1776), and, on account of the strength of the new position thus
gained, compelled General Howe, with his greatly superior force, to
return to New York. The highest point in Westchester County ( ac-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

cording to the figures of the United States Coast Survey) is Anthony's
Nose, 900 feet above half tide level.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY 9

Of the streams of Westchester County the names of two, the Croton
and the Bronx, haYe become widely familiar. The former river is the
chief source of the water supply of New York City; the latter — which,
by the way, also furnishes water to New York — has many historic
and romantic associations, dear to New Yorkers as well as West-
chester people, and its name has been adopted for one of the beautiful
new parks of the city, and also for one of the five grand divisions
which constitute the Greater New York.

Some half dozen streams of noticeable size find their outlets in the
Hudson. Peekskill Creek gathers its waters from the hills of the
northwestern corner of the county, and flows into the Hudson just
above the village of Peekskill. Furnace Brook is a small rivulet
which empties into the river several miles farther south. Then comes
the Croton, having its outlet in Croton Bay, as the northeastern por-
tion of the Tappan Sea is called.

The Croton has its sources in Dutchess County — these sources com-
prising three " branches " ( the East, Middle, and West), which unite
in the southern part of Putnam County. In its course through West-
chester County to its mouth, the Croton receives as tributaries the
Muscoot, Titicus, Cross, and Kisco Rivers. The Muscoot is the outlet
of the celebrated Lake Mahopac in Putnam County, and the Cross
(also called the Peppenegheck ) of Lake Waccabuc, one of the largest
of the Westchester lakes. The Croton watershed lies almost wholly
in the State of New York, although draining a small area in Connec-
ticut. It extends about thirty-three miles north and south and eleven
miles east and west, and has an area of 339 square miles above the
present Croton Dam, to which about twenty square miles will be
added when the great new dam, now in process of construction, is
completed. This watershed embraces thirty-one lakes and ponds in
Westchester and Putnam Counties, many of which have been utilized
as natural storage basins in connection with the New York City
water supply by cutting down their outlets and building dams across.
Besides Croton Lake, there are two very large reservoirs in our county
incidental to the Croton system — the Titicus Reservoir near Purdy's
and the Amawalk Reservoir. The Croton Lake is by far the most ex-
tensive sheet of water in the county. It is formed by a dam about
five miles east of the mouth of the Croton, and has an ordinary length
of some three and one-half miles. When the new dam is finished the
length of the lake will be in excess of eleven miles. From the lake two
aqueducts, the wk Old " and the " New," lead to the city. The former is
thirty-eight and the latter thirty-three miles long, the distance in each
case being measured to the receiving reservoir. It is the old aqueduct

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

which crosses the Harlem River over High Bridge; the new is carried
underneath the stream.

Iii3|j*

South of the Croton River the next Hudson tributary of interest is
the Sing Sing Kill, which finds its mouth through a romantic ravine
crossed by the notable Aqueduct Bridge. Next comes the Pocantico
River, entering the Hudson at Tarrytown. The last feeder of the

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OP THE COUNTY 1 ]

Hudson from Westchester County, and the last received by it before
discharging its waters into the sea, is the Sawmill (or Nepperhan )
River, at Yonkers. To this stream is due the credit for the creation of
a very considerable portion of the manufacturing industries of the
county, and consequently, also, to a great extent, that for the building
up of the City of Yonkers.

Into the Spuyten Duyvil Creek empties Tibbet's Brook, a small
runlet which rises in the Town of Yonkers and flows south, passing
through Van Cortlandt Lake ( artificial ).

The most noteworthy of the streams emptying into the Sound is the
Bronx Eiver, whose outlet is between Hunt's Point and Cornell's
Neck. The Bronx lies wholly within Westchester County, having its
headwaters in the hills of the towns of Mount Pleasant and New
Castle. It traverses and partially drains the middle section of the
county. This river, with other waters which have been artificially
connected with it, affords to New York City a water supply of its own,
quite independent of the Croton system- -a fact, perhaps, not generally
understood. It is dammed at Kensico Station, making a storage
reservoir of 250 acres. A similar dam has been thrown across the
Byram Eiver, and another across the outlet of Little Bye Pond. By
the damming of Little Rye Pond that body of water, with Rye Pond,
has been converted into a single lake, having an area of 280 acres.
The three parts of this system — the Bronx, Byram, and Rye Poml
reservoirs — are, as already stated, connected artificially, and the
water is delivered into a receiving reservoir at AY illiams's Bridge
through the so-called Bronx River pipe line, a conduit of forty-eight-
inch cast-iron pipe. The portion of the Bronx watershed drained for
this purpose has an area of thirteen and one-third square miles.

East of the mouth of the Bronx River on the Sound are the outlets
of AYestchester and Eastchester Creeks — tidal streams — emptying,
respectively, into AVestchester and Eastchester Bays. The Hutchinson
River rises in Scarsdale and flows into Eastchester Bay. The Mama-
roneck River has its source near White Plains and Harrison, finding-
its outlet in Mamaroneck Harbor. The Byram River, which enters
the Sound above Portchester, and at its mouth separates our county
from Connecticut, drains parts of North Castle and Rye. Blind Brook
empties at Milton, after draining portions of Harrison and Rye.
Most of the streams flowing into the Sound afford, by the reflux of the
tide, an intermitting hydraulic power.

The Mianus River, rising in North Castle, and Stamford Mill River,
rising in Poundridge, find their way to the Sound through Connecticut.
Some minor streams in the northern section of the county flow into
Putnam Count v.

IIISTOItY OF WKST< 'HESTER COUNTY

The lakes of Westchester, like the hills and streams, boast no fea-
tures of exceptional interest, but are strictly in keeping with the
quiet beauty of the general landscape. The largest, as already men-
tioned, is Croton Lake, entirely artificial; and we have also seen that

^^|5*JWL, ,

several of the natural lakes have been utilized for purposes of water
supply. Lake Waccabuc, in the Town of Lewisboro, has, since 1870,
been connected with the Croton system. It covers over two hundred
acres, and is very deep and pure. In the Town of Poundridge several

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY 13

ponds have been artificially joined to one another, forming a hand-
some body of water, called Trinity Lake, a mile and a quarter long,
which supplies the City of Stamford, Conn. A dam twenty feet high
has been erected across its outlet. Other lakes of local importance
and interest are Peach Lake, on the Putnam County border; Mohegan
and Mohansic lakes, in Yorktown; Valhalla Lake (through which the
Bronx River flows), between Mount Pleasant and North Castle; Rye
Lake, near the Connecticut line; Byram Lake, in Bedford and North
Castle, the feeder of the Byram River, and Cross Pond (100 acres) in
Poundridge.

The rocks of Westchester County consist mainly of gneiss and mica-
schist of many dissimilar varieties, and white crystalline limestone
with thin interlying beds of serpentine, all of ancient origin and
entirely devoid of fossils. Professor Ralph S. Tarr, of Cornell Univer-
sity, in a recent series of papers1 on the geology of New York State,
embodying the latest investigations and conclusions on the subject,
assigns to the southern angle of the State, including Westchester
County, the name of the " Gneissic Highland Province." This prov-
ince, he says, is of complex structure, and one in which, in its main
and most typical part, the rocks are very much folded and disturbed
metamorphic strata of ancient date. " These rocks/' he continues,
" are really an extension of the highlands of New Jersey, which reach
across the southern angle of New York, extend northeastward, and
enter Connecticut. Besides these Archean gneisses there is some
sandstone and a black diabese or trap, which form the Palisades,
besides extensive layers of limestone, gneiss, and schist, which extend
across the region occupied by the City of New York. This whole
series of strata is intricately associated. Except at the very seashore
line, the province is a moderate highland, with rather rough topog-
raphy and with hills rising in some places to an elevation of 1,000 or
1,200 feet above the sea level. Where there is limestone or sand-
stone in this area, there is usually a lowland, while highlands occur
where the hard gneiss comes to the surface not immediately at the
seashore. This is extremely well illustrated in Rockland County,
where the gneissic Ramapo Mountains are faced at their southeastern
base by a lowland, a somewhat rolling plain, which, however, is
bounded on its eastern margin by another highland where the trap
of the Palisades rises close by the Hudson River/'

In the opinion of Professor Tarr, this region, with the large Adiron-
dack area, at the beginning of the Paleozoic were mountainous lands
facing the sea, which stretched away to the westward, and beneath
which all the rest of the site of New York State was submerged. The

Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, vol. xxviii.

14 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

southw

western Highland mountains extended northward into New
England, and toward the east they probably reached seaward along
thepresent const Line. This mountain range extended southwestward
alone the eastern part of the seacoast States, and west of it was a
<>Teat sea in the present Mississippi Valley. Whether the Adiron-
daeks and this Highland mountain range were ever connected, and
w'lia! was the actual extension of the two areas, can not be told in the
present state of geological knowledge, the record of much of the
earlv history having been hidden beneath the strata of later ages.
However in verv earlv Paleozoic times the waves of the sea beat at
the western base of the southern Highlands, and these were then at
Least separated from the Adirondack area, which was at that time an
island in the Paleozoic sea.

Professor dames I). Dana, in an inquiry concerning the relations
of the limestone belts of Westchester County, arrives at the conclu-
sion that, with those of New York Island, they are probably of Lower
Silurian a*e, assigning also to the same age the comformably asso-
ciated metamorphic rocks. He holds to the view that Westchester
County belongs to the same geologic period as the Green Mountain
reoion resembling in its order that portion of the latter which is now
western Connecticut. Other geologists find reason for believing that
the Westchester rocks are older than those of the Green Mountain
area ami belong to an even earlier age than the Lower Silurian. It
is pointed out that the marbles of Vermont and the marbles of W est-
chester County, with their associated rocks, are essentially different
f,-,>m one another, and can hardly, therefore, belong to a common
formation; the Vermont marbles being found in a single belt and
behio' almost pure carbonates of lime, and of mottled and banded
appearance, tine -rained, with gray siliceous limestones, quartzites,
and slates identified with them; whereas the Westchester marbles
constitute a series of parallel belts and are - coarsely crystalline dolo-
mites i double carbonates of lime and magnesia ) , generally of uniform
white or whitish color, and have no rocks associated with them that
can represeni the quartzites and argillites of Vermont."

Still another opinion regarding the origin of the rocks of the W est-
cdiester County regions is that of Prof. I. S. Newberry, who believes
,li;!i they date from the Laurentian age.

The limestone beds are distributed through every geographical sec-
tion of the count v. At Sim>- Sing occur marble deposits— very heavy
beds which have been extensively quarried. It was, in fact, largely
for the purpose of employing convict labor for the quarrying of the
marble that this place was chosen as the location for the New York

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY 15

State Penitentiary. The Sing Sing marble, however, although an
admirable building stone for many purposes, is of comparatively
coarse and inferior quality, becoming stained in the course of time
by the action of the sea air on account of the presence of grains of iron
pyrites. Marble is also quarried at Tuckahoe.

Abundant indications are afforded of extensive and radical glacial
action. " Croton Poiut, on the Hudson, and other places in the county,
show evidences of glacial moraines. Deep stria? and lighter scratches
still remain upon many exposed rock surfaces, and others have been
smoothly polished." A prominent feature is the presence in greal
profusion of large granite bowlders, undoubtedly transported by
glaciers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with an inter-

rm*

EARLY NAVIGATION IN THE HIGHLANDS

mingling of bowlders of conglomerate from the western side of the
Hudson, the latter containing numerous shell fossils. The so-called
" Cobbling Stone," in the Town of North Salem, is a well-known speci-
men of the glacial bowlders of Westchester. It is a prodigious rock of
red granite, said to be the solitary one of its kind in the county.

The minerals found in the county, in greater or lesser quantities,
embrace magnetic iron ore, iron and copper pyrites, green malachite,
sulphuret of zinc, galena and other lead ores, native silver", serpen-
tine, garnet, beryl, apatite, tremolite, white pyroxene, chlorite, black
tourmaline, Sillimanite, monazite, Brucite, epidote, and sphene. But
Westchester has never been in any sense a seat of the mining industry
proper, as distinguished from the quarrying. In early times a silver

1(5 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

.nine was operated at Sing Sing, very near where the prison now
stands and not far from the same Locality an attempt was made some
seventy years ago to mine for copper. Both of these mining ventures
are of mere curious historical interest, representing no actual success-
fu] production of a definite character. In the ridges along the north-
ern borders of the county considerable deposits of iron ore are found.
It is stated bv Mr. Charles E. Culver, in his History of Somers, that
the irou ores "of that town have, upon assay, -yielded as high as (31
per cent." Teat swamps, affording a fuel of good quality, exist in
several parts of the county, notably the Town of Bedford.

There are various mineral springs, as well as other springs, yielding
water of singularly pure quality, The latter being utilized in some
cases with commercial profit. A well-known mineral spring, for
whoso waters medicinal virtues are claimed, is the Chappaqua Spring,
three miles east of Sing Sing. _

The prevailing soil of Westchester County is the product of disinte-
grations of the primitive rocks, and is of a light and sandy character,
for the most pari not uncommonly fertile naturally, although the
methods of scientific farming, which have been pursued from very
early times, have rendered it highly productive. It is not generally
adapted to wheat, summer crops succeeding best. Drift deposits and
alluvium occur along the Sound and in some localities elsewhere, with
a consequently richer soil. Agriculture has always been the repre-
sentative occupation, although daring the last half century extensive
manufacturing industries have been developed in several localities.

CHAPTER II

THE ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS

f was not until 1609,, one hundred and seventeen years after
the discovery of the New World, that European enter-
prise, destined to lead to definite colonization and develop-
ment, was directed to that portion of the North American
continent where the metropolis of the Western hemisphere and the
Empire State of the American Union have since been erected. The
entire North American mainland, in fact, from Florida to Hudson's
Bay, although explored by voyagers of different nationalities within
comparatively brief periods after the advent of Columbus, had been
practically neglected throughout the sixteenth century as a field for
serious purposes of civilized occupation and exploitation. The early
French attempts at settlement in Canada, in the first half of that cen-
tury, and the colonizing expeditions sent by Sir Walter Raleigh to the
shores of North Carolina, in the second half, were dismal failures, and
in the circumstances could not have resulted differently. For these
undertakings were largely without reference to intelligent and pro-
gressive cultivation of such resources as the country might afford,

being incidental, or, at
least, secondary, to the
absorbing conviction
of the times that the
riches of India lay
somewhere beyond the
American coast bar-
rier, and would still
yield themselves to
bold search. Naturally,
few men of substantial
from ax old print. character and decent

antecedents could be persuaded to embark as volunteers in such
doubtful enterprises. The first settlers on the Saint Lawrence were
a band of robbers, swindlers, murderers, and promiscuous ruffians,
released from the prisons of France by the government as a heroic
means of providing colonists for an expedition which could not be
recruited from the people at large. The settlers sent by Sir Walter

28 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Raleigh under his patent from Elizabeth in 1585 for establishing colo-
nies north of the Spanish dominions in Florida were, according to
Bancroft, a body of -broken-down gentlemen and libertines, more
fitted to corrupt a republic than to found one,'1 with very few mechan-
ics farmers, or laborers among them— mere buccaneering adven-
turers, who carried fire and sword into the land and had no higher
object' before them than to plunder and enslave the natives. It is
true that very early in the sixteenth century the fishermen of Nor-
mandy and Britanny began to seek the waters of Newfoundland for
the legitimate ends of their vocation, and soon built up a gainful trade,
which* stcadilv expanding and attracting other votaries, employed
in 1583 more 'than four hundred European fishing craft. But this
business was conducted almost exclusively for the profits of the
fisheries, and although the vessels devoted to it ranged all along the
New England coast, there was no consecutive occupation of the
country with a view to its earnest settlement until after the dawn of
the seventeenth century.

Throughout the era of original American discovery and coast ex-
ploration, the returning mariners had agreed in describing the re-
gion to the north of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea as
utterly lacking in indications of accumulated riches, inhabited only by
savage races who possessed no gold and silver or other valuable prop-
erty,*enjoyed no civilization, offered no commodities to commerce ex-
cept the ordinary products of the soil and the chase, and could com-
municate nothing definite respecting more substantial wealth farther
to the west. The ancient civilizations of Mexico, Central America, and
rem having been subverted by the Spanish conquist adores, and their
stores of precious metals largely absorbed, it was fondly hoped that
the unpenetrated wilds of the north might contain new realms with
similar abundant treasures. Narvaez, in 1528, and De Soto, in 1539, led
finely appointed expeditions from the Florida coast into the interior
in quest of the imagined eldorados— emprises which proved absolutely
barren of encouraging results and from which only a few miserable
survivors returned to tell the disillusionizing tale of dreadful wilder-
ness marches, appalling sufferings, and fruitless victories over
wretched tribes owning no goods worth carrying away. The impress-
ive record of these disastrous failures, in connection with the uni-
formly unflattering accounts of the lands farther north, deterred all
European nations from like pompous adventurings. The poverty of
the native inhabitants of North America saved them from the swift
fate which overtook the rich peoples of the south, and for a century
preserved them even from intrusion, except of the most fugitive kind.
This fact of their complete poverty is by far the most conspicuous

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS

aspect of the original comparative condition, in both economic and
social regards, of the North American Indians, as well as of the his-
tory of their gradual expulsion and extirpation. Possessing nothing
but land and the simplest concomitants of primitive existence, they
did not present to the European invaders an established and meas-
urably advanced and affluent organization of society, inviting speedy
and comprehensive overthrow and the immediate substitution on a
general scale of the supremacy and institutions of the subjugators.
Dispersed through the primeval forests in small communities, they
did not confront the stranger foe with formidable masses of popula-
tion requiring to be dealt with by the summary methods of formal
conquest; and skilled in but few industries and arts, which they prac-
ticed not acquisitively but only to serve the most uecessary ends of
daily life, and maintaining themselves in a decidedly struggling and
adventitious fashion by a rude agriculture and the pursuits of hunt-
ing and fishing, their numbers in the aggregate, following well-known
laws of population, were, indeed, comparatively
few. Yet the same conditions made them the
ruggedest, bravest, and most independent of
races, and utterly unassimilable. Thus, as found
by the Europeans, while because of their poverty
provoking no programme of systematic conquest
and dispossession, they were foredoomed to in-
evitable progressive dislodgement and ultimate
extermination or segregation. The cultivated
and numerous races of Mexico and Peru, on the
other hand, exciting the cupidity of the Spaniards
by their wealth, were reduced to subjection at a
blow. Put though ruthlessly slaughtered by the
most bloody and cruel conquerors known to the
criminal annals of history, these more refined
people of the south had reserved for them a less
melancholy destiny than that of the untutored
children of the wilderness. Their survivors read-
ily gave themselves to the processes of absorp-
tion, and their descendants to-day are coheirs, in
all degrees of consanguinity, with the progeny of
the despoil er.

The origin of the native races of America is. in the present state of
knowledge, a problem of peculiar difficulty. Nothing is contributed
toward its solution by any written records now known to exist. None
of the aboriginal inhabitants of either of the Americas left any writ-
ten annals. The opinion is held by some scholars, who favor the the-

JSTD ARROW:

20 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

orv of Asiatic origin, that when the as yet unpublished treasures of
ancient Chinese literature come to be spread before the world definite
lioht niav be cast upon the subject. There is a strong- probability that
the civilization of the Aztecs was either of direct Mongolian derivation
or partiallv a development from early .Mongolian transplantations.
This view is sustained, first, by certain superficial resemblances, and,
second by various details in old Chinese manuscripts suggestive of
former intercourse with the shores of Mexico and South America. The
belief that man's initial appearance on this hemisphere was as a wan-
derer from Asia finds plausible support in the fact of the very near
approach of the American land mass to Asia at the north, the two be-
in- separated bv a narrow strait, while a continuous chain of stepping-
stone islands reaches from coast to coast not far below. Accepting
the Darwinian theory of man's evolution from the lower orders, the
idea of his indigenous growth in America seems to be precluded; for
no traces have been found of the existence at any time of his proximate
ancestors— the higher species of apes, from which alone he could have
come, having no representatives here in the remains of bygone times.

The question of man's relative antiquity on the Western hemisphere
is also a matter of pure speculation. Here again the absence of all
written records prevents any assured historical reckonings backward.
\ncient remains, including those of the Aztecs and their associated
races, the cliff-dwellers of Arizona and the mound-builders of the
Ohio and Mississippi valleys, are abundant and highly interesting,
but their time connections are lacking. Yet while the aspects of the
purely historical progress of man in the New World are most unsatis-
factory, anthropological studies proper are attended by much more
favorable conditions in the Americas than in Europe. In the Old
World, occcupied and thickly settled for many historic ages by man
in the various stages of civilized development, most of the vestiges of
prehistoric man have been destroyed by the people; whereas these
still have widespread existence in the New.

in the immediate section of the country to which the County of
Westchester belongs such traces of the ancient inhabitants as have
boon found are in no manner reducible to system. There are no ven-
erable monumental ruins, nor are there any of the curious " mounds "
of the west. Various sites of villages occupied by the Indians at the
time of the arrival of the Europeans are known, as also of some of their
forts and burial -rounds. Great heaps of oyster and clam shells here
and there on tin'' coast remain as landmarks of their abiding places.
Asido from such features, which belong to ordinary historical associa-
tion rather than to the department of archaeological knowledge, few
noteworthv "finds" have been made. Several years ago much was

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 21

made in the New York City newspaper press of certain excavations
by Mr. Alexander C. Chenoweth, at Inwood, on Manhattan Island, a
short distance below Spuyten Duyvil. Mr. Chenoweth unearthed a
variety of interesting objects, including Indian skele-
tons, hearthstones blackened by lire, implements, and
utensils. There can be no doubt that these remains
were from a period antedating the European discov-
ery. But they possessed no importance beyond that
fact. With all the other traces of the more ancient in-
habitants which have been found in this general re-

VASE FOUND AT • ,, , ,, , , T , . -, . .

inwood. &10n? they show that hereabouts Indian conditions

as known to history did not differ sharply, in the way
either of improvement or of degeneration, from those which preceded
the beginning of authentic records.

Yerrazano, the French navigator, who sailed along the coast of
North America in 1524, entering the harbor of New York and possibly
ascending the river a short distance, speaks of the natives whom he
met there as " not differing much " from those with whom he had held
intercourse elsewhere, " being dressed out with the feathers of birds
of various colors." " They came forward toward us," he adds, " with
evident delight, raising loud shouts of admiration and showing us
where we could most securely land with our boat." In similar words
Henry Hudson describes the savages whom he hrst took on board his
vessel in the lower New York Bay. They came, he says, " dressed in
mantles of feathers and robes of fur, the women clothed in hemp, red
copper tobacco pipes, and other things of copper did they wear about
their necks." Their attitude was entirely amicable, for they brought
no arms with them. On his voyage up the river to the head of naviga-
tion, Hudson was everywhere received by the Indian chiefs of both
banks with friendliness, and lie found the various tribes along whose
borders he passed to possess the same general characteristics of ap-
pearance, customs, and disposition.

RuttenbeT, the historian of the Hudson River Indians, in his general
classification of the different tribes distributed along the banks, sum-
marizes the situation as follows : At the time of discovery the entire
eastern bank, from an indefinable point north of Albany to the sea, in-
cluding Long Island, was held, under numerous sub-tribal divisions,
by the Mohicans (also written Mahicans and Mohegans). The do-
minion of the Mohicans extended eastward to the Connecticut, where
they were joined by kindred tribes, and on the west bank ran as far
down as Catskill, reaching westward to Schenectady. Adjoining
them on the west was the territory of the Mohawks, and on the south
their neighbors were chieftaincies of the Minsis, a totemic tribe of the

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

I enni Lenapes. The hitter exercised control thence to the sea and
svesl ward to the Delaware River. Under the early Dutch government,
continues Ruttenber, the .Mohicans sold a considerable portion of their
land on the west side to Van Rensselaer, and admitted the Mohawks
to territorial sovereignty north of the Mohawk River. The Mohawks
were one of the five tribes of the great Iroquois confederacy, whose
other members were the Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas.
Thus as early as L630 there were three principal divisions or nations
of Indians represented on the Hudson: the Iroquois, Mohicans, and
Lenni Lenapes (or Delawares).

This is Ruttenber's classification. On the other hand, it has been
considered by some writers on the Indians that the Mohicans were
r.-ally only a subdivision of the Lenni Lenapes, whose dominions, ac-
cording to Eeckewelder, extended from the mouth of the Potomac
northeastwardly to the shores of Massachusetts Bay and the moun-
tains of New Hampshire and Vermont, and westwardly to the Alle-
..■henies and Catskills. But whether the Mohicans are to be regarded

TOTEMS OF NEW YORK TRIBES.

as a separate grand division or as a minor body, the geographical
limits of the territory over which they were spread are well defined. _

They were called' by the Dutch Maikans, and by the French mis-
sionaries the " nine nations of Mahingans, gathered between Manhat-
tan ;,nd the environs of Quebec." The tradition which they gave of
their origin has been stated as follows:

The country formerly owned by the Muhheakunnuk (Mohican) nation was situated partly
in Massachusetts and partly in the States of Vermont and New York. The inhabitants dwelt
chiefly in little towns and villages. Their chief seat was on the Hudson River now it is
,alled Albany, which was called Pempotowwuthut-Muhhecanneuw, or the fireplace of the
Muhheakunnuk nation, where their allies used to come on any business, whether relating to
the covenant of their friendship or other matters. The etymology of the word Muhheakun-
nuk, according to its original signification, is great waters or sea, which are constantly m
motion either ebbing or flowing. Our forefathers assert that they were emigrants from
another country ; that they passed over great waters, where this and the other country was
nearly connected, called Ukhokpeck ; it signifies snake water or water where snakes are
abundant • and that they lived by the side of a great water or sea, whence they derived the
name of the Muhheakunnuk nation. Muhheakanneuw signifies a man of the Mahheakunnuk
tribe Muhheakunneyuk is a plural number. As they were coming from the west they found
many - Teat waters, hut none of a How and ebb like Muhheakannuk until they came to Hud-
son's River Then they said to one another, this is like Muhheakannuk, our nativity. And

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS

when they found grain was very plenty in that country, they agreed to kindle a fire there
and hang a kettle whereof they and their children after them might dip out their daily
refreshment.1

The name given by the Mohicans and the Lenapes to the Hudson
River was the Mohicanituk, or River of the Mohicans, signifying " the
constantly flowing waters." By the Iroquois it was called the Coha-
tatea.

The Mohicans belonged to the great Algonquin race stock, which
mar be said to have embraced all the Indian nations from the Atlantic

TOTEMIC SIGNATURES.

to the Mississippi. Its different branches had a general similarity of
language, and while the separate modifications were numerous and
extreme, all the Indians within these bounds understood one another.

The Mohican power is regarded by Ruttenber as hardly less formid-
able than that of the Iroquois, and he points out that notwithstanding
the boasted supremacy of the Iroquois in war there is no historical
evidence that the Mohicans were ever brought under subjection to
them or despoiled of any portion of their territory. Yet it is unques-
tionable that the Iroquois exacted and received tribute from the Long
Island Indians; and this could hardly have happened without pre-
viously obtaining dominion over the Mohicans. On the other hand, it
is certain that the Mohicans never tamely submitted to the northern
conquerors. "When the Dutch first met the Mohicans," says Rut-
tenber, ik they were iti conflict with the Mohawks (an Iroquois nation),
and that conflict was maintained for nearly three-quarters of a cen-

■ Massachusetts Hist. So<

■. Cull., ix., 101.

The editor submitted the

above to Mr. Will-

iam Wallace Tooker for

his critical opinion.

The following is Mr. Tool;

;er's reply:

•• This etymology of Muh

heakunnuk, or Muh-

hecanneuw, is decidedly

wrong. Trumbull

irives the true derivation in his ' Names in
Connecticut.' p. 31, viz.: "The Mohegans, or
Muhhekanneuks. took their tribe name from
the Algonkin maingan, " a wolf." ' The maps
and records prove this conclusively."

24 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

tury, and until the English, who were in alliance with both, were able
to effect a permanent settlement.''

Although the Mohican name was generic for all the tribes on the
eastern side of the Hudson, it never occurs, at least in the southern
part of New York State, in the numerous local land deeds and other
documentary agreements drawn by the settlers with the Indians. The
tribal or chieftaincy name prevailing in the district in question is uni-
formly employed. This finds a good illustration in the affidavit of
King Mmhani, executed October 13, 1730, in which the deponent says
that"he is - a River Indian of the Tribe of the Wappinoes (Wappm-
o-ers) which tribe was the ancient inhabitants of the east shores of
Hudson's River, from the City of New York to about the middle of
Beekinans patent (in the northern part of the present County of
Dutchess) ; that another tribe of river Indians called the Mayhiccon-
das (Mohicans) were the ancient inhabitants of the remaining east
«hore of said river; that these two tribes constitute one nation." There
was however, an intimate understanding among all the associated
tribes and minor divisions of the Mohicans, which in emergencies was
given very practical manifestation. The Dutch, in their early wars
against the Indians of Westchester County, were perplexed to hud
that the Highland tribes, with whom, as they supposed, they were
upon terms of amity, were rendering assistance to their enemies.

The Mohicans of the Hudson should not be confused with the Mo-
hegans under Uncas, the Pequot chief, whose territory, called Mohe-
ganick, lay in eastern Connecticut. The latter was a strictly local
New England tribe, and though probably of the same original stock
as the Hudson River Mohican nation, was never identified with it.

The entire country south of the Highlands, that is, Westchester
County and Manhattan Island, was occupied by chieftaincies of the
Wappinger division of the Mohicans. The Wappmgers also held do-
minion over a large section of the Highlands, through their sub-
r bes, the Nochpeems. At the east their lands extended beyond the
Connecticut line being met by those of the Sequins. The latter, hav-
fn jurisdiction thence to the Connecticut River, were, i is believed
an enlarged family of Wappmgers, « perhaps the original head of the
tribe from whence its conquests were pushed over the southern pa
of the peninsula.-' The north and south extent of the territory of the
Sequin Ts said to have been some sixty miles. They first sold their
lands June 8, 1633, to the Dutch West India Company ami upon them
Erected the Dutch trading post of « Good Hope:; but ten years
Iter tney executed a deed to the English, embracing " the whole
country to the Mohawk country/- On Long Island were the Canarsie ,
Ro^aways, Merricks, Massapeags, Matinecocks, Corchaegs, Man-

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS

PALISADED

hansetts, Secatogues, Unkechaugs, Shinnecocks, and Montauks. The
principal tribes on the other side of New York Bay and the west bank
of the Hudson (all belonging to the Lenape or Delaware nation) were
the Navesinks, Raritans, Hackinsaeks, Aquackanonks, Tappans, and
Haverstraws.

The Wappinger sub-tribes or chieftaincies of Westchester County,
thanks chiefly to the careful researches of Bolton, are capable of

tolerably exact geographical loca-
tion and of detailed individual de-
scription. Bolton is followed in the
main by Huttenber, who, giving due
credit to the former while adding the
results of his own investigations, is
the final authority on the whole sub-
ject at the present time. No apolo-
gies need be made for transferring to
these pages, even quite literally.
Ruttenber's classification of the In-
dians of the county, with the inci-
dental descriptive particulars.

1. The Reck o-awa wanes, better known by the generic name of Manhattans and so designated
by Brodhead and other New York historians. Bolton gives to this chieftaincy the name of
Nappeekamaks, a title which, however, does not appear in the records except as the name of
their principal village on the site of Yonkers. This village of Nappeckamak (a name signify-
ing the " rapid water settlement" ' ) was, says Bolton, situated at the month of the Nepperhan or
Sawmill River. The castle or fort of the Manhattans or Reckgawawancs was on the north-
ern shore of Spnyten Puyvil Creek, and was called Nipinichsen. It was carefully protected
by a strong stockade and commanded the romantic scenery of the Papirinemen or Spnyten
Duyvil and the Mohicanituk, the junction of which two streams was called Shorackappock.
It was opposite this castle that the fight occurred between Hudson and the Indians as he was
returning down the river. They held Manhattan Island and had thereon three villages,
which, however, it is claimed, were occupied only while they were on hunting and fishing ex-
cursions. In Breeden Raedt their name is given as the Reckewackes, and it is said that in
the treaty of 1643 Oritany, sachem of the Hackinsaeks, declared he was delegated by and
for those of Tappaen, Reckgawawanc, Kicktawanc, and Sintsinc. The tract occupied by the
Reckgawawancs on the mainland was called Keckesick, and is described as " lying over against
the flats of the Island of Manhates." In its northern extent it included the site of the
present City of Yonkers, and on the east it reached to the Bronx River. Their chiefs were
Rechgawac, for whom they appear to have been called, Feequesmeck and Peckauniens.
Their first sachem known to" the Dutch was Tackerew (1639). In 1682 the names of Cohans.
Teattanqueer and Wearaquaeghier appear as the grantors of lands to Frederick Philipse.

2. The Weckquaesgecks. This chieftaincy is known to have had, as early as 1644, three
intrenched castles, one of which remained as late as 1663, and was then garrisoned by eighty
warriors Their principal village was where Dobbs Ferry now stands. It is said that the
outlines of it can still be traced by numerous shell beds. It was called Weckquaesgeck, and
its location was at the mouth of Wicker's Creek (called by the Indians the V\ ysquaqua
or Weghqueghe). Another of their villages was Alipconck, the - place of the elms, ' now
Tarrytown. Their territory appears to have extended from Norwalk on the Sound to the
Hudson, and embraced considerable portions of the towns of Mount Pleasant, Creenburgh,
~ Note by William Wallace Tooker: Tins is an incorrect derivation. The name really signifies " Trap fishing place/'

2(5

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

White Plains, and Rye, being ultimately very largely included in the Manor of Philipsbor-
ough. Their sachem in 1649 was Ponupahowhelbshelen ; in 1660 Aekhough ; in 1663
Souwenaro ; in 1680 Weskora or Weskomen, and Goharius, his brother ; in 1681 Wessicken-
aiaw, and Conarhanded, his brother. These chief's are largely represented in the list of
grantors of lands to the whites.

3. The Sint-Sincs. These Indians were not very numerous. Their most important vil-
lage was Ossing-Sing, the present Sing Sing. They had another village, called Kestaubuinck,
between the Smg Sing Creek and the Kitchawonck or Croton River. Their lands are de-
scribed in the deed of sale to Pbilipse, August '24, 1685, and were included in his manor

4. The Kitchawangs or Kicktawancs. Their territory apparently extended from the Cro-
ton River north to Anthony's Xose. Ketchtawonck was their leading village, at the mouth of
the Croton (Kitchtawonck) River. They occupied another, Sackhoes, on the site of Peekskill.
Their castle or fort, which stood at the mouth of the Croton, is represented as one of the
most formidable and ancient of Indian fortresses south of the Highlands. Its precise location
was at the entrance or neck of Teller's Point (called Senasqua), and west of the cemetery of
the Van Cortlandt family. The traditional sachem was Croton. There was apparently a
division of chieftaincies at one time, Kitchawong figuring as sachem of the village and castle
on the Croton and Sachus of the village of Sackhoes or Peekskill. The lands of the chief-
taincv were principally included in the Manor of Cortlandt, and from them the towns of
Cortlandt, Yorktown, Somers, North Salem, and Lewisboro have been erected.

5. The Tankitekes. They occupied the country now comprising the towns of Poundridge,
Bedford, and New Castle, in Westchester County, and those of Darien, Stamford, and New

Canaan in Connecticut,
all purchased by Na-
thaniel Turner in 1640
on behalf of the people
of New Haven, and de-
scribed in the deeds as
tracts called Toquams
and Shipham. Ponus
was sachem of the form-
er and Wasenssne of the
latter. Ponus reserved
portions of Toquams for
the use of himself and
his associates, but with
this exception the entire
possessions of the Tan-
kitekes appear to have
passed under a deed to
the whites without metes
or bounds. The chief-
taincy occupies a prom-
inent place in Dutch his-
tory through the action
of Pacham, " a crafty
man," who not only per-
Eormed discreditable services for Director Kieft, but also was very lavgely instrumental in
bringing on the war of 1045. O'Callaghan locates the Tankitekes on the eastern side of
Tappan Bav, and Bolton in the eastern portion of Westchester County, from deeds to then-
lands. They had villages beside Wampus Lake in the town of North Castle, near Pleasant -
ville, in tlic town of Mount Pleasant, and near the present villages of Bedford and Katonah.

6. The Siwanoys, also known as "one of the tribes of the seacoast." This was one of the
largest of the Wappinger subdivisions. They occupied the northern shore of the Sound from
Norwalk twenty-four miles to the neighborhood of Hellgate. How far inland their territory
extended is uncertain, but their deeds of sale covered the manor lands of Morrisania, Scarsdale,
and Pelham, from which New Rochelle, Eastchester, Westchester, New Castle, Mamaro-

MORTAR AND PESTLE.

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 27

neck, and Searsdale, and portions of White Plains and West Farms have been carved. They
possessed, besides, portions of the towns of Rye and Harrison, and of Stamford (Conn.), and
there are grounds for supposing that the tract known as Toquams, assigned to the Tankitekes,
was part of their dominions. They had a very large village on the banks of Rye Pond
hi the town of Rye, and in the southern angle of that town, on the beautiful hill now known
as Mount Misery, stood one of their castles. Another of their villages was on Davenport's
Neck. Near the entrance to Pelham Neck was one of their burying grounds. Two large
mounds are pointed out as the sepulchers of their chiefs, Ann-Hoock and Nimham. In the
town of Westchester they had a castle on what is still called Castle Hill Neck, and a village
near Bear Swamp, of which latter they remained in possession until 1(389. One of their
Sachems whose name has been permanently preserved in Westchester County was Katonah
(1680). Their chief Ann-Hoock, alias Wampage, was probably the murderer of Ann Hutchin-
son. One of their warriors was Mayane (1644), "a fierce Indian, who, alone, dared to attack,
with bow and arrow, three Christians armed with guns, one of whom he shot dead, and whilst
engaged with the other was killed by the third and his head conveyed to Fort Amsterdam. "

In their intercourse with the whites from the beginning the Indians
displayed aboldindependence and perfect indifference to the evidences
of superior and mysterious power and wisdom which every aspect of
their strange visitors disclosed. Though greatly astonished at the ad-
vent of the tk Half Moon," and perplexed by the white skin, remark-
able dress, and terrible weapons of its crew, they discovered no fear,
and at the first offer of physical violence or duress were prompt and
intrepid in resentment. On his way up the river, at a point probably
below Spuyten Duyvil, Hudson attempted to detain two of the natives,
but they jumped overboard, and, swimming to shore, called back to
him " in scorn." For this unfriendly demonstration he was attacked
on his return trip, a month later, off Spuyten Duyvil. " Whereupon,'*
he says in his journal. " two canoes full of men, with their bows and
arrows, shot at us after our sterne, in recompense whereof we dis-
charged six muskets, and killed two or three of them. Then above a
hundred of them came to a point of land to shoot at us. There I shot
a falcon at them and killed two of them; whereupon the rest lied into
the woods. Yet they manned off another canoe with nine or ten men,
who came to meet us. So I shot a falcon and shot it through, and
killed one of them. So they went their way." Thus in utter contempt
of the white man's formidable vessel and deadly gun they dared assail
him at the first opportunity in revenge for his offense against their
rights, returning to the attack a second and third time despite the
havoc thev had suffered.

The entire conduct of the Indians in their subsequent relations with
the Europeans who settled in the land and gradually absorbed it was
in strict keeping with the grim and fearless attitude shown upon this
first occasion. To manifestations of force they opposed all the re-
sistance thev could summon, and with the fiercest determination and
most relentless severitv administered such reprisals, both general and
individual, as thev were able to inflict. Their characteristics in these

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

respects, and their disposition of complete unteachableness as to
moderation and Christian precept, are described in quaint terms in a
letter written in 1G28 by Domine Jonas Michaelius, the first pastor in
New Amsterdam. " As to the natives of this country," writes the
good domine, " I find them entirely savage and wild, strangers to all
decency; yea, uncivil and stupid as posts, proficient in all wickedness
and godlessness; devilish men, who serve nobody but the devil, that

THK Pl'KCIIASK OF MANHATTAN

is, the spirit which, in their language, they call Mauetto, under which
title they comprehend everything that is subtle and crafty and beyond
human power. They have so much witchcraft, divination, sorcery, and
wicked tricks that they can not be held in by any locks or bounds.
They are as thievish and treacherous as they are tall, and in cruelty
they are more inhuman than the people of Barbary and far exceed the
Africans. 1 have written something concerning these things to sev-
eral persons elsewhere, not doubting that Brother Crol will have
written sufficient to your Bight Reverend, or to the Lords; as also of

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 29

the base treachery and the murders which the Mohicans, at the upper
part of this river, against Fort Orange, had committed. . . . I have
as yet been able to discover hardly a good point, except that they do not
speak so jeeringly and so scoffingly of the Godlike and glorious majesty
of their Creator as the Africans dare to do; but it is because they have
no certain knowledge of Him or scarcely any. If we speak to them of
God it appears to them like a dream, and we are compelled to speak
of Him not under the name of Manetto, whom they know and serve —
for that would be blasphemous— but under that of some great person,
yea of the chiefs Sackiema, by which name they — living without a
king — call those who have command of many hundreds among them,
and who, by our people, are called Saekemakers.7' In striking con-
trast with this stern but undoubtedly just view of the Indian, as a so-
cial individual, is the lofty and magnanimous tribute paid to his char-
acter in its broader aspect by Cadwallader Golden after more than a
century of European occupation of the country and intercourse with
him. In his " History of the Five Indian Nations," published in 1727,
Golden says : " A poor, barbarous people, under the darkest igno-
rance, and yet a bright and noble genius shines through these dark
clouds. None of the great Roman heroes have discovered as great love
of country, or a greater contempt of death, than these barbarians
have done when life and liberty came in competition. Indeed, I think
our Indians have outdone the Romans. . . . They are the fiercest
and most formidable people in North America, and at the same time
as politic and judicious as can well be conceived."

Although exterminating wars were waged between the Dutch and
the Westchester Indians, in which both sides were perfectly rapacious,
it was the general policy of the Dutch to deal with the natives ami-
cablv and to attain their great object, the acquirement of the land, by
the forms of purchase, with such incidental concessions of the sub-
stance as might be required by circumstances. The goods given in ex-
chanoe for the lands comprised a variety of useful articles, such as
tools! hatchets, kettles, cloth, firearms, and ammunition, with trin-
kets for ornament and the always indispensable rum. The simplicity
of the natives in their dealings with the whites is the subject of many
entertaining narratives. " The man with the red clothes now distrib-
uted presents of beads, axes, hoes, stockings, and other articles, and
made them understand that he would return home and come again to
see them, brin<r them more presents, and stay with them awhile, but
should want a little land to sow some seeds, in order to raise herbs to
put in their broth. . . . They rejoiced much at seeing each other
again, but the whites laughed at them, seeing that they knew not the
use of the axes, hoes, and the like they had given them, they having

30 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

had those hanging to their breasts as ornaments, and the stockings
t hoy had made use of as tobacco pouches. The whites now put handles
or helves in the former, and cut trees down before their eves, and dug
the ground, and showed them the use of the stockings. Here a gen-
eral laughter ensued among the Indians, that they had remained for
so long a time ignorant of the use of so valuable implements, and had
borne with the weight of such heavy metal hanging to their necks for
such a length of time. . . . Familiarity daily increasing between
them and the whites, the latter now proposed to stay with them, ask-
ing for only so much land as the hide of a bullock would cover or en-
compass, which hide was brought forward and spread on the ground
before them. That they readily granted this request; whereupon the
whites took a knife and beginning at one place on this hide cut it up
into a rope not thicker than the finger of a little child, so that by the
time the hide1 was cut up there was a great heap; that this rope was
drawn out to a great distance ami then brought round again, so that
the ends might meet; that they carefully avoided its breaking, and
that upon the whole it encompassed a large piece of land; that they
were surprised at the superior wit of the whites, but did not wish to
contend with them about a little land, as they had enough; that they
and the whites lived for a long time contentedly together, although
the whites asked from time to time more land of them, and proceeding
higher up the Mohicanituk they believed they would soon want the
whole country."

The first purchase of Indian lands in what is now New York State
was that of Manhattan Island, which was announced in a letter dated
November 5, 1626, from P. Schaghen, the member of the States-Gen-
eral of Holland attending the k' Assembly of the XIX." of the West
India Company, to his colleagues in The Hague. This letter con-
veyed the information that a ship had arrived the day before bringing
news from the new settlement, and that "They have bought the
island Manhattes from the wild men for the value of sixty guilders "

$24 of our money. The acquisition of title to the site of what has
become the second commercial entrepot of the world for so ridiculous
a sum — which, moreover, was paid not in money but iu goods — is a
familiar theme for moralizing and didactic writers. Yet there can be
no question that the value given the savages reasonably corresponded
to honorable standards of equivalent recompense. The particular land
with which they parted had to them no more worth than an equal area
of the water of the river or the bay, except in the elementary regard
that it was land, where man can abide, and not water, where he can
not abide; while to the Dutch the sole worth lay in the chance of its
ultimate development. On the other hand, the value received by the

*' s*.<r

^7<Z^P%,

^<^~ ^ (jfr-f^^ ^'^^f -k'WufeH. 1?an,J&npj&?da*n.
0Ui&iAp°* j^SU-T^b- >cuJk.\>c(^ ^^\W^J- ^Liy^^kU^J

^jc^j "yxAA^Sk-doK^, cU£ -fu^t>^> ,^.y^~; jro^p? }^o^o^c
7-2.4^ JMJU? \aJ&*2

FACSIMILE OF SCHAGEN S LETTER.

32 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

settlers was an eminently substantial one, consisting of possessions
having a practical economic utility beyond anything known to their
previous existence. " A metal kettle, a spear, a knife, a hatchet, trans-
formed the whole life of a savage. A blanket was to him a whole
wardrobe." Moreover, the moral phases of such a bargain can not
fairly be scrutinized by any fixed conception of the relative values in-
volved. It was purely a bargain of friendly exchange for mutual con-
venience and welfare. The Indians did not understand, and could
not have been expected to understand, that it meant a formal and
everlasting alienation of their lands; on the other hand, they deemed
that they were covenanting merely to admit the whites peaceably to
rights of joint occupancy. The amount of consideration paid by the
latter has no relevancy to the merits of the transaction, which was
honorable to both parties, resting, so far as the Dutch were con-
cerned, upon the principle of purchase and recompense instead of
seizure and spoliation, and, on the part of the Indians, upon the basis
of amicable instead of hostile disposition.

The principle of reciprocal exchange established in the purchase of
Manhattan Island was adhered to in all the progressive advances
made by the whites northward. Westchester County was never a
squatter's paradise. Its lands were not grabbed by inrushing adven-
turers upon the Oklahoma plan. De facto occupancy did not consti-
tute a sufficient title to ownership on the part of the white settlers.
Landed proprietorship was uniformly founded upon deeds of pur-
chase from the original Indian owners. The rivalries between the
Dutch and English, culminating in the overthrow of the former by
conquest, were largely occasioned by antagonistic claims to identical
strips of land — claims supported on both sides by Indian deeds of sale.

But the right to buy land from the Indians was not a. necessary
natural right inhering in any white settler. The government, upon
the well-known principle of the supreme right of discovery, assumed
a fundamental authority in the disposal of lands, and hence arose the
numerous land grants and land patents to specified persons, which
were based, however, under both Dutch and English law, upon pre-
vious extinguishment of the Indian title by deeds of sale. It is well
here to more clearly understand the principles underlying this govern-
mental assumption. They have been thus stated :

Upon the discovery of this continent the great nations of Europe, eager to appropriate as
much of it as possible, and conceiving that the character and religion of its inhabitants
afforded an apology for considering them as a people over whom the superior genius of
Europe might claim an ascendancy, adopted, as by common consent, this principle :

That discovery gave title to the government by whose subjects, or under whose authority, it
was made, against all other European governments, which title might be consummated by
possession. Hence if the country he discovered and possessed hy emigrants of an existing

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 33

and acknowledged government, the possession is deemed taken for the nation, and title must
he derived from the sovereign in whom the power to dispose of vacant territory is vested In-
law.

Resulting from this principle was that of the sole right of the discoverer to acquire the
soil from the natives and establish settlements, either by purchase or by conquest. Hence
also the exclusive right can not exist in government and at the same time in private individu-
als ; and hence also

The natives were recognized as rightful occupants, hut their power to dispose of the soil
at their own will to whomsoever they pleased was denied by the original fundamental prin-
ciple that discovery gave exclusive title to those who made it.

The ultimate dominion was asserted, and. as a consequence, a power to grant the soil while
yet in the possession of the natives. Hence such dominion was incompatible with an absolute
and complete title in the Indians. Consequently they had no right to sell to any other than
the government of the first discoverer, nor to private citizens without the sanction of that
government. Hence the Indians were to be considered mere occupants to be protected indeed
while in peaceable possession of their lands, but with an incapacity of transferring the abso-
lute title to others.1

In many of the old Indian title deeds various conditional clauses ap-
pear, the savages reserving to themselves certain special rights. For
example, it was at times specified that they should retain the Avhite-
wood trees, from which they constructed their "dugout" canoes.
They always remained on (he lands after sale, continuing their former
habits of life until forced by the steady extension of white settlement
to fall back farther into the wilderness. Having no conception of the
principles of civilized law, and no idea of the binding effect of con-
tracts, they seldom realized that the mere act of signing over their
lands to t he whites was a necessarily permanent release of them. They
were incapable of comprehending any other idea of ownership than ac-
tual physical possession, and in cases where lands were not occupied
promptly after sale they assumed that no change had transpired, and
thus frequently the same territory would be formally sold two or
three times over. IieMdes, they considered that it was their natural
right at all times to forcibly seize lands that had been sold, expel the
settlers, and then resell them. The boundaries of sub-tribal jurisdic-
tion were necessarily indefinite, and consequently deeds of sale by the
Indians of one locality would frequently cover portions of lands con-
veyed by those of another, which led to much confusion.

The military power of the Indians of Westchester County was de-
stroyed forever as a result of the war of K;4:>>-4.') with the Dutch. But
it was not until after the close of the seventeenth century that the last
vestiges of their legal ownership of lands in the county disappeared.
In succeeding chapters of this History their relation to the progress of
events and to the gradual development of the county during the period
of their organized continuance in it will receive due notice, and it is
not necessary in the present connection to anticipate that portion of

•Moultnifs Hist, of >>w Vork, .111

34 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

uur narrative. What is known of their ultimate fate as a people may,
however, appropriately be related here.

During the Dutch Avars many hundreds of them were slain and some
of their principal villages were given to the flames. It is estimated
that in a single Indian community (near the present village of Bed-
ford), which was surrounded, attacked, and burned at midnight, more
than five hundred of them perished before the merciless onslaught of
the whites. After the peace of 1015 their remaining villages, being
absorbed one by one in the extensive land purchases and grants, were
by degrees abandoned. The continuance of the Indian on the soil was
entirely incompatible with its occupancy by the white man. The
country, by being converted to the uses of agriculture, became un-
adapted to the pursuits of the natives, as it was quickly deserted by
the game. The wild animals fled to the forest solitudes, and the wild
menfollowed them, until only small groups, and finally isolated fami-
lies and individuals, remained. The locality called Indian Hill, in the
Town of Yorktown, is still pointed out as the spot where the last lin-
<rerino- band of Indians in Westchester County had its abiding place.
& The historian of the Town of Rye, the late Rev. Charles W. Baircl,
gives the following particulars (typical for the whole county) of the
gradual fading away of the Indians of that locality:

The fullest account of the condition of the Indians of Rye is that of Rev. Mr Muirson.
"As to the Indians, the natives of the country," he says, m a letter to the Gospel
Propagation Society in January, 1708, - they are a decaying people. We have now in all
this parish twenty families, whereas not many years ago there were several hundred. . .

I have taken some pains to teach some of them, but to no purpose, for they seem regardless
of instruction." Long after the settlement of the town there were Indians hying within its
bounds, some of them quite near the village, but the greater number hack m the wilderness
that still overspread the northern part of Rye. This was the case in most of the Connecticut
towns the law obliging the inhabitants to reserve to the natives a sufficient quantity of plant-

except as slaves. Tradition states that in old times a band of Indians used to visit Rye once
a year, resorting to the beach, where they had a frolic which lasted several days. Another
place which they frequented as late, certainly, as the middle of the last century, was a spot on
Grace Church Street, at the corner of the road now called Kirby Avenue Here a troop of
[ndians would come every year and spend the night in a « pow-wow, during which their
cries and veils would keep the whole neighborhood awake.

Removing, for the most part, northward, the remnants of the West-
chester Indians became merged in the kindred tribes of the Mohican
nation, whirl, stretched to the limits of the Mohawk country above
Albany, and followed their destinies. The Mohicans, though vastly
reduced in numbers and territorial possessions, still retained an or-
ganized existence and some degree of substantial power until after
the Revolution. Having constantly sustained friendly relations with

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS

1142755

POLISHED FI.ESHKR.

IIUKNBLKXDK AXE.

HAND-MADE VESSEL

SEMI-LUNAR KNIFE.

ORNAMENTAL POTTERY FOUND IN
INDIAN GRAVE.

EREMONIAL STONE OF GREEN SLATE.

INDIAN SPECIMENS FROM THE COLLECTION OF MR. JAMES WOOD.

3(5 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the settlers, it was naturally with the colonists that their sympathies
were enlisted when the struggle with Great Britain began. As early
as Vpril 1774, a message was dispatched by the provincial congress
of Massachusetts to the Mohicans and Wappingers at their principal
village, Westeiihuch, on the western side of the Hudson just below Co-
hoes Falls, with a letter requesting their cooperation in the impending
conflict. The letter was addressed " To ( :aptain Solomon Ahkannu-au-
waumut, chief sachem of the Moheackonuck Indians." Captain Solo-
mon thereupon journeyed to Boston, where, in reply to the communi-
cation from the congress, he delivered the following impressive ad-
dress :

Brothers : We have heard you speak by your letter ; we thank you for it : we now make

answer. T ,

Brothers : You remember when you first came over the great waters, I was great and you
were very little, very small. I then took you in for a friend, and kept you under my arms,
so that no one might injure you ; since that time we have ever been true friends ; there has
never been any qnarrerbetween us. But now our conditions are changed. You have become
..-rent and tall' You reach the clouds. You are seen all around the world, and I am become
small, very little. I am not so high as your heel. Now you take care of me, and I look to
you for protection. , , -, ^ n ^ Ti

* Brothers : I am sorry to hear of this great quarrel between you and old England, it ap-
pears that blood must soon be shed to end this quarrel. We never till this day understood
the foundation of this quarrel between you and the country you came from.

Brothers : Whenever I see vour blood running, you will soon find me about to revenge my
brothers' blood. Although I am low and very small, I will gripe hold of your enemy's heel,
that he cannot run so fast and so light as if he had nothing at his heels.

Brothers : You know that I am not so wise as you are, therefore I ask your advice m what
I am now going to say. I have been thinking, before you come to action, to take a run to the
westward, and feel the mind of my Indian brethren, the Six Nations, and know how they stand;
whether they are on vour side or for your enemies. If 1 find they are against you, 1 will try
to turn their minds. ' I think they will listen to me, for they have always looked tins way for
advice concerning all important news that comes from the rising of the sun. If they hearken
to me you will not be afraid of any danger behind you. However their minds are aftected
you shall soon know by me. Now I think I can do you more service m this way than by
marching off immediately to Boston and staying there ; it may be a great while before blood
runs. Now. as I said, you are wiser than I ; I leave this for your consideration, whether I
come down immediately or wait till I hear some blood is spilled.

Brothers : I would not have you think by this that we are falling back from our engage-
ments We are ready to do anything for your relief and shall be guided by your eounsels.

Brothers : One thing I ask of you, if you send for me to fight, that you let me fight in my
own Indian way. I am not usecl to fight English fashion, therefore you must not expect I
can train like your men. Only point out to me where your enemies keep and that is all that
I shall want to know.

After the battle of Lexington, a year later, the Mohican braves
marched to the theater of war in Massachusetts, arriving in time to
participate in the battle of Bunker Hill. Subsequently, addressing a
council which met at German Flats in this State and held adjourned
sessions at Albany, Captain Solomon pledged anew the support of the
Mohicans to the American cause.

« Depend upon it," he said, " we are true to you and mean to join you. Wherever you go
we shall be by vour sides. Our bones shall lie with yours. We are determined never to be

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 37

at peace with the redcoats while they are at variance with you. We have one favor to beg.
We should be glad if you would help us to establish a minister amongst us. that when our
men are gone to war our women and children may have the advantage of being instructed by
him. If we are conquered, our lands go with yours ; but if you are victorious, we hope you
will help us recover our just rights."

For about live years the Mohicans continued to serve as volunteers
in the patriot army. " being generally attached," says Washington, in
one of his letters, " to the light corps.*' and. he adds, conducting them-
selves " with great propriety and fidelity." They were present, and
fought with conspicuous valor, in a number of sanguinary encounters
with the enemy in Westchester County. "At White Plains, in Oc-
tober, 1770Y" says Ruttenber. "their united war cry, Woach, Woach,
Ha, Ha, Hach, Woach! rang out as when of old they had disputed the
supremacy of the Dutch, and their blood mingled with that of their
chosen allies.*'

In the spring of 177s, as a portion of the forces detached under
Lafayette to check the depredations of the British on their retreat
from Philadelphia, they assisted in the routing of the enemy in the
engagement at Barren Hill. In -Inly and August of the same year,
being stationed in Westchester County, they performed highly valu-
able services, culminating in their memorable fight, August 31, 1778,
at Cortlandt's Ridge, in the Town of Yonkers, where, according to the
British commander, they lost "near forty killed or desperately
wounded," about half their number. In this light they first attacked
the British from behind the fences, and then fell back among the
rocks, where for some time they defied all efforts made to dislodge
Them. They were charged by an overwhelming force of cavalry, but
as the horses rode them down "the Indians seized the legs of their
foes and dragged them from their saddles." Their chief, Nimham,
king of the Wappingers, finally counseled his followers to save them-
selves, adding, however, " As for myself, I am an aged tree; I will die
here." When ridden down by Simcoe he wounded that officer and
was about to pull him from his saddle when shot dead by an orderly.

In 1780 the surviving remnant of the Mohican warriors, some
twenty men, were honorably discharged from the army, and returned
to their homes. It was upon this occasion that Washington wrote
the letter above alluded to. which was a communication to congress,
requesting that suitable measures be Taken to provide them with
necessary clothing.

With The close of the Revolution the history of the Mohicans as a
people ends completely, and even their name vanishes. From that
time they are known no longer as Mohicans, but as " Stockbridge In-
dians," from the name of a town in central New York, to which they
removed. Leaving their ancient seats at the headwaters of the Hud-

38 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

sou, they settled in 1783-88 near the Oneidas. They received a tract
of land six miles square in Augusta (Oneida County) and Stockbridge
(Madison County ) . This tract they subsequently ceded to white pur-
chasers by twelve different treaties, executed in the years 1818, 1822,
1823, 1825, 182G, 1827, 1829, and 1830. Some of them removed in 1818
to the banks of the White River, in Indiana, and a large number, in
1821, to lands ou the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, in Wisconsin, which,
with other New York Indians, they had bought from the Menominees
and Winnebagoes. The Stockbridge tribe numbered 120 souls in
1785 and i'AS in 1818.

Physically the Indians of Westchester County, as of this entire por-
tion of the country, were remarkable specimens of manhood, capable
of marvelous feats of endurance and free from most of the diseases in-
cident to civilized society. The early European writers testify with-
out exception that there were none among them afflicted with bodily
deformities. The women delivered their young with singular ease,
and immediately after labor were able to resume the ordinary duties
of life. The appearance and general physical characteristics of the
Indians are thus described by Van der Donck :

Thev are well shaped and strong, having pitch-hlack and lank hair, as coarse as a horse's
tail, broad shoulders, small waist, brown eyes, and snow-white teeth ; they are of a sallow
color, abstemious in food and drink. Water satisfies their thirst; flesh meat and fish are
prepared alike. Thev observe no set time for meals. Whenever hunger demands the time
for eating arrives. Whilst hunting they live some days on roasted corn carried about the
person in a bag. . . . Their clothing is most sumptuous. The women ornament them-
selves more than the men. And although the winters are very severe, they go naked until
their thirteenth vear ; the lower parts of the girls' bodies alone are covered. All wear
around the waist a girdle made of seawant (shells). They bedeck themselves with hair tied
witli small bands. The hair is of a scarlet color and surpassing brilliancy, which is perma-
nent and ineffaceable by rain. The women wear a petticoat down midway the legs, very
richly ornamented with seawant. They also wrap the naked body in a deerskin, the tips ot
which swing with their points. . . . Both go for the most part bareheaded. .
Around the neck and arms they wear bracelets of seawant, and some around the waist.
Moccasins are made of elk hides. . . . The men paint their faces of many colors. The
women lay on a black spot only here and there. . . . Both are uncommonly faithful.

Although their society was upon the monogamous plan, and none
of the common people took more than one wife, it was not forbidden
the chiefs to follow their inclinations in this respect. " Great and
powerful chiefs," says Van der Donck, " frequently have two, three, or
four wives, of the neatest and handsomest of women, who live together
without variance." As the life of the Indian was spent in constant
struggle against most severe conditions of existence, sensuality was
quite foreign to his nature. This is powerfully illustrated by the al-
most uniformly respectful treatment accorded female prisoners of
war. As a victor the North American Indian was entirely merciless
and cruel. His adult male captives were nearly always doomed to

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 39

death, and if not slain immediately after the battle were reserved for
slow torture. But the women who fell into his hands were seldom
violated. Such forbearance was of course dictated in no way by sen-
timent. The women, in common with the young children, were re-
garded by the conquerors merely as accessions to their numbers. Un-
chastity was an exceptionally rare thing among the married females;
and in no other particular do the different accounts of the natives
given by the earliest observers agree more markedly than in the state-
ment that both the women and the girls were peculiarly modest in
their demeanor. The Dutch farmers occasionally took Indian women
for their wives, refusing to abandon them for females of their own
country.

One of the most curious domestic institutions of the Indians of this
region was the sweating bath, " made," says Van der Donck, " of
earth and lined with clay." " A small door serves as an entrance.
The patient creeps in, seats himself down, and places heated stones
around the sides. Whenever he hath sweated a certain time, he
immerses himself suddenly in cold water; from which he derives great
security from all sorts of sickness." Of medical science they knewT
nothing, except how to cure wounds and hurts. They used for many
purposes an oil extracted from the beaver, which also was consid-
ered by the Dutch to possess great virtues. Upon the " medicine
man,1' who was supposed to effect cures by supernatural powers, their
reliance in the more serious cases of sickness was mainly placed.

Inured to abstemiousness by the rigors of his lot and but little dis-
posed to sexual gratification, the Indian yet fell an easy victim, and
speedily became an abject slave, to strong drink. It was not the taste
but the stimulating properties of the white man's rum which en-
thralled him. Hudson relates that when he first offered the intoxicat-
ing cup to his Indian visitors while at anchor in New York Bay, they
one and all refused it after smelling the liquor and touching their
lips to it. But finally one of their number, fearing that offense might
be taken at their rejection of it, made bold to swallow it, and ex-
perienced great exhilaration of spirits in consequence, which led his
companions to follow his example, with like pleasing effects. Robert
Juet, the mate of the " Half Moon,'' gravely says in his journal : " Our
master and his mate determined to try some of the cheefe men of the
country, whether they had any treachery in them. So they took them
down into the cabin, and gave them so much wine and aquse vitse that
thev were all verv merie)'1 Rum, or rather distilled liquor of every

i The name of Manhattan Island is popularly ahaehtanienk. which, in the Delaware Ian-
supposed to commemorate these joyous inebrie- guage, means ' the island where we all became
ties Heckewelder savs: " They called it Man- intoxicated.'" Most popular writers have

J-0 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

kind, soon came to be valued by the savages above every other article
ili.it they obtained from the whites, and it played a very important part
both in promoting intercourse and in hastening their destruction. A
chief of the Six Nations, in a speech delivered before the commission-
ers of the Tinted States at Fort Stanwix, in 1788, said: "The avidity
of the white people for land and the thirst of the Indians for spirituous
liquors were equally insatiable; that the white men had seen and
fixed their eyes upon the Indian's good land, and the Indians had seen
and fixed their eyes on the white man's keg of rum. And nothing
could divert either of them from their desired object; and therefore
there was no remedy but that the while men must have the land and
the Indians the keg of rum."

The Indian character has always been a matter of the most varied
accounts and estimates. While there is no room for disagreement or
misunderstanding about its more prominent separate traits, views
of it in its general aspect are extremely divergent, ami extensive as
is the literature bearing upon this subject there exists no single pres-
entation of the Indian character in its proportions, at least from a
familiar pen, that entirely rills and satisfies tin- mind. Longfellow's
" Hiawatha " and Cooper's Indian actions bring out the romantic and
heroic phases; but no powerful conception of the Indian type, except
in the department of song and story, has yet been given to literature.

There is one safe starting point, and only one, for a correctly bal-
anced estimate of the Indian. He was essentially a physical being.
Believing both in a supreme good deity and an evil spirit, and also in
an existence after death, religion was not, however, a predominating
factor and influence in his life and institutions. In this respect he
differed from most aboriginal and peculiar types. Of a stolid, stoical,
and phlegmatic nature, possessing little imagination, he was neither
capable of spiritual exaltation nor characteristically subject to super-
stitious awe and fear. Idolatrous practices he had none. Among all
the objects of Indian handiwork that have come down to us— at least
such as belong to this section of the country, — including the remains of
pre-Europeau peoples, there are none that are suggestive of worship.
He appears to have had no fanatic ceremonials except those of the
"medicine man," which were extemporized functions for immediate

■t .if n

tics for different derivations— which ar
ceedingly varied — by Mr. William W
Tooker. in the " Brooklyn Eagle Almanac

___s History lie says: " If the deri-
Heckewelder gives is accurate, Van der
would not have written: ' In the In-
mmm?P8. which are rich and expressive,

1897, ni». 270-281. M

lt the they have no word to express drunkenness.
conclusion thai the earliest form of the word Drunken men they call fools.""
Manhattan, so far as has been discovered, was

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 41

physical ends rather than regularly ordained formularies expressive
of a real system of abstractions. He was a pare physical barbarian.
His conceptions of principles of right and wrong, of social obligations,
and of good and bad conduct, wore limited to experience and customs
having no other relations than to physical well being. Thus there was
neither sensibility nor grossness in his character, and thus he stood
solitary and aloof from tin- rest of mankind. All sensitive and imagi-
native races, like those of Mexico, South America, the West Indies,
and the Orient, easily commingle with European conquerors; ami the
same is true of strictly gross peoples, like the heathenish native tribes
of Africa. Sensibility and grossness, like genius and insanity, are, in-
deed, closely allied; where either quality is present it affords the fun-
damentals of social communion for cultivated man, but where both are
lacking no possible basis for association exists. In these and like re-
flections may perhaps be found the true key to the character of the
Indian.

As we have indicated, the religion of the Westchester and kindred
Indians did not rise to the dignity of a defined institution. By the
term, the Indian religion, we understand only a set of elementary be-
liefs, unaccompanied by an establishment of any kind. The Great
Spirit of the Indians of this locality was called Cantantowit, who was
good, all-wise, and all-powerful, and to whose happy hunting grounds
they hoped to go after death, although their beliefs also comprehended
the idea of exclusion from those realms of such Indians as were re-
garded by him with displeasure. The Spirit of Evil they called Hob-
baniocko. The home of Cantantowit they located in the southwest,
whence came the fair winds; ami they accordingly interred their dead
in a sitting position with their faces looking in that direction and their
valuable possessions, including food for the soul's journey, beside
them. The customs and ceremonials attending decease and sepnltnre
are thus described by Knttenber:

When death occurred the next of kin closed the eyes of the deceased. The men made no
noise over the dead, but the women made frantic demonstrations of grief, striking their
breasts, tearing their faces, and calling loudly the name of the deceased day and night.
Their loudest lamentations were on the death of their sons and husbands. On such occasions
they cut off their hair and bound it on the grave in the presence of all their relatives, painted
their faces pitch black, and in a deerskin jerkin mourned the dead a full year In burying
their dead the body was placed in a sitting posture, and beside it were placed a pot, kettle,
platter, spoon, and money and provisions for use in the other world. Wood was then placed
around the body, and the whole covered with earth and stones, outside of which palisades
were erected, fastened in such a manner that the tomb resembled a little house. To these
tombs great respect was paid, and to violate them was deemed an unpardonable provocation.

To review the separate aspects of their social life and economy, in-
cluding their domestic arrangements, their arts and manufactures,
their agriculture, their trade relations with one another, and the like

42 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

incidental details, would require much more space than can be given
in these pages. For such more minute particulars the reader is re-
ferred to the various formal works on the North American Indian. It
will suffice to present some of the more prominent outlines.

Their houses, says Ruttenber, were, for the most part, built after
one plan, differing only in length. They were formed by long, slender
hickory saplings set in the ground, in a straight line of two rows, as far
asunder as they intended the width to be, and the rows continuing as
far as they intended the length to be. The poles were then bent to-
ward each other in the form of an arch and secured together, giving
the appearance of a garden arbor. Split poles were then lathed up
the sides and the roof, and over this was bark, lapped on the ends and
edges, which was kept in its place by withes to the lathings. A hole
was left in the roof for smoke to escape, and a single door of entrance
was provided. Barely exceeding twenty feet in width, these houses
were sometimes a hundred and eighty yards long. " In those places,"
says Van der Donck, fct they crowd a surprising number of persons,
and it is surprising to see them out in open day." From sixteen to
eighteen families occupied one house, according to its size.

Of the manufacture of metals they had no knowledge. All their
weapons, implements, and utensils were fashioned from stone, wood,
shells, bone, and other animal substances, and clay. Their most note-
worthy manufactured relics are probably their specimens of pottery.
Mr. Alexander C. Chenoweth draws some interesting deductions as
to the processes of pottery manufacture prevalent in early times from
his examinations of specimens that he has unearthed. He says :

They could fashion earthen jars with tasteful decorations, manufacture cloth, and twist
fibers into cords. They had several methods of molding their pottery. One was to make
a mold of basket work and press the clay inside. In baking, the basket work was burned
off, leaving its imprint to be plainly seen on the outside of the jar. Other forms show that a
coarse cloth or a net was used for the same purpose. Another method of molding, some-
times employed, was to twist clay in long rolls and lay it spirally to form a vessel or jar, the
folds being pressed together. This kind of vessel breaks easily along the spiral folds, as the
method does not insure a good union between the layers. The vessels range in size from a
few inches in circumference to four feet, the depth being in proportion to the diameter.
The study of the decoration and method employed reveal the implements used for that pur-
pose. The imprint of a finger nail is clearly defined on some of the rudest as a decoration.
Others show the imprint of a coarse netting or cloth, while the edge of an escallop shell or
clam shell was often used. Pointed sticks, wedge-shaped sticks, and straws were also com-
mon implements for decorating with. These people twisted fibers, from which they made
cloth.

Their numerous weapons, implements, and utensils of stone — in-
cluding mortars and pestles, axes, hatchets, adzes, gouges, chisels,
cutting tools, skinning tools, perforators, arrow and spear heads,
scrapers, mauls, hammer-stones, sinkers, pendants, pierced tablets,
polishers, pipes, ami ceremonial stones — of all of which specimens

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS

have been found in Westchester County, were very well wrought, and,
considering the extreme difficulties attending their fabrication on ac-
count of the entire absence of metal tools, bear high testimony to the
perseverance and ingenuity of the Indians as artificers. They had
great art in dressing skins, using smooth, wedge-shaped stones to rub
and work the pelts into a pliable shape. They produced fire by rap-
idly turning a wooden stick, fitted in a small cavity of another piece
of wood, between their hands until ignition was effected. When they
wished to make one of their more dur-
able canoes they had first to fell a suit-
able tree, a task which, on account of the
insufficiency of their tools, required much
labor and time. Being unable to cut
down a tree with their stone axes, they
resorted to fire, burning the tree around
its trunk and removing the charred por-
tion with their stone implements. This
was continued until the tree fell. Then
they marked the length to be given to
the canoe, and resumed at the proper
place the process of burning and re-
moving.

Their agriculture was exceedingly
primitive. They raised only one princi-
pal crop — maize, or Indian com. Quite
extensive fields of this were grown. In
addition, they planted the sieva bean,
the pumpkin, and tobacco. For culti-
vating their fields they used only a hoe

made of a clam shell or the shoulder blade of a deer. They had no
domestic animals to assist them in their agricultural labors and
provide them with manure for the refreshment of their exhausted
lands and with food products— no horses, sheep, swine, oxen, or
poultry; and even their dogs were mere miserable mongrels. It is
said that they used fish for fertilizing the soil, but this use must
have been on an extremely limited scale.

The extent and character of the trade relations between the Indians
of the same tribe and those of different tribes can only be inferred
from known facts which render it unquestionable that such relations
existed For instance, tobacco, which was in universal use among
the aborigines of North America, had to be obtained by exchange m
all localities unadapted by climate and soil to its growth. The cop-
per ornaments remarked by Hudson on the persons of the Indians

BELT <>K WAMPUM.

44 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

whom lit- met in New York Bay must have been wrought out of metal
obtained by barter or capture from distant parts of the country, since
no deposits of native copper exist in this region. And Indian relics
of various kinds are constantly found which bear no connection to the
prevailing remains of the locality where discovered, but on the other
hand are perfectly characteristic of other localities.

For purposes of exchange, as well as for ornament, the Indians
used wampum, a name given to a certain class of cylindrical beads,
usually one-fourth of an inch long and drilled lengthwise, which were
chiefly manufactured from the shells of the common hard-shell (dam
( \rnus mercciiuria). The blue or violet portions of the shells furnished
the material for the dark wampum, which was held in much higher
estimation than that made of the white portions, or of the spines of
certain univalves. According to Roger Williams, one of the earliest
New England writers on the Indians, six of the white beads and
three of the blue were equivalent to an English penny. The author
of an instructive treatise on k' Ancient and Aboriginal Trade in North
America"1 (from which some of the details in the preceding pages
are taken) says of the wampum belts, so often mentioned in connec-
tion with the history of the eastern tribes:

Thev consisted of broad straps of leather, upon which white and blue wampum-beads were
sewed In rows, being so arranged that by the contrast of the light and dark colors certain
figures were produced. The Indians, it is well known, exchanged these belts at the conclu-
sion of peace, and on other solemn occasions, in order to ratify the transaction, and to per-
petuate the remembrance of the event. When sharp admonitions or threatening demonstra-
tions were deemed necessary, the wampum belts likewise played a part, and they were even
sent as challenges of war. In these various cases the arrangement of the colors and the
tigures of the belts corresponded to the object in view : on peaceable occasions the white
color predominated ; if the complications were of a serious character, the dark prevailed ;
and in case of a declaration of war, it is stated, the belt was entirely of a somber hue, and,
moreover, covered with red paint, while there appeared in the middle the figure of a hatchet
executed in white. The old accounts, however, are not quite accordant concerning these
details, probably because the different Atlantic tribes followed in this particular their own
taste rather than a general rule. At any rate, however, the wampum belts were considered
as objects of importance, being, as has been stated, the tokens by which the memory of
remarkable events was transmitted to posterity. They were employed somewhat in the
manner of the Peruvian guipu, which they also resembled in that particular, that their mean-
ing could not be conveyed without oral comment. At certain times the belts were exhibited,
and their relations to former occurrences explained. This was done by the aged and experi-
enced of the tribe, in the presence of the young men, who made themselves thoroughly
acquainted with the shape, size, and marks of the belts, as well as with the events they were
destined to commemorate, in order to be able to transmit these details to others at a future
time. Thus the wampum belts represented the archives of polished nations. Among the
Iroquois tribes, who formed the celebrated " league," there was a special keeper of the wam-
puni. whose duty it was to preserve the belts and to interpret their meaning, when required.

The civil institutions of the Mohican Indians were democratic,
showing but slight modifications of the purely democratic principle.

Charles Ran, Government Printing Office. 1873.

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 45

" Though this people,*' says Van der Donck, " do not make such a dis-
tinction between man and man as ether nations, yet they have high
and low families, inferior and superior chiefs." Their rulers were
called sachems, the title usually remaining hereditarily in the family,
although the people claimed the right of election. It does not appear
that the sachems ever assumed oppressive powers, or, on the other
hand, that rebellious or intrigues against their authority were ever
undertaken to any noticeable extent. The sachem remained with the
tribe at all times, and was assisted in the government by certain coun-
selors or chiefs, elected by the people. There was a chief called a
w> hero," who was chosen for established courage and prudence in war;
another called an " owl," who was required to have a good memory
and be a fluent speaker, and who sat beside the sachem in council and
proclaimed his orders; and a third called a " runner," who carried mes-
sages and convened councils. The Indian sachems and chiefs of the
Hudson have left no names familiar to the general reader — certainly
none comparable with those of Massasoit, Miantonomoh, Uncas, and
Philip, of New England, or Powhattan, of Virginia. Even to the local
historian, indeed, their names have little importance beyond that at-
taching to them from their connection with notable transfers of land
and with rivers, lakes, and localities to which they have been applied.

In the geographical nomenclature of Westchester County, as well
as of the whole country from the Atlantic to the Pacific, are preserved
numerous permanent memorials of the vanished aboriginal race. The
following article on the pure or derived Indian names of our county
has been compiled specially for this work. It is not, however, pre-
sented with any claim to minute completeness.

AMERINDIAN i NAMES IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

BY WILLIAM WALLACE TOOKER.

The Amerindian names of localities in Westchester County represent several dialectical
variations of the great Algonquian language. While some are of the Mohegan dialect and
akin to those of Connecticut, others partake more of the Delaware or Lenape characteristics
as spoken in New Jersev and Pennsylvania. Where either of these have been retained unchanged
in their phonetic elements, and without the loss of a syllable or initial letter, the task of
identification and translation of their components has been comparatively easy. Many,
however that have been handed down colloquially without having been recorded m deed or
record, have become so altered that even the Amerind himself, should he reappear from the
« happy hunting ground," would be utterly uuable to recognize the present sounds of the
terms as part of his native speech. Those of the personal names bestowed on places are
especially difficult to analyze, owing to their construction and the changes already noted
Many of the place names were translated many years ago by Schoolcraft, Trumbull, and
others, some correctlv, and others more often incorrectly. Some of the latter were so erro-
neous that thev have' been passed by the writer without notice. The present attempts are
based upon the comparative rules of Algonquian nomenclature, and are therefore not the
hasty generalization of misapplied Chippeway root terms so often used by Schoolcraft and

1 Recently adopted by the Bureau of Ethnology.

40 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

followed by others The names mostly are descriptive appellations of the localities where
originally bestowed, and as such do not differ from those retained in other parts of the coun-
try where the same language was spoken.

,lco»efco!mc£ — Var., 4<?ueanowncfc, Achqueehgeuom. Hutchinson s Creek, Eastchester
Creek, and a locality in West Farms. The variations of this term are quite numerous.
Delaware, A chwowdngeu, "high bank." See Aquehung, another variant. .

Alipkonck.—«A place of elms." This interpretation, given by Schoolcraft in 1844, is
probably correct. Allowing for the interchange or permutation of / and w, as well as b and
p, occurring in many dialects, we find its parallel in the Otchipwe Anip, Abnaki, anibi, « elm
tree," which with the locative completes the analysis.

t pawquammis.— Var., ^awammeis, /Ipawami's, Epawames. Budd s .Neck, m Rye. ihe
main stem of this name. Appoqua, signifies « to coyer;" TOS, " the stock or trunk ot a tree
a generic, heme -the covering tree." possibly a descriptive term for the lurch tree, and used

** AppamaghpTgT— Var.s Apparaghpogh. Lands near Verplanck's Point, also a locality east
of Cortlandt. The main stem of this term is the same as that in the previous name, with the
suffix paug, - a water-place " or « pond." -The (lodge) covering water-place," i.e., a place
where the cat-tail Hag ( Typha latifolia) was cut. The Hags were used for mats and covering
wigwams. „ T , , . ,

Aquehung.— A locality on the Bronx River. The name of Staten Island is the same,
Acquehonga, « a high bank or bluff;" also Hocbjueiud; "on high."

Apwonnah.— Rye. It means "an oyster." or " the roasted shell-fish.

Armonck. — See Cohamong.

irmenperal.—Ynv., Armenperai. Sprain River. Probably greatly corrupted. Its mean-
inghas not been ascertained. A district on the Schuylkill River, ^^•as called Armenveruis
(Col. Hist. N. Y., Vol. I., p. 593), probably the same name, for the v should be p.

iskewaen. — A personal name, meaning not ascertained.

Ispetong.— A bold eminence in Bedford. The main stem or root of this term signifies
"to raise up," aspej Eliot uses it in the form Ashpohtag, •• a height," which applies well to
the locality.

Isumsowis —A locality in Pelham ; a personal name probably.

Bissightick.—VnT., Bisightick, a -creek." This probably means -a muddy creek,
pissiqh-tuck ; Delaware, Assisk-tik.

Be-tuck-qua-pock.—VM., petuquapaen (Van der Donck's map). Ibis was the "Dumpling
pond," at Greenwich, Conn. P'tukqua-paug, -a round pond, or water-place. (See ± rum-
bull's Names in Connecticut.)

Canopus. — Name of a chieftain.

Cantetoe.— In this form not a place name, but seemingly from Cantecoy, "to sing and to
dance." Variation., Kante Kante, Cante Cante, etc. It may have been derived, however,
from Pocantico, which see. .

( 'atonah.— Var., Katonah, Ket-atonah, " great mountain." Said to he the name of a chief.
Cantetoe, by some is said to he a variant of Catonah.

Cisqua —See Kisco. It does not mean beaver-dam in its present form.

Cohomong.— Var., Armonck, Comonck, Cob-a-mong (?) Hills, also Byram River, the bound-
ary between Connecticut and New York. The termination denotes a fishing-place— amaug.
\.s it was a boundary it may represent a survival of Chaubun-kongamaug, -the boundary
er may have been an earlier boundary, and, as such, retained to the

- in West Farms ; a -boundary-place."

. < Schoolcraft suggests Kenotin, - the wind."
ne | I prefer the Delaware Kloltin, -he contends."
Euketaupucuson.— Var., Ekucketaupacuson. -A high ridge in Rye." also applied to Rye
Woods. This name denotes a « place where a stream opens out or widens on both sides.
; ,., overflows, generally where the stream Hows through low lands.

Gowahasuasing.— A locality in West Farms. A Delaware form signifying «a place of
briars," or -a place where there is a hedge," comes from the same elements.
Hast co.— Sec Miosst hassaky.

fishing-pl

ac<

!." 1

Syran

present ,1

ay.

Cowan

(J01

igh.—

-A h

Croton

A p,

irsoni

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 47

Honge. — Blind brook. Probably taken from Acquehung.

Kisco. — See Keskistkonck.

Kitchawong. — Var., Kicktawanc, Kechtawong, Klchtawan (Kussi-trhuan). C rot on River,
denotes "a wild, dashing stream." First suggested by Schoolcraft.

Kekeshick. — A locality in Yonkers. Ketch-auke, "the principal, or greatest place," prob-
ably a palisaded inclosure.

Kitchtawan. — Var., Kightowank. A locality in Sing Sing and in Cortlandt. Probably a
variation of Kitchawong.

Keskistkonck. — Var., Kisco, Keskisco, Cisqua. Originally an Indian village situated on the
bank of a creek. Massachusetts, Kishketuk-ock, " land on the edge of a creek."

Kestaubnuck. — Var., Kastoniuck (Keche-tauppen-auke). " The great encampment." A vil-
lage of the Indians (Van der Donck's map). Schoolcraft was mistaken in deriving Nyack
from this term. Nyack signifies " a point of land," and is the equivalent of the Long Island
Nyack ("Kings County) Noyac (Suffolk County).

Kiwigtignock. — Var., Keioightegnack, He-weghtiquack. An elbow of the Croton River.
Whquae-tigu-ack, " land at head of the cove." Compare Wiq'uetaipiock, the cove at Stoning-
ton, Conn.

Laapha/rachking. — Pelham. None of the components warrant a translation " as a place of
stringing heads." We woidd suggest rather "a plowed field or plantation." Lapechiua-
hacking, " land again broken up " for cultivation.

Maminketsuck. — A stream in Pelham. "A strong flowing brook," Manuhketsuck. Earlier-
forms might suggest another interpretation.

Mamaroneck. — A river, so named after Mamaronock, a chief who lived at Wiquaeskeck in
1044. Variations, Moworronoke, Momoronah, etc. (Mohmo'-anock) " he assembles the people."

Manursing. — An island. This form denotes a " little island." Minnewits, Minnefords,
etc., was so called after Peter Minuit.

Myanas. — Var., Meanau, Meanagh, Meahagh, Mehanos, etc., all seem to be simply varia-
tions of the same name — a personal one, " he who gathers together." Mayanne was killed
by Captain Patrick in 1643.

Meghkeekassin. — Var., Amackassin, Mekhkakhsin, Makakassin. A large rock, noted as a
landmark west of Neperah. Delaware, Meechek-achsinik, "at the bi<j rock."

Mohegan. — The late Dr. D. O. Brinton follows Captain Ilendrick, a native Mohegan, in
translating the name as " a people of the great waters which are constantly ebbing and
flowing." The tribe would naturally reject a term which
agree with Schoolcraft and Trumbull that it denotes the " '
corroborate it. See Creuxius's ma]) of 1<><><), for " Natio Li

Mentipathe. — A small stream in West Farms. Probably

Miosse hassaky. — Var., Haseco. " A great fresh mead
name occurs in parts of New England ; Moshhassuck Riv< v,

Mopus. — A brook in North Salem. A variant of Canopi

Mockquams. — A brook in Rye. A variant from Apaioquc
name from the possessive in s.

Mosholu. — A brook in Yonkers. This looks like a made-
rupted one.

Muscoota. — "A meadow," or a place of rushes, sometimes applied to grassy flats bordering
rivers.

Mutighticoos. — Var., Mattegticos, Titicus. A personal name, probably the same as the
Abnaki MattegKessft, "the hare."

Nan,ichiestawack.—(Ynn der Donck's map.) Delaware, Nanatschitaw-ack, "a place of
safety, i.e., a place to take care of," probably a palisaded inclosure erected for defense.

Nappeckamack.—Va,T., Neperhan, Neppizan, etc. This name has been generally translated
as the " rapid water settlement," which is evidently an error. The same name occurs on
Long Island as Rapahamuck. Both the n and r are intrusive. The suffix, amack or amuck,
denotes " a fishing-place "; the prefix appeh " a trap "; hence we have appeh-amack, " the trap
fishing-place." Neperhan (apehhan) « a trap, snare, gin," etc. At the locality where the name
was originally bestowed, the Indians probably had a weir for catching fish, and this tact gave
rise to the name of the settlement. On Long Island Rapahamuck was at the mouth of a

was

Aolf 1

first applied b
lation." All th

others. 1
early maps

iporii

a per

OW ol
near

s (?)
1 minis

sonal name.
■ marshy land.
Providence, R.

(?), or perha]

The same
a personal

up n:

ime,

Or else a

reatly cor-

48 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

,-reek called Suggamuck (m'sugge-amuck) "the bass fishing-place." Wood's N.E. Prospect,
1634, says: " When they used to tide it in and out to the rivers and creekes with long seanes
or basse nets, which stop in the fish, and the water ebbing from them, they are left on the
dry -round, sometimes two or three thousand at a set." (See Brooklyn Eagle Almanac on
•• Some Indian Fishing Stations Upon Long Island," 1895, pp. 54-57.)

Noch Peem.— (Van der Donck.) Var., Noapain, Ochpeen (Map 1688). This name de-
notes « a dwelling place," "an abode," "where we are," etc. Delaware, Achpeen, "a
lodge," " dwelling."

Nipnichsen. Indian village and castle near Spuyten Duyvil. The name denotes "a small

pond or water-place."

Onox. Eldest son of Ponus. Onux (wonnux) "the stranger."

Ponus. — A chief ; he places (something).
Patthunck. — A personal name; "pounding-mortar."

Pachamitt.— (Van der Donck's map. ) Name of a tribe taken from the place where they
lived, "at the turning-aside place." De Laet says : " Visher's Rack, that is the fisherman's
bend," and here the eastern bank is inhabited by the Pachami, a little beyond where projects a
sandy point." Pachanu, a sachem, takes his name also from tribe and place.

Paunskapham.—A locality in Cortlandt. Probably this on exhaustive search will be found
a personal name.

Pasquasheck.—(Vsm der Donck.) Pasquiasheck, Pashquashic (Pasquesh-auke). "Land at
the bursting forth," i. e., "at the outlet of a stream ;" an Indian village at the mouth of a
stream. .

Papirinemen.— Spuyten Duyvil Creek ; also place at north end of Manhattan Island. Inis
name has a verbal termination denoting the act of doing something, a suffix not allowable m
place names. Hence it was probably a personal name denoting « to parcel out," to divide,
to divert, variation, Pewinenien. _ .

Pechquinakonck.— (Van der Donck.) A locality in North Salem; probably originally an
Indian village situated on high land. Pachquin-ak-onk, " at the land raised or lifted up."

Pepemighting.—A river in Bedford. Pepe-rnightug, "the chosen-tree," probably a bound-
ary mark originally. „■■•,-, i n

Peppenegkek.—Yar., Peppeneghak, a river and pond in Bedford. Probably a boundary
mark like the previous name ; " the chosen stake."
Pockerhoe. — See Tuckahoe (?).

Poningoe.— Var., Peningoe. Locality in Rye. Looks like a personal name, meaning not
ascertained.

Pocantico.— Var., Pokanteco, Puegkanteko, Peckantico. Tarrytown. Pohki-tuck-ut, "at
the clear creek."

p0titiais.—A trail. An abbreviation of Mutighticoos (J).

Pockcotessewake.—A brook in Rye; also another name for Mamaroneck River. Var.,
Pockottssewake. Probably the name of some Indian. The chief called Meghtesewakes seems
to have had a name with a similar termination but different prefix. Pokessake, a grantor on
the Norwalk deed of 1651.

Quaroppas.— White Plains, including Scarsdale. Seemingly a personal name.
Quinnahung. — Hunt's Point, West Farms, " a long, high place."

Ranachque.— Bronck's land. Wanachque, "end, point, or stop." The name has probably
lost a locative. See Senasque.

Rahonaness.—A plain east of Rye. Probably so called from an Indian.
J{;nl,„,raws. Var., Nippmrance (Captain John Mason, 1643). "The plantatio of Rippo-
wams is named Stamforde " (X. H. Rec, Vol. I, p. 69). This included the territory on both
sides of Mill River. The late J. H. Trumbull was unable to translate this name. It may
be rather presuming to suggest where he failed. We think we can see Nipau-apuchk in the
Delaware, or Nepau-ompsk in the Massachusetts, " a standing or rising up rock." In collo-
quial use ompsk is frequently abbreviated to ams. See Toquams.

■SarAws.— Var., Sackhoes.' From the possessive seemingly a personal name. Colloquial
use changes names fiequently, and it may be a variant of the Delaware Sakunk, "mouth of a
stream." Compare Saugus, the Indian name of Lynn, Mass., which has the same derivation.
Sackama Wicker.—" Sachems house," Delaware, Sakama-ivik-ing, "at the chief's house.

ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 49

Sackwahung. — A locality at West Farms. An evident variant of Aquehung.

Shorakapkock. — Spuyten Duyvil Creek, where it joins the Hudson, "as far as the sitting-
down place," i.e., where there was a portage.

Shingabawossins. — A locality in Pelham. Applied to erratic bowlders or rolling- stoms.
It probably denotes " a place of flat stones."

Shappequa. — Var., Chappaqua. "A separated place," i.e., " a place of separation." Men-
tioned as a boundary in some conveyances.

Sickham. — A locality in Cortlandt. A personal name.

Shippam. — New Rochelle. A personal name, probably, although Eliot gives ns Keechepam,
" shore."

Sigghes. — A great bowlder, a landmark mentioned as a boundary. Another name for
Meghkaekassin. From an original Siogke-ompsk-it, "at the hard rock."

Sacunyte Napucke. — A locality in Pelham. Sakunk-Napi-ock, " at the outlet of a pond or
water-place." Probably used in some conveyance to indicate the line running to this place,
hence a boundary designation

Saperwack. — A hook or bend in a stream at West Farms. " Land on a river," or " ex-
tended land;" the name will bear both interpretations.

Sepackena. — A creek at Tarrytown.

Sachkerah.—A locality at West Farms.

Saproughah. — A creek at "West Farms.

Sepparak. — A locality in Cortlandt. The foregoing names are seemingly variations of the
same word, denoting " extended <>r spread-out land." A search for early forms might change
this opinion.

Senasqua. — Croton Point on Hudson, Wanasque, " a point or ending." This name, as well
as Ranachque, has lost its suffix. On Long Island it occurs in Wanasquattan, " a point of
hills," Wanasquetuck, " the ending creek."

Sint Sinck. — Sing Sing. Ossin-sing, "stone upon stones," belongs to the Chippeway dia-
lect and was suggested by Schoolcraft (see Proc. X. Y. Hist. Soc, 18-14, p. 101). He is
also responsible for a number of other interpretations frequently quoted. The Delaware
form, Asin-es-ing, " a stony place," is much better. The same name occurs on Long Island
in Queens County. But on the Delaware Paver is a place called Maetsingsing (see Col.
Hist. N. Y., Vol. 1, pp. 590, 596), which seems to be a fuller form of our name and warrant-
ing another interpretation : " Place where stones are gathered together," a heap of stones,
probably.

Snakapins.— Cornell's Neck. If not a personal name, as I suspect, it may represent an
earlier Sagajnn, "a ground-nut."

Suckehonk.—" A black (or dark colored) place," a marsh or meadow. The Hartford
meadows, Connecticut, were called Suck'iang.

Soakatuck. — A locality in Pelham. " The mouth of a stream." The same as Saugatuck
in Connecticut.

Suwanoes.— A tribe located from Norwalk, Conn., to Hellgate. They were the Shawon-
anoes, " the Southerners," to tribes farther north.

Tammoes is. —Creek near Yerplanck's Point. Delaware, Tummeu-esis, "little wolf," a per-
sonal name.

Tanracken.— A locality in Cortlandt. Tarackan, "the crane." The name was derived
from the loud and piercing cry peculiar to the genus, especially to the Grus americana or
Whooping Crane, which, says Nuttall, has been "not unaptly compared to the whoop or yell
of the savages when rushing to battle." (Trumbull.)

Tunkitekes.— Name of tribe living back of Sing Sing. This is probably a term of derision
applied to them by other tribes : " Those of little worth."

Tatomuck.— This name has probably lost a syllable or more. The suffix indicates a « fish-
ing-place." On Long Island Arhata-amuck denotes "a crab fishing-place." Corrupted m
some records to Katawamac.

Toquams.—Ynv., Toquamske. This was a boundary mark in some conveyance, or else a
well known landmark ; p'tukqu-ompsk, "at the round-rock."

Titicus.—A brook flowing north and west across the State line into the Croton River ; also
a village and postoffice in Connecticut. An abbreviation of Mutightkoos or Matteticos.

50 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Tuckahoe.— Hill in Yonkers. This appears in Southampton, L. I., and elsewhere, and
seems to have been applied to a species of truffle or subterranean fungus (Pachyma cocos—
Fries) sometimes called Indian loaf. The tuckaho of Virginia (tockwhogh, as Captain John
Smith wrote the name) was the root of the Golden Club or Floating Arum (Oranthim Aquati-
cum). -'It groweth like a flag in low, marshy places. In one day a sal vage will gather
sufficient for a week. These roots are much the bigness and taste of potatoes." (Strachey.)

Waumainuck— Delancy's Neck. Yar., Wabnanuck, "land round about." Some other
place understood.

Wampus.—" The Opossum." A personal name.

Weckquaskeek.— Var., Wechquoesqueeck, Wiequotshook, Weecquoexguck, etc. Schoolcraft's
suggestion, " the place of the bark-kettle," and as repeated in various histories, is absolutely
worthless.' The name is simply a descriptive appellation of the locality where the Indians
lived at the date of settlement. Delaware, Wiquie-askeek, Massachusetts, Wehque-askeet,
Chippewa, U'aiekwa-ashkiki, "end of the marsh or bog."

Weqh</itfghe. — Yar., Wyoquaqua. A variant of the foregoing.

Wenntehees.— A locality in Cortlandt. Probably a personal name from the final s, although
early forms, if found, might indicate with a locative an original Winne-pe-es-et, " at the good-
tasted water-place," i.e., " a spring."

Wishqua. — " The end."

Wissayek. — Dover. "Yellow-place."

Waccabuck.— A lake or pond in Lewisboro. Wequa-baug, " end or head of the pond."

CHAPTER III

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW

HE alluring hypothesis of the discovery and settlement of
portions of this continent by the Northmen far back in the
Middle Ages, formerly received with quite general consid-
eration, finds few supporters at this day among the loading
authorities on the early history of America. That the Norse colonized
Greenland at a very early period is unhesitatingly admitted, abundant
proofs of their occupancy of that country being afforded by authentic-
ruins, especially of churches and baptistries, and collateral testimony
to the fact being furnished by old ecclesiastical annals, which seem to
indicate that as early as the eleventh century Greenland belonged
to the jurisdiction of the Catholic bishops of Iceland. It is also con-
ceded to be not impossible that accidental Norse descents from Green-
land upon the continent were made in the centuries that followed.
But this is merely an amiable concession to academic conjecture. It
is insisted that no reliable Norse remains have ever been found south
of Davis Straits: and one by one the various relics thought to be of
Norse origin that have been brought forward, in-
cluding certain supposed Runic inscriptions, have
been pronounced incapable of acceptation as such.

Several years ago there was found at Inwood,
just below the limits of Westchester < 'ounty, by Mr. INWOOr> STONE-
Alexander C. Chenoweth (whose Indian excavations in the same lo-
cality are noticed in the preceding chapter), a stone curiously marked,
which was the subject of some archaeological discussion at the time.
The markings were claimed to be rude Runic characters constituting
an inscription, out of which one writer, by ingeniously interpolating
missing letters, formed the words Kirkjussynir akta, which translated
are " Sons of the Church tax (or rake a census)." k' I suppose it to
mean," added this writer, " that representatives of the Church of
Rome had been there to tax, or number the people, and that this stone
was inscribed to commemorate the event."1 Thus it is seen that the
general region of which our county forms a part has been connected
with the fabled ages of Norse habitation of America— whatever may
be thought of the specific ground for the connection. The Inwood

Inscribed Stone, by Cornelia Horsford (Privately printed. Cambridge. 1S95), p. 14.

52 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

stone is possibly as plausible a specimen of "Runic" lettering as
other so-called inscribed stones which have been scrutinized and re-
pudiated by archaeologists from time to time. The all-sufficient argu-
ment against the Norse theory is that no satisfactory traces of Norse
residence, aside from the doubtful inscriptions, have ever been dis-
covered— no ruins of dwellings or works of any kind, no personal rel-
ics, and no indisputable graves, — whereas such a people could not
conceivably have dwelt here without transmitting to us some more
visible tokens of their presence than laboriously carved memorials.

The authentic history of Westchester County begins in the month
of September, 1609, when Henry Hudson, in his little ship the " Half
Moon," entered the harbor of New York and ascended the great river
which now bears his name. But there are strong reasons for believing
that Hudson was not the first navigator to appear on our shores, or at
least in their immediate vicinity.

In 1524 Juan Yerrazano, an Italian in the French service, sailing
northward along the coast, came to anchor at a place apparently out-
side the Narrows. In a letter dated July 8, 1521, to Francis I., king
of France, he reports that he " found a very pleasant situation among
some steep hills, through which a very large river, deep at its mouth,
forced its way to the sea; to the estuary of the river, any ship heavily
laden might pass with the help of the tide, which rises eight feet. But
as we were riding at anchor in a good berth we would not venture up
in our vessel, without a knowledge of the mouth; therefore we took
the boat, and entering the river we found a country on its banks well
peopled. . . . We passed up this river about half a league,
when we found it formed a most beautiful lake three leagues in cir-
cuit. . . . All of a sudden, as is wont to happen to navigators, a
violent contrary wind blew in from the sea, and forced us to return to
our ship, greatly regretting to leave this region which seemed so com-
modious and delightful, and which we supposed must also contain
great riches, as the hills showed mamT indications of minerals." This
description, although perplexing in some of its statements, and there-
fore suggesting caution as to conclusions, reasonably admits of the
belief I allowing for the inaccuracies in detail which nearly always oc-
cur in the reports of the early explorers) that Yerrazano entered and
inspected the Upper Bay. But it hardly justifies the opinion that he
passed ni» the river; the "lake three leagues in circuit " could have
been no other body of water than the Upper Bay, and the " river " up
which he went " about half a league " to reach it was evidently the
Narrows.

In the following year (1525) Estevan Gomez, a Portuguese sailor
employed by Spain to seek a passage to India, explored the coast,

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW

which, he says, k* turns southward twenty leagues to Bay St. Chripsta-
pel in 39°. From that bend made by the land the coast turns north-
ward, passing said bay thirty leagues to Rio St. Antonio, in 41°, which
is north and south with said bay." Gomez's "Bay St. Chripstapel"
was unquestionably the Lower New York Bay, and his "Rio St. Anto-
nio" (so named in honor of the saint on whose day he beheld it) the
Hudson River. The latter conclusion is clearly established by his de-
scription of the river as "north and south with said bay," which, taken
in its connections, can not possibly apply to any other stream. To have
established the north and south direction of the river he must have
explored it for some distance. It hence becomes an entirely reason-
able inference that in 1525, eighty-four years before Hudson's appear-
ance, the Portuguese Gomez, sailing under a commission from Spain,
entered Westchester County waters. It has even been suggested that
Anthony's Nose, the peak which guards the entrance to the High-
lands, owes its name to this first voyager of the river.1

Aside from the records of these early discoveries of Verrazano and
Gomez, there is much historic- *

al evidence indicating that at _:„-,~i -Jbjr

least the general coast con-
formation in the latitude of
New York was well under-
stood by European cartograph-
ers and navigators long before
Hudson made his memorable
voyage in the " Half-Moon."
This is strikingly illustrated
by Hudson's own statement, the "half^moon."

that in seeking a way to India

in this region lie was partly influenced by a hint received from his
friend, Captain John Smith, of Virginia, to the effect that somewhere
about 40 north there was a strait conducting to the Pacific, similar
to Magellan's Strait. Indeed, it was in studied violation of the in-
structions laid down for him by his employers at his setting out that
he turned his vessel hitherward. His instructions were to sail past
Nova Zembla and the north coast of Siberia, through the Bering Strait
into the Pacific, and so southward to the Dutch Indies. The famous

.,HM;f

1 Benson, in his "Memoirs.'" says that " the promon-
tory in the Highlands is called Antonie's Nose, after An
tonie De Hooge, secretary of the colony of Rensselaer-
wyck." He gives no authority for the opinion. The
Labadist brothers called it Antonis Neus (L. I. Hist. Coll.-
vol. i., p. 330), and say that all the Highlands "bear the
names that were originally given to them."' and this be-

cause it has the form of a man's nose. All the Dutch An-
thonies appear to have claimed it in turn: but what if it
should finally appear that it was named by the Spaniards,
who gave the whole river into the charge of Saint Anthony ?
—Sailing Directions of Henry Hudson, edited by the Rev.
II. F. It, Costa {Albany, 1869).

54 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

" Sailing Directions " of Ivar Bardsen that he took with him to guide
his course related exclusively to far northern latitudes.

Thus it is likely that neither the honor of the original discovery of
the Hudson River, nor such merit as attaches to the conception of the
availability of this latitude for adventurous quest, belongs to Henry
Hudson. Proper recognition of these historical facts does not, how-
ever, involve any diminishing from the uniqueness and greatness of
his achievement. He found a grand harbor and a mighty and beau-
tiful river, previously unknown, or only vaguely known, to the civil-
ized world. He thoroughly explored both, and, returning to Europe,
gave accounts of them which produced an immediate appreciation of
their importance and speedily led to measures for the development of
the country. Judged by its attendant results, Hudson's exploit stands
unrivaled in the history of North American exploration. No other
single discovery on the mainland of this continent was so quickly,
consecutively, and successfully followed by practical enterprise.

Henry Hudson was of English birth and training. Apart from this,
aud from the facts of his four voyages, which were made in as many
years, nothing is known of him. His first voyage was undertaken in
1607 for the Muscovy Company, having for its object the discovery of
a northeast route to China along the coast of Spitzbergen. His sec-
ond, in 1608, to a like end, took him to the region of Nova Zembla. It
was on his third, in 1609, still looking for a short way to the Orient,
that he came to these shores. His fourth and last, in pursuit of the
same chimera, was in 1610-11, the expense being borne by three Eng-
lish gentlemen. He explored the bay and strait to which his name has
since been given, passed the winter in the southern part of the bay,
and on the 21st of June, 1611, was, with his
sou and seven companions, set adrift in an
open boat by his mutinous crew, never to be
heard of more.

When Hudson adventured forth on his
momentous voyage of 1609 he flew from the
mast of his vessel the flag of the new-born
Republic of the United Netherlands. Just
at that time the Netherlands were success-
fully concluding the first period of their
gigantic struggle with Spain for independence. It was, indeed, in the
same month that the " Half-Moon " sailed from Amsterdam (April)
that the twelve years' truce between the Spanish aud Dutch was
signed. Everywhere in Europe this was a period of transition. In
England the long reign of Elizabeth had but recently come to its end,
and already, under James l.,the first of the ill-fated Stuart dynasty, the

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW 55

events were shaping which were to culminate in the Commonwealth.
In France Henry IV. was still reigning — that Henry of Navarre who
signed the Edict of Nantes, gave peace to the warring factions of the
kingdom, and laid the foundations for the diplomacy of Richelieu and
the power of Louis XIV. In the German Empire the seeds of the ter-
rible Thirty Years' War were ripening. In Sweden the young Gus-
tavus Adolphus was about to come to the throne. In Russia the dawn
of a new era was being ushered in by the accession of the first sov-
ereign of the house of Romanoff. In the south of Europe, on the other
hand, the glories of long ages of commercial, intellectual, and political
supremacy were fading away : the Italian republics were beginning to
decline, and the might of Spain was tottering to its fall. To this pe-
riod belong many of the world's greatest inventive and philosophical
intellects: Shakespeare, Cervantes, Rubens, Van Dyck, Kepler, Gali-
leo, Harvey, who discovered the circulation of the blood, and Lord
Bacon, who said of the early attempts to utilize the discoveries of
Columbus : kk Certainly it is with the kingdoms of the earth as it is in
the kingdom of Heaven : sometimes a grain of mustard seed becomes
a greattree. Who can tell? " And in this grand epoch of mental ac-
tivity and political change a more rational spirit respecting the uses
to be made of America was becoming conspicuously manifest. The
sixteenth century had been wholly wasted so far as the legitimate de-
velopment of the newly discovered lands beyond the sea was con-
cerned ; but with the first decade of the seventeenth soberly conceived
plans of orderly colonization began to be set on foot. During that dec-
ade the French inaugurated their permanent settlements in Canada,
and the English, under Captain John Smith, at last established an
enduring colonv in Virginia— enduring because founded on the secure
basis of mutual self-interest, labor, and economy. Even Spain, with
all her greed for new realms to pillage, had practically abandoned the
futile hope of forcing a gateway to them at the west. It remained for
the Dutch the most practical-minded people in Europe, to make then-
entry into America, in matter-of-fact times and circumstances such as
these, upon a mere quixotic expedition to the far Cathay— almost the
last one, happily, of its grotesque kind.

Hudson's employers in this enterprise were the Dutch East India
Company, a powerful corporation, which had been chartered in 1602
to trade with the East Indies, the southern and eastern coasts of Asia,
and the eastern coast of Africa. The new countries in America, and,
indeed, the entire waters of the Atlantic, were excluded from the field
of its operations. The company, during the less than seven years of
its existence, had enjoved extraordinary success, and its earnings now
represented seventv-fiVe per cent, of profit. In resolving upon a voy-

56 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTEK COUNTY

age for the long desired " northwest passage," the company adopted
a decidedly conservative plan. There was to be no visionary explora-
tion for a possibly existing route through the coastline of America, but
a direct entrance into Arctic waters in the region of Nova Zembla. in
the hope that an open sea, or continuous passage, would there be
found. Hudson, an Englishman, was chosen for the undertaking be-
cause he was known to be familiar with the northern seas — no Dutch
navigator of like experience being available. On the 4th of April,
1609, be sailed from Amsterdam in the " Half-Moon,'' a vessel of some
eighty tons burden, with a crew of twenty Dutch and English sailors.
Pursuant to his instructions from the company, he set a direct course
for the northeast coast of America, which he reached in the latitude of
Nova Scotia. Here, however, he abruptly departed from the plans
laid out for him, turned southward, passed along the shores of Maine
and Cape Cod, and proceeded as far as Chesapeake Bay. Returning
northward from that region, he followed the windings of the coastline
until, on the 2d day of September, he sighted the Highlands of Nave-
sink. Dropping anchor in the Lower Bay on the 3d, he remained there
ten days, meantime exploring with his ship's boat the surrounding
waters. Although his intercourse with the Indians was friendly, the
men whom he sent out in the boat provoked a conflict with them, in
which one of the exploring party, John Coleman, was killed and two
men were wounded. On the 12th of September he steered the " Half-
Moon " through the Narrows, anchoring that evening somewhere in
the Upper Bay, probably not far from the lower extremity of Manhat-
tan Island. The next day he began his voyage up the river, and after
making a distance of eleven and one-half miles again came to anchor.
It was at this stage of his journey that he attempted to detain two of
the natives, who, however, jumped overboard, swam to the shore, and
cried back to him "in scorn.'1 Brodhead, in his "History of New
York," locates the scene of this incident opposite the Indian village of
Nappeckamack, now the City of Yonkers. But from the details given
in the Journal of Hudson's mate, Robert Juet, it appears probable
that the point of anchorage on the 13th was not above the confines of
Manhattan Island. It is significant that the formidable attack on
Hudson"* vessel when he was returning down the river, an attack in
retaliation for his treacherous act upon this occasion, occurred at
Spuyten Duyvil Creek, and was clearly made by Manhattan Island In-
dians, the Indian fortress in that locality being on the southern shore
of the creek. The question, of course, is not important enough to re-
quire any serious discussion, but upon its determination depends the
fixing of the date of Hudson's entrance into Westchester waters—
that is, the date of discovery of our county and of the mainland of

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW

m the

r4Ti

T 81

New York State. To our mind, after a careful study of the records of
the voyage, it scarcely admits of doubt that the " Half -Moon's " arrival
above Spuyten Duyvil is to be assigned not to the first but to the sec-
ond day of its progress up the stream.1

Leaving his anchorage below Spuyten Duyvil
the 14th of September,
1609, Hudson traversed
on that day the entire
Westchester shore, en-
tering the Highlands
before nightfall. The
record of the day's sail-
ing is thus given in
Juet's Journal : " In
the morning we sailed
up the river twelve
leagues . . . and came
to a strait between two
points, . . . and it (the
river) trended north
by one league. . . . The
river is a mile broad;
there is very high land
on both sides. Then
Ave went up northwest
a league and a half,
deep w a t e r; t h e n
northeast five miles;
then n o r t h w e s t b y
north two leagues ami
a half. The land grew
very high and moun-
tainous." The " strait

between two points," where they found the stream "a mile broad,"
was manifestly that portion of the river between Verplauck's and
Stony Points. Continuing his voyage, Hudson sailed until he reached
the site of Albany, where, finding the river no longer navigable, he was
constrained to turn back, emerging from the Highlands into the West-
chester section about the end of September. Here for the first time
since leaving the Lower Bav blood was shed. The ship was becalmed

HALF-MOON '* LEAVING AMSTERDAM.

1 Wood, in his account (if the Discovery ami
Settlement of Westchester County, in Scharf's
History, accepts Brodhead's date; but Dr. Cole.

[istory of Yonkers in the same work
■viewing the statements in Juet's Jour-
des upon the 14th of September.

58 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

off Stony Point, in the k> strait " described by Juet, and the natives,
animated solely by curiosity, came out in their canoes, some of them
being received on board. The occupant of one of the canoes, which
kept " hanging under the stern," was detected in pilfering from the
cabin windows, having secreted " a pillow and two shirts and two
bandaliers." Whereupon the " mate shot at him, and struck him on
the breast, and killed him.*' The visitors now lied precipitately, those
on board the " Half-Moon " jumping into the water. A boat was low-
ered from the ship to recover the stolen property, and one of the In-
dians in the water had the temerity to take hold of it, at which " the
cook seized a sword and cut off one of his hands, and he was drowned."
It is difficult to characterize the shooting of the Indian thief otherwise
than as wanton murder, and this whole episode stands to the serious
discredit of Hudson and his companions. At Spuyten Duyvil the next
day was fought the historic encounter with the Indians of that local-
ity, who, harboring bitter resentment because of Hudson's attempted
forcible detention of two of their people on his journey up-stream, now
met him with a fleet of canoes and most valorously gave him battle.
The details of this fight have been given in our chapter on the Indians,
and need not be repeated here. It is noticeable that the only san-
guinary incidents of Hudson's exploration of the river occurred along
the Westchester coast.

Sailing away from the scene of this bloody conflict, the " Half
Moon " passed out of the Narrows on the 4th of October, just one
month and a day after its arrival in the Lower Bay, and proceeded
direct to Europe, reaching the port of Dartmouth, England, on the
Tth of November. The English authorities, reluctant to concede to
Holland the right to Hudson's important discoveries, detained the
vessel for several months on the strength of its commander's British
nativity, and though it was ultimately released to its Dutch owners
Hudson himself was not permitted to return to the Netherlands. As
we have seen, he embarked under English patronage the next year
upon another chimerical adventure after the northwestern passage,
and ended his career in 1611 as a miserable castaway on the shores
of Hudson's Bav. The " Half-Moon » was destined for a somewhat
like melancholy fate, being wrecked five years later in the East Indies.
By the delimitations of its charter granted in 1602, the Dutch East
India Company was excluded from all commercial operations in
America; and accordingly no steps were taken by that corporation to
develop the promising country found by Henry Hudson. But the
alert and enterprising private traders of Holland were prompt in
seeking to turn the new discoveries to profitable uses. While Hudson
and his ship were held at Dartmouth, that is, during the winter of

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW

SEAL OF NEW NETHERLAXD.

1609-10, an association of Dutch merchants was organized with the
object of sending out a vessel to these lands, and for a number of
years voyages were annually made. Of the first ship thus dispatched
Hudson's mate was placed in command, having under him a portion
of the crew of the " Half-Moon." These early private undertakings
were mainly in connection with the fur trade, which offered especial
advantages on the shores of the Hudson,
where at that period fur-bearing animals,
notably the beaver and otter, were very nu-
merous. So abundant, indeed, was the
beaver in this part of the country that for a
long period of years beaver-skins formed one
of the principal items in every cargo sent to
Europe. A representation of the beaver was
the principal feature of the official seal of
New Netherland.

In 1612 a memorable voyage was made to
Hudson's River by Henry Christiansen and Adrian Block, two Hol-
landers, in a vessel which they owned jointly. They returned with a
goodly cargo of furs, carrying with them to the home country two
sons of Indian chiefs, by one of whom Christiansen, several years sub-
sequently, was murdered on a Hudson River island. In 1613, with
two vessels, the " Fortune " and the " Tiger," they came back. Chris-
tiansen, commanding the " Fortune," decided to pass the winter on
Manhattan Island, and built several houses of branches and bark.
Upon the spot where his little settlement stood (now 39 Broadway)
the Macomb mansion, occupied by Washington for a time while
President, was constructed; and the officers of the Netherlands- Ameri-
can Steamship Line are now located on the same site. Block's ship,
the " Tiger," took fire and was completely destroyed while at her an-
chorage in the harbor. This great misfortune operated, however, only
to stimulate the enterprise of the resourceful Dutchmen, who forth-
with, in circumstances as unfavorable for such work as can well be
conceived, proceeded to build another, which was named the " On-
rust," or " Restless," a shallop of sixteen tons' burden, launched in the
spring of 1611. With the " Restless " Block now entered upon an ex-
ploration almost as important as Hudson's own, and certainly far
more dangerous. Steering it through the East River, he came sud-
denly into the fearful current of Hellgate, whose existence was pre-
viously unknown to Europeans, and which he navigated safely. Pass-
ing the mouth of the Harlem River, he thoroughly explored the West-
chester coast along the Sound and emerged into that majestic body
of land-locked water. To Block belongs the undivided honor of the

<;<>

HIS TORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

discovery of Long Island Sound, which had never before been entered
by a European mariner. Indeed, it was assumed up to that time that
the coastline north of the eastern extremity of Long Island was con-
tinuous, and the separation of Long Island from New England is not
indicated on any of the maps of the period. Block sailed through the
Sound to Cape Cod, discovering the Connecticut River and the other

PART OF BLOCK S MAP.

conspicuous physical features. The name of Block Island, off the
coast of Rhode Island, commemorates this truly distinguished dis-
coverer, and his momentous voyage. A highly interesting result of
Block's achievement was a chart of the country, which he prepared
and published, here reproduced in part. Although the outlines in
certain respects, particularly in the case of Manhattan Island, are ex-
tremely crude, they are surprisingly faithful in the parts representing
his individual resp< visibility. It will be observed that the general

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW 61

trend of the Westchester coast on the Sound is traced almost exactly.

Returning to Holland in the fall of 1614, with the " Fortune," hav-
ing left the kt Restless " with Christiansen, Block at once became a
beneficiary of an attractive commercial offer which had been pro-
claimed some months previously by the States-General, or central
government, of the Netherlands. He and his companion Christiansen
were by no means the only seekers of fortune in the splendid realms
made known by the captain of the " Half-Moon." Other trading ex-
peditions had gone there, and interest in the resources of this quarter
was becoming quite active. To further promote such interest, and to
arouse fresh endeavor, the States-General, in March, 1614, issued a
decree offering to grant to any person or number of persons who
should discover new lands a charter of exclusive privileges of trade
therewith. Upon Block's return there was pending before the States-
General an application for the coveted charter by a strong organiza-
tion of merchants, which was based upon Hudson's discovery and the
representation that the hopeful organization was prepared to make
to the region in question the number of voyages conditionally required
in the decree. On October 11, 1614, Block submitted to the States-
General, at The Hague, explicit information of his discoveries, and a
charter bearing that date was accordingly granted to him and a num-
ber of individuals associated with him (of whom Christiansen was
one), comprising a business society styled the New Netherland Com-
pany. This company had for its formally defined aim the commer-
cial exploitation of the possessions of Holland in the New World, to
which collectively the name of New Netherland was now applied. It
was in the same year and month that New England was first so called
by Prince Charles of Wales ( afterward Charles I. ).

The grant of the States-General establishing the New Netherland
Company, after naming the persons associated in it — these persons
being the proprietors and skippers of five designated ships, — describes
the region in which its operations are to be carried on as " certain new
lands situate in America, between New France and Virginia, the sea-
coasts whereof lie between forty and forty-five degrees of latitude, and
now called New Netherland." The range of territorial limits in lati-
tude thus claimed for Holland's dominion on the American coast is
certainly a broad extension of the rights acquired by the discoveries
of Hudson and Block, and utterly ignores the sovereignty of England
north of the Virginian region proper. On the other hand, the entire
coast to which Holland now set up pretensions had already been not
only comprehensively claimed by Great Britain, but allotted in terms
to the corporate ownership and jurisdiction of two English companies.
In 1606, three years before the voyage of Hudson and eight years be-

62 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

fore the chartering of the New Netherlands Company, the old patent
of Sir Walter Raleigh having been voided by his attainder for treason,
James I. issued a new patent, partitioning British America, then
known by the single name of Virginia, into two divisions. The first
division, called the First Colony, was granted to the London Company,
and extended from thirty-four degrees to thirty-eight degrees, with
the right of settlement as far as forty-one degrees in the event that
this company should be the first to found a colony that far north. The
second division, or Second Colony, assigned to the Plymouth Company,
embraced the country from forty-one degrees to forty-five degrees,
with the privilege of acquiring rights southward to thirty-eight de-
grees, likewise conditioned upon priority of colonization. Through-
out the long controversy between England and Holland touching their
respective territorial rights in America, it was, indeed, the uniform
contention of the English that the Dutch were interlopers in the in-
terior, and that the exclusive British title to the coast was beyond
question.

Attached to the charter given by the States-General to the New
Netherland Company was Block's tk figurative map," already alluded
to. The grant accorded to the company a trade monopoly, which, how-
ever, was only " for four voyages, within the term of three years, com-
mencing the 1st of January, 1615, next ensuing, or sooner." During
this three years' period it was not to be " permitted to any other per-
son from the United Netherlands to sail to, navigate, or frequent the
said newly discovered lands, havens, or places," "on pain of confisca-
tion of the vessel and cargo wherewith infraction hereof shall be at-
tempted, and a fine of 50,000 Netherland ducats for the benefit of the
said discovers or finders."

No obligation to settle the land was prescribed for the company,
and, indeed, this charter was purely a concession to private gain-seek-
ing individuals, involving no projected aims of state policy or colonial
undertaking whatever, although wisely bestowed for but a brief pe-
riod. Under the strictly commercial regime of the New Netherland
Company other voyagWwere made, all highly successful in material
results, the fur trade with the Indians still being the objective. That
the scope of operations of these early Dutch traders comprehended the
entire navigable portion of the Hudson River is sufficiently evidenced
by the fact that two forts were erected near the site of Albany, one
called Fort Nassau, on an island in the river, and the other Fort
Orange, on the mainland. It is hence easily conceivable that not in-
frequent landings were made by the bartering Dutchmen at the va-
rious Indian villages on our Westchester shore in these first days of
Hudson River commerce.

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW

<;:>

On the 1st of January, 1018, the charter of the New Netherland
Company expired by time limitation. Application for its renewal was
refused, and from that date until July, 1621, the whole of New Nether-
land was a free field for whomsoever might care to assume the ex-
pense and hazard of enterprises within its borders. This peculiar con-
dition was not, however, due to any flagging of interest in their Ameri-
can possessions on the part of the Dutch government, but was an in-
cident of a well-considered political programme which was kept in
abeyance because of the circumstances of the time, to be launched in
the fullness of events.

The twelve years' truce between Holland and Spain, signed in 1609,
was now drawing to its close. The question of the continuance of
peace or the resumption of war was still a doubtful one, contingent

VIEW OF AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

upon the ultimate disposition of Spain, for the people of the Nether-
lands were resolved in no case to accept anything but absolute inde-
pendence. In the eventuality of war it would become a particularly
important part of Dutch policy not merely to provide for the protec-
tion of the new provinces in America and their prospective inhabit-
ants, but to cope with the formidable Spanish maritime power in
American waters, and as far as possible prey upon the rich commerce
of Spain with that quarter of the globe and even wrest territory from
her there. To this end it was more than idle to consider the recharter-
ing of a weak aggregation of skippers and their financial sponsors as
the sole delegate and upholder of the dignity and strength of the re-
public in the western seas. If hostilities were to be renewed it would
be indispensable to institute an organization in connection with New
Netherland powerful enough to encounter the fleets of Spain on at

(jj. HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

least an equal footing. A perfect pattern for such an organization al-
ready existed in the Dutch East India Company. The creation of a
West India Company on similar lines to meet the expected need was
the grand scheme of statecraft which caused the States-General to
reject the solicitations of the worthy traders of the New Xetherland
Company for a continuation of their valuable monopoly.

This was, moreover, no newly devised plan. In 1604, two years after
the establishment of the East India Company, and long before the
first appearance of the Dutch tlag on the American coast, the concep-
tion of a West India Com] .any was carefully formulated in a paper
drawn up by one William Usselinx and presented, progressively, to the
hoard of burgomasters of Amsterdam, the legislature or " states " of
Holland province, and the States-General of the nation. In this docu-
ment Usselinx proposed the formation of "a strong financial corpora-
tion, similar to that exploiting the East Indies, for the fitting out of
armed vessels to attack the fleets of Spain and make conquest of her
possessions in the American hemisphere."1 But it was deemed inex-
pedient to sanction such a venture at the time.

Upon the termination of the twelve years' truce, in the spring of
1621, and the revival of the war between the two countries, the Dutch
statesmen had the details of the much-cherished West Indian Com-
pany enterprise thoroughly matured, and on the 3d of June of that
year the charter of the new corporation, comprising a preamble and
forty-five articles, was duly signed. The subscriptions to its stock,
which was required by law to be not less than seven millions of florins
(12,800,000), were immediately forthcoming. But although the ex-
istence of the company dated from July 1, 1621, it was some two years
before its charter took complete effect, various disputed points not be-
ing immediately adjustable. Twelve additional articles were subse-
quently incorporated, the whole instrument receiving final approval
on the 21st of June, 1623.

The Dutch West India Company, to whose care the conversion of the
American wilderness into a habitation for civilized man was thus com-
mitted, and under whose auspices European institutions were first
planted and organized government was erected and for many years
administered here, was in its basic constitution a most notable body,
partaking of the character of a civil congress so far as that is practi-
cable for an association pursuing essential mercantile ends. It had a
central directorate or executive board, officially styled the assembly
of the XIX., which was composed of nineteen delegates, eighteen be-
ing elected from five local chambers, and the nineteenth being the

1 Van Pelfs Hist, of the Greater New York. i. 0.

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW 65

direct representative of " their High Mightinesses, the [States-General
of the United Provinces." The five local chambers were subordinate
bodies which met independently, embracing shareholders from Am-
sterdam, Zeeland, the Meuse (including the cities of Dort, Kotterdam,
and Delft), the North Quarter (which comprised the cities of North
Holland outside of Amsterdam), and Priesland. The controlling in-
fluence in the company was that of the City of Amsterdam, which at
first sent eight and later nine delegates to the Assembly of the XIX.
The spheres of trade marked out for and confirmed to the company,
" to the exclusion of all other inhabitants or associations of merchants
within the bounds of the United Provinces," comprehended both the
Atlantic and the Pacific coasts of the two Americas, from the Straits
of Magellan to the extreme north, and, in addition, the African coast
from the Tropic of Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope.

The rights and powers vested in the corporation fell short of those
of actual independent sovereignty only in the particulars that the
more weighty acts of the company, as declarations of war and conclu-
sions of peace, were subject to the approval of the Dutch government,
and that the officers appointed to rule distant countries, and their un-
derlings, should be acceptable to the States-General and should take
the oath of fealty to the Netherlands republic. " To protect its com-
merce and dependencies, the company was empowered to erect forts
and fortifications; to administer justice and preserve order; maintain
police and exercise the government generally of its transmarine af-
fairs; declare war and make peace, with the consent of the States-
General, and, with their approbation, appoint a governor or director-
general and all other officers, civil, military, judicial, and executive,
who were bound to swear allegiance to their High Mightinesses, as
well as to the company itself. The director-general and his council
were invested with all powers, judicial, legislative, and executive, sub-
ject, some supposed, to appeal to Holland, but the will of the com-
pany, expressed in their instructions or declared in their marine or
military ordinances, was to be the law of New Netherland, excepting
in cases not especially provided lor, when the Roman law, the imperial
statutes of Charles V., tin- edicts, resolutions, and customs of Patr'tii—
Fatherland— were to be received as the paramount rule of action."1

One of the primary aims in the construction of this mighty corpora-
tion being to establish an efficient and aggressive Atlantic maritime
power in the struggle with Spain, very precise provisions were made
for that purpose. ' " The States-General engaged to assist them with
a million of guilders, equal to nearly half a million of dollars; and m
case peace should be disturbed, with sixteen vessels of war and four-

1 De Lancey's Hist, of the Manors of Westchester County (Scharf, i.. 42).

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

teen yachts, fully armed and equipped— the former to be at least of
three hundred and the latter of eighty tons' burden; but these vessels
were to be maintained at the expense of the company, which was to
furnish, unconditionally, sixteen ships and fourteen yachts, of like ton-
nage, for the defense of trade and purposes of war, which, with all
merchant vessels, were to be commanded by an admiral appointed
and instructed by their High Mightinesses."

And this magnificent programme of naval aggression was no mere
wordy ornamentation woven into the prosaic context of a matter-of-
fact commercial agreement for nattering effect. The West India Com-
pany, with its ships of war and armed merchantmen, under brilliant
commanders, scoured the Spanish Main, capturing many a richly
freighted bark of the enemy, and, not content with the prizes of the

high seas, it dispatched expedi-
tions to attack the Spanish terri-
torial possessions in the Antilles
and South America, which pro-
ceeded from conquest to conquest.
By its energy and prowess, in the
name of the republic of the United
Netherlands, was begun in the
first half of the seventeenth cen-
tury the work of dismemberment
of the vast Spanish empire in the
New World which now, at the
close of the nineteenth century,
has been so gloriously completed
by the arms of the republic of the
United States. On the South
American mainland Brazil, a
province of Portugal, at that time
tributary to Spain, was conquered
and held for several years as
Dutch territory, and the country known as Dutch Guiana, where the
flag of Holland still floats, also yielded itself to these merchant princes
of the Netherlands. In addition numerous AVest India islands were
taken. A celebrated episode of the company's naval operations during
the war was the capture of the Spanish " Silver Fleet " (1628) , having
the enormous value of $4,600,000 in our money. The financial concerns
of the corporation prospered exceedingly as the result of these and
other successes. In 1629 a dividend of fifty per cent, was declared, and
in 1630 a dividend of twenty-five per cent.

As we have seen, the status of the West India Company's organiza-

DUTCH WINDMI

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW 67

tion was not exactly settled until 1(323, and although it nominally en-
joyed exclusive dominion and trade privileges on the shores of the
Hudson from the 1st of July, 1621, no steps were taken to colonize the
land in the as yet unperfected state of its affairs. Before coming to
the era of formal settlement under its administration it is necessary
to complete our review of what is known of the history of the ante-
cedent years.

It is certain that the separate voyages undertaken hither by various
adventurous men between 1610 and 1623 resulted in no settlement of
the country worthy of the name. We find no record of any transpor-
tation of yeomen or families to this locality for the announced object
of making it their abode and developing its resources. Although there
is no doubt respecting the utilization of Manhattan Island in more or
less serious trading connections at an early period, the history of the
first years of European occupation is involved in a haze of tradition
and myth. From the vague reports given by different voyagers, in-
genious and not over-scrupulous writers constructed fanciful accounts
of pretended undertakings and exploits in this quarter, which, how-
ever, being presented in sober guise, have had to be subjected to
methodical investigation. All historical scholars are familiar with
the famous Plantagenet or Argall myth. In 1648 a pamphlet was pub-
lished in England, with the title, " A Description of New Albion," by
one Beauchamp Plantagenet, Esq., which assumed to narrate that in
the year 1613 the English Captain Samuel Argall, returning from
Acadia to Virginia, "landed at Manhattan Isle, in Hudson's River,
where they found four houses built, and a pretended Dutch governor
under the West India Company of Amsterdam," and that this Dutch
population and this Dutch ruler were forced to submit to the tre-
mendous power of Great Britain. The whole story is a sheer fabrica-
tion, and so crude as to be almost vulgar. Yet such is the continuing
strength of old pseudo-historical statement that we still find in com-
pendious historical reference works of generally authentic character
mention of Argall's apocryphal feat of arms — the " first conquest of
New Netherland by the English," — usually accompanied, albeit, by
the discreet "(?)" conscientiously employed by such faithful com-
pilers in cases of incertitude.

In 1619 occurred the first known visit of an English vessel to the
waters of Westchester County and Manhattan Island, which merits
passing notice here for an interesting incident attaching to it. Captain
Thomas Dermer, sent by Sir Ferdinand Gorges, of the Plymouth Com-
pany, to the Island of Monhegan on the coast of Maine, partly to pro-
cure a cargo of fish and partly to return the unfortunate Indian slave
Squanto to his home, came sailing through Long Island Sound in his-

HISTORY OF

WESTCHESTER COUNTY

ship's pinnace on a trip to Virginia which he had decided to make
after dispatching his laden vessel back to England. Leaving Martha's
Yh.evard, he shaped his voyage he narrates, "as the coast led me till
I came to the most westerly part where the coast began to fall away
southerly [the eastern entrance to the Sound]. In my way 1 discov-
ered land about thirty leagues in length [Long Island], heretofore
taken for main where I feared 1 had been embayed, but by the help
of an Indian 1 got to sea again, through many crooked and straight
passages. I let pass many accidents in this journey occasioned by
treachery where we were twice compelled to go together by the ears;
once the savages had great advantage of us in a strait, not above a
bow-shot [wide], and where a great multitude of Indians let fly at us

from the bank; but it pleased God to make us victors. Near unto this
we found a most dangerous cataract amongst small, rocky islands, oc-
casioned by two unequal tides, the one ebbing and flowing two hours
before the other." An excellent Westchester historian, commenting
upon this description, identifies the place where the Indians " let fly "
as Throgg's Point (the -dangerous cataract" being, of course, Hell
< rai e i . and adds the following appropriate remarks : " Such was the
vovage of the first Englishman who ever sailed through Long Island
Sound, and the first who ever beheld the eastern shores of Westchester
County. This was five years after the Dutch skipper Block had sailed
through the same Sound from the Manhattans, and ten years after
Hudson's discovery of the Great River of the Mountains. Very singu-
lar it is that fights with the Indians, both on the Hudson and on the
Sound, and at 'points nearly opposite each other, were the beginning
of civilization in Westchester County, and that the first was with the
Dutch and the second with the English, the two races of whites which,
in succession, ruled that county and the Province and State of New
York."1

De Lancey's Hist, of the Manors (Scliarf, i.. 10).

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW (39

Notwithstanding the failure of the old New Netherland Company
organized by Block, Christiansen, and their associates, to get its
charter of monopoly renewed in 1618, that organization did not pass
out of existence. To the New Netherland Company, moreover, belongs
the honorable distinction of having made the first tangible proposal
for the actual settlement of the country — a proposal quite explicit
and manifestly sincere. On February 12, 1(520, its directors addressed
to Maurice, Prince of Orange, stadtholder or chief executive of the
Netherlands, a petition reciting that " there is residing at Leyden a
certain English preacher, versed in the Dutch language, who is well
inclined to proceed thither [to New Netherland] to live, assuring the
petitioners that he has the means of inducing over four hundred fami-
lies to accompany him thither, both out of this country and England,
provided they would be guarded and preserved from all violence on
the part of other potentates, by the authority and under the protec-
tion of your Princely Excellency and the High and Mighty Lords
States-General, in the propagation of the true, pure Christian religion,
in the instruction of the Indians in that country in true doctrine, and
in converting them to the Christian faith, and thus to the mercy of the
Lord, to the greater glory of this country's government, to plant there
a new commonwealth, all under the order and command of your Prince-
ly Excellency and the High and Mighty Lords States-General. " The
directors, on their part, offered to the intending emigrants free trans-
portation in the company's vessels and cattle enough to supply each
family, upon the single condition that the government would furnish
two warships for the protection of the expedition from pirates. This
condition was not complied with, and the scheme fell to the ground.
It is a coincidence, and very presumably no accidental one, that this
offer was volunteered in the same year that the Pilgrims sailed from
Holland in the "Mayflower" and landed at Plymouth. Indeed, it is
well known that the original intention of the " Mayflower" company
was to proceed to New Netherland, and their landing on the New
England coast instead was the result of a change of plan almost at the
last moment. It will heme be observed that it was by the merest cir-
cumstance of fortune that our State of New York did not become the
chosen seat of the Puritan element. Yet New Netherland as originally
settled was just as distinctly a place of refuge for persecuted religious
sectarians as New England, the Walloons who came to New York Bay
being no less pilgrims for reasons of belief than the much-sung pas-
sengers of the " Mayflower."

If should be borne in mind that the confines of New Netherland, as
that territory was understood by the Dutch government, were not
limited to the shores of the Hudson River, New York Bay and its

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

company

estuaries, and Long [sland Sound. Henry Hudson, in his voyage of
discovery northward from Chesapeake Bay in 1609, had entered and
explored Delawa.ro Bav, and in the years which followed that region
received the occasional attention of ships from Holland. It was em-
braced as a matter of course, in the grant made to the West India
( :ompanv The name North River, by which the Hudson is still known
at its mouth, was first given to it to distinguish it from the Delaware
River or South River, as that stream was called by the Dutch.

We have shown, in perhaps greater detail than some of our readers
mav think is necessary in the pages of a local history, that the de-
termining consideration m the creation of the West India Company
was the desire of the Netherlands statesmen to provide, m view ot the
impending war with Spain, for a strong offensive and defensive naval
arm in the Atlantic ( >cean; and that the energies of the company were
devoted on a great scale and with signal success to the realization of
this aim The peaceful colonizing and commercial functions of the
' on the other hand, were not outlined with any degree of

special formality in the char-
ter, but were rather left to the
nai ural course of events. Upon
this point the document speci-
fied simply that the company
" Further may promote the
populating of fertile and unin-
habited regions, and do all that
the advantages of these prov-
inces [the United Nether-
lands], tin- profit and increase
of commerce shall require.*'
"Brief as is this language,"
aptly says a recent historian,
" there Avas enough of it to ex-
press the vicious principle un-
derlying colonization as con-
ducted in those days. It was
the advantage of these provinces
that must be held mainly in
view— t h a t is, the h o m e
country must receive the main
benefit from the settlements
wherever made, and commerce must be made profitable. The welfare,
present or prospective, of colonies or colonists, was quite a subsidiary
consideration. This accounts for much of the subsequent injustice,

NKW NETHERLAND.

DISCOVERY AND PRELIMINARY VIEW 7]

oppression, and neglect which made life in New Netherland anything
but agreeable, and finally made the people hail the conquest by Eng-
land as a happy relief."1

Early in the month of May, 1623, the first shipload of permanent
settlers from Holland came up Xew York Bay. They were Walloons
— thirty families of them, — from the southern or Belgic provinces of
the Lower Countries, which, having a strongly preponderating pro-
Catholic element, had declined to join the northern Protestant prov-
inces in the revolt against Spain. These Walloons, stanch Hugue-
nots in religious profession, finding life intolerable in their native
land, removed, like the sturdy English dissenters, to Holland, and
there gladly embraced opportunity to obtain permanent shelter from
persecution, as well as homes for themselves and their families, in the
new countries of America. They were not Hollanders, and had noth-
ing in common with the Dutch except similarity of religion; they did
not even speak the Dutch language, but a French dialect. The ship
which bore them, the " Xew Xetherland," was a fine vessel for those
days, of 266 tons burden. It came by way of the Canaries and the
West Indies, and was under the protecting escort of an armed yacht,
the "Mackerel." The whole expedition was commanded by Captain
Cornelius Jacobsen May, in whose honor Cape May, the northern pro-
montory at the entrance to Delaware Bay, was named. He was con-
stituted the governor of the colony, with headquarters in Delaware
Bay. He at once divided the settlers into a number of small parties.
Some were left on Manhattan Island, and others were dispatched to
Long Island (where the familial- local name of the Wallabout still
preserves the memory of the Walloons), to Staten Island, to Connecti-
cut, to the vicinity of Albany, and to the Delaware or South I^ver— al-
though the families locating on the Delaware returned to the northern
settlements after a brief sojourn. It does not appear that any of these
first colonists were placed in Westchester County, or even within the
northern limits of Manhattan Island. Arriving in May, with seeds and
agricultural implements, they were able to raise and garner a year's
crop, and consequently suffered none of the hardships which made the
lot of the Puritans during their first winter at Plymouth so bitter. Al-
though distributed into little bands, which might have been easily ex-
terminated by organized attack, they sustained, moreover, peaceful
relations with the Indians. Thus from the very start fortune favored
the enterprise of European colonization in Xew York.

Having in this and the preceding chapter, with tolerable regard for
proportions, as well as attention to minuteness in the more important

1 Van Pelt's Hist, of the Greater New York, i.. 13.

72 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

matters of detail, outlined the general conditions prevailing pre-
viously to and at the time of discovery, and traced the broader histor-
ical facts preliminary to the settlement of Westchester County, we
shall now, in entering upon the period when that settlement began,
have mainly to do with the exclusive aspects of our county s gradual
development, giving proper notice, however, to the general history and
conditions of the changing times as the narrative progresses.

CHAPTER IV

EARLIEST SETTLERS — BRONCK, ANNE HUTCHINSON, THROCKMORTON,

CORNELL

URING the first fifteen or so years after the beginning of the
colonization of New Xetherland there was no attempt at
settlement north of the Harlem River, so far as can be de-
^^ termined from the records that have come down to us. The
earliest recorded occupation of Westchester land by an actual white
settler dates from about 1639. At that period at least one man of
note and substance, Jonas Bronck, laid out a farm and erected a
dwelling above the Harlem. That he had predecessors in that sec-
tion is extremely improbable. The entire Westchester peninsula at
that time was a wilderness, inaccessible from Manhattan Island, ex-
cept by boat.1 The colony proper, as inaugurated by the few families
of Walloons, who came over in 1G23, and as subsequently enlarged by
gradual additions, was at the far southern end of Manhattan Island,
where a fort was built for the general security, and where alone ex-
isted facilities for trade and social intercourse. To this spot and its
immediate vicinity settlement was necessarily confined for some
years; and though by degrees certain enterprising persons took up
'lands considerably farther north, steadily pushing on to the Harlem,
it is most unlikely that that stream was crossed for purposes of habi-
tation by any unremembered adventurer before the time of Bronck.
Certainly any earlier migration into a region utterly uninhabited ex-
cept by Indians, and separated by water from all communication with
the established settlements, would have been an event of some im-
portance, which hardly could have escaped mention. We may there-
fore with reasonable safety assume that Bronck, the first white resi-
dent in Westchester County of whom history leaves any trace, was

i That is. not conveniently or for practical upon rocks and reefs at the place called Spyt
purposes accessible otherwise. At Kingsbridge, den duyvel " (the original name of Kings-
the place of divide between Spuyten Duyvil bridge,,. The editor of this History has crossed
Creek and the Harlem River-known in the there when fishing, finding the passage reason-
earliest times as "the fording place "-Ten- ably safe at - dead low water." At other
turosome persons would occasionally ford the times, when the tide was higher but not full,
stream. In the journals of Jasper Bankers and it was fordable although f****™***1*
Peter Sluvter-a narrative of a visit to New ment of risk being enlarged bj the rapiditj of
York in 1679-it is related (p. 135) that people the current.
•' can go over this creek at dead low water

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the first in fact, and that with his coming, about the year 1639, the
annals of the civilized occupation of our couuty begin.

The little colony of Walloons landed on Manhattan Island by the
ship " New Netherland " in the spring of 1023 was, as we have seen,
only one of several infant colonies planted on the same occasion and
governed by a director of the Dutch West India Company, who had his
headquarters in Delaware Bay. The first director, Cornelius Jacob-
sen May, was succeeded at the expiration of a year by William Ver-
hulst, who in 1(520 was replaced by Peter Minuit. Previously to
Minuit's appointment little effort had been made to give a formal
character to the administration of the local affairs of New JSether-
land, although the interests of the settlements were not neglected.
In 1025 wheeled vehicles were introduced, and a large importation of
domestic animals from Holland was made, including horses, cattle,

swine, and sheep. More-
over, some new families
and single people, mostly
Walloons, were brought
over.

With the arrival of Peter
Minuit, as director-gen-
eral, on May 1, 1020, the
concerns of the colony first
came under a carefully
ordered scheme of manage-
ment. The settlements in
New York Bay were now
made the seat of govern-
ment of New Motherland.
The director-general was
to exercise the functions of
chief executive, subject to
the advice of a council of
five members, which, be-
sides acting as a legis-
lative and general admin-
istrative body, was to con-
stitute a tribunal for the
trial of all cases at law
arising, both civil and
criminal. There were two other officers of importance — a secretary
oft lie council and a schout-fiscaal. The latter performed the com-
bined duties of public prosecutor, treasurer, and sheriff. There was

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS 75

no provision for representative government, although it was custom-
ary in cases of considerable public moment to call in some of the prin-
cipal citizens as advisers, who in such circumstances had an equal
voice with the members of the council. Of this custom the directors
sometimes took advantage in order to place the responsibility for
serious and perhaps questionable acts of policy upon the citizens.
The conduct of Director Kieft in entering upon his course of violent
aggression against the Indians, which resulted in great devastation in
our county, was given the color of popular favor iu this manner.

In the early months of Minuit's administration the Island of Man-
hattan was purchased from the Indians " for the value of sixty
guilders," or $24. The same ship which carried to Holland the news
of this transaction bore a cargo of valuable peltries (including 7,246
beaver skins) and oak and hickory timber. The first year of Minuit's
directorship was also signalized by the dispatching of an embassy
to New England, partly with the object of cultivating trade relations
with the Puritan settlers, but mainly in connection with the rival
English and Dutch territorial claims. Thus at the very outset of
systematic government by the Dutch iu their new possessions the
controversy with England, destined to be settled thirty-seven years
later by the stern law of the stronger, came forward as a subject
requiring special attention.

It should not be supposed that the settlement on Manhattan Island
at this early period enjoyed any pretensions as a community. Indeed,
it had scarcely vet risen to true communal dignity. According to
Wassanaer, the white population in 1628 was 270. But this number
did not represent any particularly solid organization of people com-
posed of energetic and effective elements. The settlers up to this
time were almost exclusively refugees from religious persecution,
who came for the emergent reason that they were without homes in
Europe— mostly honest, sturdy people, but poor and unresourceful.
The inducements so far offered by the AVest India Company were not
sufficiently attractive to draw other classes to their transatlantic
lands, and the natural colonists of the New Netherland, the yeomen
and burghers of the United Provinces, finding no appearance of ad-
vantage to offset the plain risks involved in emigration, were very
reluctant to leave their native country, where conditions of life were
comfortable and profitable much beyond the average degree. Ihis
reluctance was alluded to in the following strong language ^ a re-
port made to the States-General by the Assembly of the XIX. m lb- J:
" The colonizing such wild and uncultivated countries demands more
inhabitants than we can well supply; not so much through lack of
population, in which our provinces abound, as from the fact that all

76 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

2 "iLjj \»UjjL er~^ vu,j~~Sj». ^/J- i \~fti~Jiy ,j r vw^ U, ,

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS

fLju^u4^\

<^-l «U^«V

CHARTER OF NEW NETHERLAXP.

who are inclined to do any sort of work here procure enough to eat
without any trouble, and are therefore unwilling to go far from home
on an uncertainty."

It accordingly became a matter of serious consideration for the
company to devise more effective colonizing plans. After careful
deliberation, an elaborate series of provisions to this end was drawn
up, entitled " Freedoms and Exemptions granted by the Assembly of
the XIX. of the Privileged West India Company to all such as shall
plant any colonies in New Netherlands which in June, 1G29, received
the ratification of the States-General. As this document was the
basis upon which the celebrated patroonships, including the patroon-
ship of Yonkers, were founded, a brief summary of it is in order.

Any member of the West India Company who should settle a " col-
onic » (i. e., a plantation or landed proprietorship) in New Xetherland
was entitled to become a beneficiary of the Privileges and Exemptions,
but that right was withheld from all other persons. The whole coun-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

try was thrown open under the otter, excepting " the Island of Man-
hattan," which was reserved to the company. A colonic, within the
meaning of the document, was to be a settlement of " fifty souls, up-
wards of fifteen years old," one-fourth to be sent during the first year
and the remainder before the expiration of the fourth year. Everyone
complying with these conditions was t<> be acknowledged a patroon of
New Xetherland. The landed limits of the patroonships were exten-
sible sixteen English miles " along the shore — that is, on one side of
a navigable river, or eight miles on each side of a river — and so far
into the country as the situation of the occupiers will permit";
and the company waived all pecuniary considera-
tion for the land, merely requiring settlement.
Upon the patroons was conferred the right to
" forever possess and enjoy all the lands lying
within the aforesaid limits, together with the
fruits, rights, minerals, rivers, and fountains
thereof; as also the chief command and lower
jurisdiction, fishing, fowling, and grinding, to the
exclusion of all others, to be holden from the
company as a perpetual inheritance." In case
" anyone should in time prosper so much as to
found one or more cities," he was to " have power
and authority to establish officers and magis-
trates there, and to make use of the title of his
colonie according to his pleasure and the quality
of the persons." The patroons were directed to
furnish their settlers with " proper instructions, in
order that they may be ruled and governed conformably to the rule of
government made or to be made by the Assembly of the XIX., as well
in the political as in the judicial government." Special privileges of
traffic along the whole American coast from Florida to Newfound-
land were bestowed upon the patroons, with the proviso that their
returning ships should land at Manhattan Island, and that five per
cent, of the value of the cargo should be paid to the company's officers
there. It was even permitted to the patroons to traffic in New Neth-
erland waters, although they were strictly forbidden to receive in ex-
change any article of peltry, "which trade the company reserve to
themselves." Nevertheless they were free to engage in the coveted
peltry trade at all places where the Company had no trading station,
on condition that they should " bring all the peltry they can procure "
either to Manhattan Island or direct to the Netherlands, and pay to
the company kk one guilder for each merchantable beaver and otter
skin." The company engaged to exempt the colonists of the patroons

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS 71)

from all " customs, taxes, excise, imports, or any other contributions
for the space of ten years." In addition to the grants to the patroons,
it was provided that private persons, not enjoying the same privileges
as the patroons, who should be inclined to settle in New Netherland,
should be at liberty to take up as much land as they might be able
properly to improve, and to " enjoy the same in full property." The
principle of recompense to the Indians for the lands, as a necessary
preliminary to legal ownership, was laid down in the stipulation that
" whoever shall settle any colonic outside of Manhattan Island shall
be obliged to satisfy the Indians for the land they shall settle upon."
The patroons and colonists were enjoined " in particular and in the
speediest manner " to " endeavor to find out ways and means whereby
they may support a minister and schoolmaster, that thus the service
of God and zeal for religion may not grow cool and be neglected
among them." With an eye to possible infringements upon the com-
mercial monopoly of the company, the colonists were prohibited from
making any woolen, linen, or cotton cloth, or weaving any other stuffs,
on pain of banishment. The universal recognition in those times of
the propriety and expediency of employing negro slaves in new coun-
tries found expression in Article XXX. of the instrument, as follows:
"The company will use their endeavors to supply the colonists with
as many blacks as they conveniently can, on the conditions hereafter
to be made; in such manner, however, that they shall not be bound
to do it for a longer time than they shall think proper."

So far as this new system of " Freedoms and Exemptions " was in-
tended to encourage proprietary enterprises in New Netherland, its
purposes were at once realized. Indeed, even before the final ratifi-
cation of the plan, several of the leading shareholders of the com-
pany sent agents across the water to select the choicest domains,
which were duly confirmed to them as patroons soon after the charter
went into effect. Thus Samuel Godyn and Samuel Blommaert,
through their representatives, made purchases of land from the
Indians on Delaware Bay, one hundred and twenty-eight miles long
and eight miles broad, and were created patroons in consequence.
The first patroonship erected within the borders of the State of Xew
York was that of Rensselaerswyck, comprising territory on both
banks of the upper Hudson, of which Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, of Am-
sterdam, was the founder. This great tract was subsequently changed
into an English manor, and continued under the proprietorship of a
single hereditary owner until near the middle of the present century.
Another of the early patroons, Michael Pauw, acquired lands on the
west shore of the North River, now occupied by Jersey City and
Hoboken, later adding Staten Island to his possessions, and named

8() HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the whole district Pavonia. Westchester County, as an inviting lo-
cality for a patroonship, did not immediately claim notice; but, as we
shall see, it received in due time its share of attention in this regard,
becoming the seat of one of the most noted of all the patroons, Adrian
Van der Donck.

Much discontent arose among the general membership of the \\ est
India Company on account of the land-grabbing operations of the
wealthy directors, which was intensified as time passed by continuing
evidences of the self-seeking and general thriftiness of the patroons.
It was charged that the latter paid little or no heed to the plain spirit
of the charter of Freedoms and Exemptions, which in creating the
patroons had in view essentially the development of the country
granted to them; and that, instead of settling the land in good faith,
they sought principally the profits of trade, coming into conflict with
the' interests of the company. One result of the controversy was the
recall of Minuit, who was supposed to have shown too much partiality
for the patroons and too little zeal for the protection of the company
against their personal enterprises. This happened in 1633. The
next director-general was Walter Van Twiller, who remained m of-
fice until 163S, being dismissed for promiscuous irregularities of con-
duct, both otficial and personal.

From the pages of De Laet, the historian of the West India Com-
pany, we obtain an interesting statement of the fiscal affairs of New
Netherland to the close of Minuifs directorship— that is, to the end of
the first term of organized government. The total exports of the
Province of New Netherland from its foundation to the beginning of
1G33 amounted in value to 454,127 florins. The value of the imports
during the same time was 272,817 florins. Thus for the nine years
the company realized a profit on trade transactions of 181,2S0 florins,
or about $S,000 annually. This was an exceedingly trifling return
on a capitalization of nearly three millions of dollars, and it is no
wonder that the practical-minded merchants who controlled the com-
pany began to look in a decidedly pessimistic spirit at the whole New
Netherland undertaking, and as time went by conceived a fixed indif-
ference to the local welfare of such barren and unprofitable settle-
ments. On the other hand, the company was earning magnificent
sums in prize money from its captures of the enemy's merchant ships,
and was drawing handsome revenues from the newly conquered
dominions in South America and the West Indies. The contempt in
which New Netherland came to bo hold because of its unproductive-
ness is strikingly illustrated by the selections of men to manage its
a flairs. Van Twiller, who succeeded Minuit, was a mere coarse buf-
foon; and Kieft, who followed Van Twiller, was a cruel and vulgar

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS JS1

despot, who from the first regarded his position as that of sovereign
lord of the country, and proceeded to rule it by his arbitrary will, dis-
pensing with a council. , It is sufficient to contrast these selections of
rulers for New Netherland with the choice of Prince Maurice of Nas-
sau for governor of the Province of Brazil, to appreciate the compar-
atively low and scornful estimation placed upon the North American
realms in the inner councils of the West India Company after due
experience in their attempted exploitation. According to an explicit
" Eeport on the Condition of New Netherland," presented to the
States-General in 163S, the company declared that up to that time it
had suffered a net loss in its New Netherland enterprise; that it was
utterly unable to people the country; and that " nothing now comes
from New Netherland but beaver skins, minks, and other furs."

Closely following the submission of this significant report came a
new departure in policy as to colonization, which had far-reaching ef-
fects, and under which before long a tide of immigration began to roll
into our section.

Eealizing at last that the splendid scheme of patroonships, or a
landed aristocracy, instituted in 1629, appealed only to a limited class
of ambitious and wealthy men, who could never be relied upon to per-
form the tedious and financially hazardous work of settling the coun-
try with a purely agricultural population, the States-General on Sep-
tember 2, 1038, at the instance of the company, made known to the
world that henceforth the soil of New Netherland would be open to
all comers, of whatever position in society, whether natives of the
home country or inhabitants of other nations not at war with the
Netherlands. The specific terms attached to this very radical propo-
sition were the following:

" All and every the inhabitants of this State, or its allies and
friends," were invited to take up and cultivate lands in New Nether-
land, and to engage in traffic with the people of that region. Per-,
sons taking advantage of the offer of traffic were required to have
their goods conveyed on the ships of the West India Company, paying
an export duty of ten per cent, on merchandise sent out from the
ports of the Netherlands, and an import duty of fifteen per cent, on
merchandise brought thither from New Netherland. These certainly
were not onerous customs exactions. Respecting individuals, of
whatever nationality, desiring to acquire and cultivate land, the di-
rector and council were instructed " to accommodate everyone, ac-
cording to his condition and means, with as much land as he can prop-
erly cultivate, either by himself or with his family." The land thus
conceded was to become absolute private property, and to be free
from burdens of every kind until after it had been pastured or culti-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

vated four years; but subsequently to that period the owner was to
pay to the company -the lawful tenths of all fruit, grain, seed, to-
bacco, cotton, and such like, as well as of the increase of all sorts of
cattle" Those establishing themselves in New Netherland under this
offer were bound to submit themselves to the regulations and orders
of the company, and to the local laws and courts; but there was no
stipulation for the renunciation of allegiance to foreign potentates.
Considering the illiberal tendency of international relations prevalent
in the seventeenth century, and the native self-sufficient character of
the Dutch race, this whole measure is remarkable for its broad and
generous spirit. There was no allusion in it to
^fjjJT iPy] the subject of religious conformity, and the per-

fect toleration thus implied afforded a strong in-
ducement to persons growing restive under the
narrow institutions of the English colonies. This
element, migrating from New England, found
the shores of Westchester County most con-
venient for settlement, and became one of the
most important and aggressive factors of our
early population.

The noteworthy measure of 1638, whose pro-
visions we have just analyzed, was supple-
mented in July, 1640, by an act of the States-
Oeneral effecting a thorough revision of the
charter of Freedoms and Exemptions of 1629.
The patroonships were not abrogated, but the
right to be chosen as patroons was no longer
confined to members of the company, and the
privileges and powers of the patroons were sub-
jected "to considerable modification. The legal
limits of their estates were reduced to four English miles along the
shore, although they might extend eight miles laud ward in; and the
planting of their "colonies" was required to be completed within
three instead of four years. Trade privileges along the coast outside
of the Dutch dominions were continued as before; but within the ter-
ritory of New Netherland no one was permitted to compete with the
ships of the company, excepting that fishing for cod and the like was
allowed, on condition that the fisherman should sail direct to some
European country with his catch, putting in at a Netherlands port to
pay a prescribed duty to the company. In this act much greater rela-
tive importance was attached to the subject of free colonists, or colo-
nizers other than patroons, than in the original charter of 1629, the
object manifestly being to assure the public that New Netherland was

DUTCH COUNTRY PEOPLE.

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS 83

not a country set apart for lords and gentlemen, but a land thrown
open in the most comprehensive way to the common people. Free
colonists were defined to be those who should " remove to New
Netherland with five souls above fifteen years," and all such were to
be granted by the director-general " one hundred morgens (two hun-
dred acres) of land, contiguous one to the other, wherever they please
to select." The colonists were put on precisely the same footing as
thepatroons in matters of trade privilege, and, in fact, enjoyed all the
material rights granted to the patroons except those of bearing a title
and administering great landed estates, which, however, were equally
within their reach in case of their ability to comply with the require-
ment for the transportation from the old country and introduction',
into the new of fifty bona fide settlers. The company assumed the
responsibility of providing and maintaining " good and suitable
preachers, schoolmasters, and comforters of the sick"; and it ex-
tended to the free colonists, no less than the colonists of the patroons,
exemption from all taxes for a certain period. The former clause
regarding negroes Mas renewed in about the same language, as fol-
lows: "The company shall exert itself to provide the patroons and
colonists, on their order, with as many blacks as possible, without,
however, being further or longer obligated thereto than shall be
agreeable."

Thus from 1629 to 1640 three distinct plans for promoting the set-
tlement of New Netherland were formulated and spread before the
public. The first plan, after being tested for nine years, was found a
complete failure, because based upon the theory that colonization
should naturally and would most effectively proceed from the patron-
age of the rich, who, acquiring as a free gift the honors of title and
the dignities of landed proprietorship, would, it was thought, readily
support those honors and dignities by the substance of an established
vassalage. It was soon found that such a theory was quite incapable
of application to a country as yet undeveloped, and that the sole reli-
able and solid colonization in the conditions which had to be dealt
with would be that pursued on the democratic principle and under-
taken in their independent capacity by citizens of average means and
ordinary aims. It stands to the credit of the West India Company
and the Dutch government that, having discovered their fundamental
error of judgment in the first plan of settlement, they lost no time in
framing another, which was made particularly judicious and liberal
in its scope and details, and was as successful in its workings as the
original scheme had been disappointing.

We have now arrived at the period indicated at the beginning of
this chapter as that of the appearance of the first known settlers

34 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

within the original historic borders of our County of Westchester.
The attention of the Dutch pioneers on Manhattan Island had early
been directed to this picturesque and pleasant region, and it is a
pretty well accepted fact that some land purchases were made from
the Westchester Indians antedating 1039, although the records of
these assumed transactions have been lost. The most ancient deed
to Westchester lands which has been preserved to the present day
bears date of August 3, 1639, and by its terms the Indians dispose of
a tract called Keskeskeck; the West India Company being the pur-
chasers, through their representative, Cornelius Van Tienhoven, pro-
vincial secretary to Director Kieft.

In the next year Van Tienhoven was dispatched by Ivieft on similar
important business to this same section; and, April 19, bought from
the Siwanoy Indians all the lands located in the southeastern portion
of Westchester County, running as far eastward in Connecticut as the
Norwalk River. The instructions under which he acted directed him
to purchase the archipelago, or group of islands, at the mouth of the
Norwalk River, together with all the adjoining territory on the mam-
land, and " to erect thereon the standard and arms of the High and
Mighty Lords States-General; to take the savages under our protec-
tion, and to prevent effectually any other nation encroaching on our
limits." The purchase of 1640 was in the line of stole policy, being-
conceived and consummated as a countercheck to the English, who,
having by this time appeared in considerable numbers on the banks of
the Connecticut River, were making active pretensions to the whole
western territory along the Sound and in the interior, and were thus
seriouslv menacing the integrity of the Dutch colonial empire.

Wre may here appropriately pause to glance at some pertinent as-
pects of British colonial progress in New England — aspects with
which, we shall be bound to grant, those of contemporaneous Dutch
development in New Netherland do not compare over-favorably.

The Pilgrims of the "Mayflower" landed on Plymouth Rock late in
the month of December, 1620, a little more than two years before the
original company of Walloons came to New York Bay on the ship
"New Netherlands The first British settlement in New England and
the first Dutch settlement in New Netherland were thus inaugurated
almost simultaneously, the former having a slight advantage as to
time, and the latter a considerable one in the possession of a more
o-enial climate, a less stubborn soil, and a superior natural location
as also in the enjoyment of a more powerful, interested, and liberal
home patronage. From the parent settlement at Plymouth, the Eng-
lish not only rapidly advanced into the whole surrounding country,
but in the course of a few years sent colonizing parties to quite remote

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS 85

localities; and wherever an English advance colony gained a foot-
hold, there permanent and energetic settlement was certain very
speedily to follow. As early as 1633 a number of Englishmen from
Massachusetts, desiring to investigate the Indian stories of a better
soil to the south, came and established themselves in the Connecticut
Valley. Shortly afterward a patent for this region was obtained
from the British crown by Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brook, and others.
In 163G John TV inthrop, son of Governor Winthrop, settled on the
Connecticut with a goodly company; and in 1638 Theophilus Eaton,
with the noted Rev. John Davenport, led a large band of settlers to
the same locality, planting the New Haven colony. Rhode Island
was brought under settlement also at that period by Roger Williams
and other dissidents from the intolerant religions institutions of
Massachusetts.

Now, the Euglish, in establishing important and flourishing settle-
ments throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island, were, technically
speaking, not in advance of the Dutch. The Dutch were the undis-
puted first discoverers of the entire Connecticut and Rhode Island
coastline, along which the intrepid navigator Block sailed in 1614.
Later, Dutch voyagers returned to those shores and trafficked with
the natives; and finally, in 1623, when Director May arrived in New
York harbor on his mission of colonization from the West India Com-
pany, he dispatched a number of his Walloon families to the mouth of
the Connecticut River. At the same place the arms of the States-
( General of the Netherlands were formally erected in 1632, and in 1633
Director-General Van Twiller bought from the Indians a tract of land
called Connittelsock, situated on the western Connecticut bank, on
which tract, at a point sixty miles above the mouth of the stream, a
Dutch fort and trading-house, named Good Hope, were built. In-
deed, the English pioneers of 1633, proceeding down the Connecticut,
found the Dutch already in possession there.

But the Dutch occupation of the mouth and valley of the Connec-
ticut River was never otherwise than merely nominal, a fact which, in
view of the easily conceivable future importance of that quarter in
connection with the maintenance of Dutch territorial claims, is cer-
tainly striking, and characteristically illustrates Dutch deliberation
and inefficiency in colonizing development as contrasted with English
alacrity ami thoroughness. Moreover, all the connecting circum-
stances indicate that the establishment by the Dutch of a fort and
trading-post on the Connecticut was not prompted by serious designs
of consecutive settlement, but was a pure extemporization in the in-
terest of ultimate insistence upon lawful ownership of that region.
From 1623, the year in which Manhattan Island was regularly settled,

3(3 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

until 1639, a period of sixteen years, not a single Dutch colony had
been founded, and probably not a single Dutch family had taken up
its abode, in all the country intervening between the Harlem and the
Connecticut Rivers-a country splendidly wooded and watered with
a highly interesting coast and rich alluvial lands, and vastly im-
portant as an integral and related portion of the dominions of New
Netherland. It may perhaps be replied that the whirlpool of Hell
Gate presented a natural obstacle to convenient intercourse with the
shores of the Sound, and consequently to advantageous settlement m
the entire trans-Harlem country. But if the Manhattan Island col-
ony had been animated by any noticeable spirit of progress, it would
not have allowed sixteen years to pass without finding access to this
region, either from the northern extremity of Manhattan Is and or
from the Long Island side. The truth is, there was no general devel-
opment by the Dutch even of Manhattan Island during the period m
question/ Only its southern end was occupied by any regular aggre-
gation of settlers, and this aggregation still existed mainly for the
business of bartering with the Indians and sending to Holland " beav-
er skins minks, and other furs," the only products which, as declared
in the " Report of 1638 on the Condition of New Netherland, were
afforded by the province.

To review the comparative situation in 1610, while the English had
steadilv and systematically advanced as an earnest and practical col-
onizing people, covering the land from Plymouth Rock to the Sound
with organized settlements which sought the immediate development
of all its available resources, the Dutch had remained stationary, with
only a single settlement worthy of consideration. It is true they had
located and occupied a few trading-posts in and around New York
Bay, as well as in distant parts of New Xetherland— in Delaware Bay,
on the upper Hudson at Albany, and on the Connecticut River. But
these enterprises represented in no case creditable colonizing en-
deavor.

It has been seen that, in the years 1639 and 1610, Cornelius Y an
Tienhoven, as the representative of Director-General Kieft, purchased
from the Indians, first, a large Westchester tract called Keskeskeck,
and, second, lands covering generally the southeastern section of this
county and extending to the Norwalk River. This was done to fore-
stall English claims to priority of possession, at that time conspicu-
ously in course of preparation. But even in this matter of land pur-
chases the Dutch were scarcely aforetime of the alert English. To
the latter, also, the Indians executed a deed of sale, embracing exten-
sive portions of Westchester County, and nearly as ancient as the first
Dutch land deed. On July 1, 1610, Captain Nathaniel Turner, in be-

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS b<

half of the New Haven colony (Quinnipiacke), bought from Ponus,
sagamore of Toquains, and Wascussue, sagamore of Shippan, lands
running eight miles along the Sound and extending sixteen miles into
the northwestern wilderness. This tract was comprehensively known
by the name of " The Toquams." Ponus prudently reserved for him-
self " the liberty of his corn and pasture lands." It included, in Con-
necticut, the present Town of Stamford, as well as Darien and New
Canaan, and parts of Bedford and Greenwich; aud, in Westchester
County, the Towns of Poundridge, Bedford, and North Castle, either
in whole or in part. On the basis of this purchase, the settlement at
Stamford, Conn., was laid out in 1641. In 1655 the bargain of 1610
was reaffirmed by a new agreement with the Indians respecting the
same district. No early settlements in the Westchester sections of
the tract were attempted by the English; but it is an interesting point
to bear in mind that the interior sections of this county bordering on
Connecticut were first bought from the Indians not under Dutch but
under English auspices, and thus that the English fairly share with
the Dutch the title to original sovereignty in Westchester County, so
far as that title can be said to be sustained by the right of mere
purchase.

There was a second English purchase from the Indians in 1610,
which constructively may have included some parts of Westchester
County. Mehackem, Narawake, and Pemeate, Indians of Norwalk,
agreed to convey to Daniel Patrick, of Greenwich, all their lands on
the west side of " Norwake River, as far up in the country as an
Indian can goe in a day, from sun risinge to sun settinge,*' the consid-
eration being " ten fathoms wampum, three hatchets, three bows, six
glasses, twelve tobacco pipes, three knives, tenn drills, and tenn
needles."

It was a year or two previously to 1610 that Jonas Bronck, gener-
ally regarded as the first white inhabitant of AVestchester County,
came across the Harlem River to take up land and build a home. He
was not a native Hollander, being, it is supposed, of Swedish extrac-
tion. But he appears to have made his home in Amsterdam, where
he was married to one Antonia (or Teuntje) Slagboom. While there
is no evidence that he was a man of large wealth, it is abundantly
manifest that he was quite comfortably circumstanced in worldly
goods. Unquestionably his sole object in emigrating to New Nether-
land was to acquire and cultivate land, probably under the liberal
general offer to persons of all nations proclaimed by the States-Gen-
eral in 1638. He was, therefore, one of the first of the new and more
substantial class of men who began to remove hither after the substi-
tution bv the West India Company of a broad and democratic plan of

gS HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

colonization for the old exclusive scheme of special privileges to the
patroons. Sailing from Amsterdam in a ship of the company's, with
his wife and family, farmhands and their families, domestic servants,
cattle, and miscellaneous goods, he landed on Manhattan Island; and,
not caring to purchase one of the company farms there (the whole
island having been expressly reserved to the private uses of the West
India Company), proceeded to select a tract in the free lands beyond
the Harlem. Here, pursuant to the custom peremptorily required by
Dutch law, he first extinguished the Indian title, purchasing from
the native chiefs Ranachqua and Taekamuck five hundred acres
kk lying between the great kill (Harlem River) and the Ahquahung "
mow the Bronx River). An old kk Tracing of Broncksland " is still
preserved in the office of the secretary of state at Albany, upon which
the house of Jonas Bronck is located. Its site as thus indicated was
not far from the present depot of the Harlem River branch of the New
York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, at Morrisania. This dwelling
is described as of " stone," covered with tiles, and had connected with
it a barn, tobacco-house, and two barracks. As the Dutch word for
stone fsteenj is always ambiguous unless accompanied by a descrip-
tive prefix, it is uncertain what kind of building stone, whether brick
or the native rock of the country, was used by Bronck. In view of the
generally provident character of the man, it is a reasonable supposi-
tion that he brought a supply of brick with him from Holland; and
thus that the first house erected in the county was made of that re-
spectable material. To his estate he gave the Scriptural name of
Enimaus. From the inventory of the personal property which he
left at his death, it is clear that he was a gentleman of cultivation.
His possessions included pictures, a silver-mounted gun, silver cups,
spoons, tankards, bowls, fine bedding, satin, grosgrain suits, linen
shirts, gloves, napkins, tablecloths, and as many as forty books. The
books were largely godly volumes, among them being Calvin's " Insti-
tutes," Luther's " Psalter " and " Complete Catechism," the " Praise
of Christ," the " Four Ends of Death," and " Fifty Pictures of Death."
Bronck died in 1643. The celebrated Everardus Bogardus, the
Dutch domino on Manhattan Island and husband of Anneke Jans,
superintended the inventorying of his estate. His widow married
Arent Van Corlaer, sheriff of Rensselaerswyck. Jonas Bronck left a
son, Peter, who went with his mother to her new home,and from whom
the numerous Bronx family of Albany and vicinity is descended. The
Bronck property on the Harlem was sold on July 10, 1651, to Jacob
Jans Stall. One of its subsequent owners was Samuel Edsall, a
beaver-maker and man of some note in New York City, who had trade
transactions with the Indians, became versed in their language, and

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS 89

acted officially as interpreter. He sold it to Captain Richard Morris,
and it subsequently became a part of the Manor of Morrisania.

The Bronx River, first known as Bronck's River, or the Bronck
River, was appropriately so called for this pioneer settler on its
banks; and from the stream, in our own day, has been derived the
name given to the whole great and populous territory which West-
chester County has resigned to the growing municipal needs of the
City of New York. Whatever changes in local designations may
occur in the American metropolis in the progress of time, it is a safe
prediction that the name of the Borough of the Bronx, so happily
chosen for the annexed districts, will always endure.

The example of Bronck in boldly venturing over upon the main-
land would doubtless have found many ready followers among the
Dutch already on Manhattan Island, or those who were now arriving
in constantly increasing numbers from Europe, if the threatening
aspect of the times had not plainly suggested to everybody the inex-
pediency of going into an open country exposed to the attacks of the
Indians. In the summer and fall of 1641 events occurred which, con-
sidered in connection with the well-known unrelenting character of
Director Kieft, foreshadowed serious trouble with the natives; and
early in the spring of 1612 a war actually broke forth which, although
at first conducted without special animosity, developed into a most
revengeful and sanguinary struggle, with pitiless and undiscriminat-
ing massacre on both sides as its distinguishing characteristic. It is
probable that, before the preliminaries of this war had so far de-
veloped as to fairly warn the people of the impending peril, various
new Dutch farms and houses on the Westchester side were added to
the one already occupied by Bronck. Be this at it may, it is certain
that settlers from the New England colonies had begun to arrive at
different localities on the Sound. These English settlers, in many re-
gards the most important and interesting of the Westchester pio-
neers, now claim a good share of our notice.

First in point of prominence is to be mentioned the noted Anne
Hutchinson, whose name, like that of Bronck, has become lastingly
identified with Westchester County by being conferred upon a river.
Whether she was the first of the immigrants from Xew England into
Westchester County, can not be determined with absolute certainty;
but there is no question that she was among the very earliest. In the
summer of 1612, permission having been granted her by the Dutch
authorities to make her home in Xew Xetherland, she came to the dis-
trict now known as Pelham, and on the side of Hutchinson's River
founded a little colony. The company consisted of her own younger
children, her son-in-law, Mr. Collins, his wife and family, and a few

90 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

congenial spirits. In barely a year's time the whole settlement was
swept to destruction, everybody belonging to it being killed by the
Indians with the sole exception of an eight-year-old daughter of Mrs
HutchSsoni win, was borne away to captivity. The lady herself
was burned to death in the flames of her cottage. .^ . , . . .

The tragical fate of Anne Hutchinson is one of the capital historic
episodes of Westchester annals, because to the personality and career
of this remarkable woman an abiding interest attaches. It is true
that interest in Anne Hutchinson, in the form of special sympathy or
special admiration, may vary according to varying individual capabil-
ities for appreciation of the polemic type of women; but upon one
point there can be no disagreement-she was among the foremost
characters of her times in America, sustaining a conspicuous relation
to early controversialism in the New England settlements, and must
always receive attention from the students of that period.

She was of excellent English birth and connections. Her mother
was the sister of Sir Erasmus Dryden, and she came collaterally from
the same stock to which the poet Dryden and (though more distantly)
the »Teat Jonathan Swift trace their ancestry. Her husband, Mr.
Hutchinson, is described as " a mild, amiable, and estimable man,
possessed of a considerable fortune, and in high standing among his
Puritan contemporaries"; entertaining an unchanging affection for
his wife, and accompanying her through all her wanderings and
trials, until removed by death a short time before her flight to our
Westchester County. Mrs. Hutchinson personally was of spotless
reputation and high and noble aims; benevolent, self-sacnhcing; hold-
iuo- the things of the world in positive contempt; an enthusiast in re-
liction, independent in her opinions, and fearless in advocacy of them.
With her husband and their children, she left England and came to
Massachusetts Bay in 163G. Settling in Boston, she immediately en-
tered upon a career of religious teaching and proselytizing. tk Every
week she gathered around her in her comfortable dwelling a congre-
o-ation of fifty or eighty women, and urged them to repentance and
oood deeds * Soon her meetings were held twice a week; a religious
revival swept over 1 he colony." But, careful not to offend against the
decorum of the church, she confined her formal spiritual labors to
the women, declining to address the men, although many of the latter,
including some of the principal personages, visited her, and came
under her personal and intellectual influence. Among her cordial
friends and supporters were Harry Vane, the young governor of the
colony; Mr. Col ton, the favorite preacher; Coddington, the wealthy
citizen; and Captain John Underbill, the hero of the Pequod wars,
who, accepting a commission from the Dutch in their sanguinary

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS 91

struggle with the Indians, was the leader of the celebrated expedi-
tionary force which, in 1644, the year after the murder of Mrs. Hutch-
inson, marched into the heart of Westchester County and wreaked
dire vengeance for that and other bloody deeds. To the work of in-
struction she added a large practical philanthropy, assisting the poor
and ministering to the sick.

But it was not long before Mrs. Hutchinson, by the independence of
her opinions, excited the serious displeasure of the rigid Puritan ele-
ment. Her precise doctrinal offense against the established stand-
ards concerned, says a sympathetic writer, " a point so nice and finely
drawn that the modern intellect passes it by in disdain; a difference
so faint that one can scarcely represent it in words. Mrs. Hutchinson
taught that the Holy Spirit was a person and was united with the be-
liever; the Church, that the Spirit descended upon man not as a per-
son. Mrs. Hutchinson taught that justification came from faith, and
not from works; the Church scarcely ventured to define its own doc-
trine, but contented itself with vague declamation." Although at
first the Hutchinsonians were triumphant, especially in Boston,
where nearly the entire population were on their side, the power of
the church speedily made itself felt. On August 30, 1637, the first
synod held in America assembled at Cambridge, its object being "to
determine the true doctrines of the church and to discover and de-
nounce the errors of the Hutchinsonians." Eighty-two heresies were
defined and condemned, certain individual offenders were punished
or admonished, and Mrs. Hutchinson's meetings were declared disor-
derly and forbidden. Meantime Vane had been deposed as governor,
and Winthrop, an unrelenting opponent of innovations, elected in his
stead. In the following November Anne was publicly tried at Cam-
bridge. "Although in a condition of health that might well have
awakened manly sympathy, and that even barbarians have been
known to respect, her enemies showed her no compassion. She was
forced to stand up before the judges until she almost fell to the floor
from weakness. No food was allowed her during the trial, and even
the members of the court grew faint from hunger. She was allowed
no counsel; no friend stood at her side; her accusers were also her
judges." She was condemned by a unanimous vote, and sentenced
to be imprisoned during the winter in the house of the intolerant
Joseph Welde, and to be banished in the spring from the colony.
While in duress pending her exile, she was excommunicated by the
First Church of Boston for "telling a lie." In March, 1638, the
Hutchinson family left Boston and removed to Bhode Island. There
they remained until after the death of Mr. Hutchinson, in 1642, when
Anne resolved to seek another home under the Dutch, and came to
what is now Pelham, at that time a complete wilderness.

92 HISTORY 01 WESTCHESTER COUNTY

There is no record of land purchase from the Indians by Mrs.
Hutchinson or any of her party. This is undoubtedly for the reason
pointed out by Bolton, that the whole colony was exterminated before
purchase could be completed. Indeed, it does not appear that even
the formality of procuring written license from the Dutch authorities
to settle in the country had yet been observed. The massacre oc-
curred in September of 1(543. It is said that an Indian came to Mrs
Hutchinson's home one morning, professing friendship. I mding that
the little colony was utterly defenseless, he returned in the evening
with a numerous party, which at once proceeded to the business of
slam-liter. According to tradition, the leader of the murderous In-
dians was a chief named Wampage, who subsequently called himself
- \nn-Hoock," following a frequent custom among the savages, by
which a warrior or brave assumed the name of his victim. In lbo4,
eleven years later, this Wampage, as one of the principal Indian pro-
prietors of the locality, deeded land to Thomas Pell, over the signa-
ture of - Vnn-Hoock." A portion of the peninsula of Pelham Neck
was Ion- known by the names of - Annie's Hoeck » and the " Manor
of inn Hoeck's Neck." Bolton, referring to various conjectures as
to the site of Anne's residence, inclines to the opinion that it was
-located on the property of George A. Prevoost, Esq of Pelham,
near the road leading to the Keck, on the old Indian Path. The
onlv one of Mrs. Hutchinson's company spared by the attacking party
was her youngest daughter, quite a small child, who, after being held
in captivitv four years, was released through the efforts of the Dutch
governor and restored to her friends; but it is said that she -had
forootten her native language, and was unwilling to be taken from
the'lndians." This girl married a Mr. Cole, of Kingston, in the Nar-
ragansett country, and - lived to a considerable age." One of the
sons of Anne Hutchinson, who had remained in Boston when ins par-
ents and the younger children left there in 1G3S, became the founder
of an important colonial family, numbering among its members the
Tory o-overnor Hutchinson, of the Revolution; also a grown-up
daughter of Mrs. Hutchinson's married and left descendants in New

England. tt .

In the autumn of 1642, a few months after Anne Hutchinson s first
appearance on the banks of the Hutchinson River, the foundations of
another notable English settlement on the Sound were laid. John
Throckmorton, in behalf of himself and associates (among whom was
probably his friend, Thomas Cornell), obtained from the Dutch gov-
ernment a license, dated October 2, 1042, authorizing settlement
within three Dutch (twelve English) miles " of Amsterdam." In
this license it was recited that " whereas Mr. Throckmorton, with his

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS 93

associates, solicits to settle with thirty-five families within the limits
of the jurisdiction of their High Mightinesses, to reside there in peace
and enjoy the same privileges as our other subjects, and be favored
with the free exercise of their religion,"' and there being no danger
that injury to the interests of the West India Company would result
from the proposed settlement, 'k more so as the English are to settle
at a distance of three miles from us," " so it is granted." The locality
selected by Throckmorton was Throgg's Neck (so called from his
name, corrupted into Thro gmor ton), and apparently the colony was
begun forthwith. By the ensuing spring various improvements had
been made, and on July 6, 1643, a land-brief, signed by Director Kieft,
" by order of the noble lords, the director and council of New Nether-
land," was granted to " Jan Throckmorton," comprising " a piece of
land (being a portion of Vredeland), containing as follows: Along the
East River of New Netherland, extending from the point half a mile,
which piece of land aforesaid is surrounded on one side by a little
river, and on the other side by a great kill, which river and kill, on
high water running, meet each other, surrounding the land." The
term ik Vredeland " mentioned in the brief (meaning Free Land or
Land of Peace) was the general name given by the Dutch to this and
adjacent territory along the Sound, which was the chosen place of
refuge for persons fleeing from New England for religious reasons.

John Throckmorton, the patentee, emigrated from Worcester
County, England, to the Massachusetts colony, in 1631. He was in
Salem as late as 1639; but, embracing the Baptist faith, removed soon
afterward to Rhode Island, where he sustained relations of intimacy
with Roger Williams. It is well known that Williams came to New
Netherland in the winter of 161243, in order to obtain passage for
Europe on a Dutch vessel, and it is not improbable that Throckmorton
accompanied him on his journey to the Dutch settlements from Rhode
Island.

One of Throckmorton's compatriots was Thomas Cornell, who later
settled and gave his name to Cornell's Neck, called by the Indians
Snakapins. He emigrated to Massachusetts from Essex, England,
about 1636; kept an inn in Boston for a time; went to Rhode Island
in 1611; and from there came to the Vredeland of New Netherland.
On the 26th of July, 1616, he was granted by the Dutch a patent to a
" certain piece of land lying on the East Rh er, beginning from the
kill of Bronck's land, east-southeast along the river, extending about
half a Dutch mile from the river to a little creek over the valley
(marsh) which runs back around this land." This patent for Cor-
nell's Neck was issued at about the same time that the grant to
Adrian Van der Donck of what is now Yonkers was made. The

94 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Cornell and Van der Donck patents were the first ones of record to
lands in Westchester County bestowed by Dutch authority subse-
quently to the Throckmorton -rant of 1043. It is claimed for Thomas
Cornell, of Cornell's Neck, that he was the earliest settler in West-
chester County whose descendants have been continuously identified
with the county to the present day. He was the ancestor of Ezra
Cornell, founder of Cornell I'ni versify, and Alonzo R. Cornell, gov-
ernor of New York. His part in the first settlement of the county
has been traced in an interesting and valuable pamphlet from the pen
of Governor Cornell.1 Both Throckmorton and Cornell escaped the
murderous fury of the Indians to which Anne Hutchinson fell a vic-
tim in the fall of 1643. It is supposed that they were in New Amster-
dam at the time with their families, or at all events with some of their
children. Certain it is that the infant settlement on Throgg's Neck
was not spared. Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts, in his " His-
tory of New England from 1630 to 1646/' says: " They [the Indians]
came to Mrs. Hutchinson in way of friendly neighborhood as they had
been accustomed, and, taking their opportunity, they killed her and
Mr. Collins, her son-in-law, . . . and all her family, and such
of Mr. Throckmorton's and Mr. Cornell's families as were at home, in
all sixteen, and put their cattle into their barns and burned them."
Throckmorton did not return to the Neck to live, or at least did not
make that place his permanent abode. In 1652 he disposed definitely
of the whole property, conveying it, by virtue of permission petitioned
for and obtained from the Dutch director-general, to one Augustine
Hermans. From him are descended, according to Bolton, the Throck-
mortons of Middletown, N. J. Cornell, after receiving the grant to
Cornell's Neck, erected buildings there, which he occupied until
forced for the second time by hostile Indian manifestations to aban-
don his attempt at residence in the Vredeland. His daughter Sarah
testified in September, 1665, that he " was at considerable charges in
building, manuring, and planting" on Cornell's Neck, and that after
some years he was " driven off the said land by the barbarous violence
of the Indians, who burnt his home and goods and destroyed his
cattle," This daughter, Sarah, was married in New Amsterdam on
the 1st of September, 1643, to Thomas Willett. She inherited Cor-
nell's Neck from her father, and it remained in the possession of her
descendants — the Willetts, of whom several were men of great prom-
inence in our county — for more than a century. Thomas Cornell,
after being driven away from Cornell's Neck, returned to Rhode Is-
land, where he died in 1655.

Some Beginnings of Westchester County History. Published for the Westchester County Historical Society, 1890.

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS 95

In the preceding pages we have consecutively traced the several
known efforts at settlement along the southeastern shores of West-
chester County, from the time of Jonas Bronck's purchase on the
Harlem to that of Thomas Cornell's flight from the ruins of his home
on Cornell's Neck, covering a period of ten years, more or less. It is
a meager and discouraging record. By reference to the map, it will
be observed that all these first Westchester settlements were closely
contiguous to one another, and embraced a continuous extent of terri-
tory." Bronck's patent reached to the mouth of the Bronx River, and
was there joined by Cornell's; beyond which, successively, were
Throckmorton's grant and the domain occupied by Anne Hutchinson.
It is also of interest to note that the upper boundary of the four tracts
corresponded almost exactly with the present corporate limits of the
City of New York on the Sound.

CHAPTEE V

THE REDOUBTABLE CAPTAIN JOHN UNDERHILL

DONCK

DR. ADRIAN VAN DER

HE troubles of the Dutch with the Indians, to which frequent

allusion has been made, began in 1641, as the result of a

revengeful personal act, capitally illustrating the vindic-

tiveness of the Indian character. In 1626, fifteen years be-

x venerable Indian warrior, accompanied by his nephew, a lad

of tender age, came to New Amsterdam with some furs, which he in-
tended to sell at the fort. Passing by the edge of the " Collect," a
natural pond in the lower part of Manhattan Island, he was stopped

CAPTAIN JOHN UNDERHILL y<

by three laborers belonging to the farm of Director Minnit (said to
have been negroes), who, coveting the valuable property which he
bore, slew him and made off with the goods, bnt permitted the boy to
escape. The latter, after the custom of his race in circumstances of
personal grievance, made a vow of vengeance, which in 1641, having
arrived at manhood's estate, he executed in the most deliberate and
cruel manner. He one day entered the shop of Claes Cornel isz Hmits,
a wheelwright living near Turtle Bay, in the vicinity of Forty-fifth
street and the East River. The Dutchman, who knew him well, sus-
pected no harm, and, after setting food before him, went to a chest to
get some cloth which the young savage had said he came to purchase.
The other fell upon him from behind, ami struck him dead with an
ax. This terrible deed aroused strong feeling throughout the settle-
ments, and Director Kieft demanded satisfaction of the chief of the
Weckqttaesgecks, the tribe to which the offender belonged. An exas-
perating answer was returned, to the effect that the accused had but
avenged a wrong, and that, in the private opinion of the chief, it
would not have been excessive if twenty Christians had been killed
in retaliation. The only recourse now left was to declare war against
the savages, and to this end all the heads of families were summoned
to meet on August 25), 1641, ,w for the consideration of some important
and necessary matters.'* The assembled citizens selected a council
of twelve men, who, upon advising together, recommended that fur-
ther efforts be made to have the murderer delivered up to justice. All
endeavors in this line proving unsuccessful, war was declared in the
spring of 1642. Ilendrick Van Dyck, an ensign in the company's
service, was placed in command of eighty men, with, instructions to
proceed against the Weekquaesgecks and kk execute summary ven-
geance upon that tribe with Are ami sword." This party crossed into
our county, and, under the direction of a guide supposed to be experi-
enced and trustworthy, marched through the woods with the intent
of attacking the Indian village, which then occupied the site of Dobbs
Ferry. But they lost their way, and were obliged lo come inglori-
ously back. Shortly afterward a treaty of peace was signed at
Broiick's house, the Indians engaging to give up the murderer of
Smits, dead or alive. The first period of the war was thus brought
to an end.

But causes of irritation still existed, which were not done away
with as time passed. The assassin was not surrendered according to
agreement, and the savages continued to commit outrages, which
greatly incensed the not too amiable Dutch director-general. The
next event of importance was an act of aggression against the In-
dians, quite as barbarous as any ever perpetrated by the latter, which

98 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

has covered Kieft's name with infamy. Early in February 1643, a
band of Mohawks from the north made a descent upon the Mohican
tribes, for the purpose of levying tribute. Many of the Weck-
qnaesgecks and Tappaens, to escape death at the hands of the in-
vaders fled to the Dutch settlements; and thus large parties of
Indian fugitives belonging in part to a tribe against whom Kieft
cherished bitter resentment were gradually congregated within close
proximity to New Amsterdam. The director, seizing the opportunity
for vengeance thus presented, secretly dispatched a body of soldiers
across the Hudson to Pavonia, which had been selected by most of
the fleeino- savages as their headquarters, and on the night between
the 25th and 26th of February these natives were indiscriminately
massacred " Nearly a hundred," says Bancroft, " perished in the
carnage Davbreak did not end its horrors; men might be seen,
mangled and helpless, suffering from cold and hunger; children were
tossed into the stream, and as their parents plunged to their rescue
the soldiers prevented their landing, that both child and parent might
drown » Similar scenes were enacted at Corlaer's Hook, where forty
Indians were slaughtered. In 1886 the remains of some of these vic-
tims of Kieft's inhumanity and treachery were unearthed by persons
making excavations at Communipaw Avenue and Halliday Street,
Jersev City. A newspaper report published at the time, after recit-
ing the historical facts of the tragedy, gave the following particulars:
"Trenches were dug [bv the soldiers] and the bodies thrown into them
indiscriminately. The scene of the butchery is now known as Lafay-
ette and after nearly two and a half centuries one of the trenches has
been opened. Crowds gathered around the place yesterday while the
excavating was going on, and looked at the skulls and bones. The
number of the bodies can only be determined by means of the skulls,
as the bones are all mixed together, and many of them crumble at the
touch into fine dust." *

A furious war of revenge was now proclaimed by the savages, a
cveneral alliance of the tribes being effected. Even the Long Island
Indians, who had formerly dwelt on terms of amity with the settlers,
rose against the common white foe. The settlement planted in the
previous year at Maspeth by the Rev. Francis Doughty, father of
Elias Doughty, who in 1666 became the purchaser of Van der Donck's
patroonship of Yonkers, was entirely swept away; and another Eng-
lish settlement at Gravesend, presided over by Lady Moody (an exile
from New England, like Anne Hutchinson, on account of religious
belief), was three times fiercely attacked, but, being excellently stock-
aded, successfully resisted the desperate assailants. Historical writ-

i New York Trihxne, April 23, 1S8G.

CAPTAIN JOHN UNDERHILL 99

ers upon this gloomy period vie with each other in vivid descriptions
of its terrors. " The tomahawk, the firebrand, and scalping-knife,"
says O'Callaghan, " were clutched with all the ferocity of frenzy, and
the war-whoop rang from the Raritan to the Connecticut. .
Every settler on whom they laid hands was murdered, women and
children dragged into captivity, and, though the settlements around
Fort Amsterdam extended, at this period, thirty English miles to the
east and twenty-one to the north and south, the enemy burned the
dwellings, desolated the farms and farmhouses, killed the cattle, de-
stroyed the crops of grain, hay, and tobacco, laid waste the country all
around, and drove the settlers, panic-stricken, into Fort Amsterdam."
Roger Williams, who was in New Amsterdam during that eventful
spring writes: " Mine eyes saw the flames of their towns, the frights
and hurries of men, women, and children, and the present removal of
all who could to Holland." Nevertheless, after a few weeks of violent
aggression, the Indians were persuaded to sign another peace, nego-
tiated mainly through the prudent efforts of the patroon David Pie-
tersen de Vries. This treaty included the solemn declaration that
" all injuries committed by the said natives against the Netherland-
ers, or by the Netherlander against said natives, shall be forgiven
and forgotten forever, reciprocally promising one the other to cause
no trouble the one to the other.-'

There is no doubt that the Dutch, alarmed for the very existence of
their New Netherland colony, this time most scrupulously observed
the compact entered into; but the Indians, still restless and unsa-
tiated, renewed hostilities with the expiration of the summer season.
In September they attacked and captured two boats descending the
river from Fort Orange, and, resuming their programme of promiscu-
ous slaughter, they soon afterward murdered the New England refu-
gees on the coast of the Sound and burnt their dwellings. It was
consequently resolved by the Dutch to take up arms once more, and,
if possible, administer a crushing blow to the power of their enemy, a
resolve which, during the ensuing winter, they were enabled by good
fortune to realize, at least to the limit of reasonable expectation.

Kieft first senl a force to scour SI at on Island, which, like Van
Dyck's Westchester expedition of 1042, returned without results, no
foe being encountered. A detachment of one hundred and twenty
men was then dispatched by water to the English, settlement of
Greenwich, on the Sound, it having been reported that a large body
of hostile Indians was encamped in the vicinity of that place. Disap-
pointment was also experienced there. After marching all night
without finding the expected enemy, the troops came to Stamford,
where they halted to wait for fresh information. From here a raid

IQQ HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

was made on a small Indian village (probably lying within West-
chester borders), and some twenty braves were put to death. An
aocd Indian who had been taken prisoner now volunteered to lead the
Dutch to one of the strongholds of the natives, consisting of three
powerful castles. He kept his promise; but, although the castles
were duly found, they were deserted. Two of them were burned, the
third being reserved for purposes of retreat in case of emergency.
Thus the second armed expedition sent into Westchester County ac-
complished comparatively little in the way of inflicting the long-de-
sired punishment upon the audacious savages. Numbers of West-
chester Indians (mostly women and children) were captured and sent
to Fort Amsterdam, where, as testified by Dutch official records, they
were treated with malignant cruelty.

The next move was somewhat more successful. A mixed force of
English and Dutch, commanded jointly by Captain John Underbill,
the celebrated Indian fighter from New England, and Sergeant Peter
Cock of Fort Amsterdam, proceeded to the neighborhood of Heem-
stede (Hempstead), Long Island, and attacked two Indian villages.
Afore than a hundred Indians were killed, the Dutch and English loss
being only one killed and three wounded. Hut as the principal
strength of the enemy was known to be in the regions north of the
Harlem River, whence the warriors who slew the settlers and de-
vastated the fields of Manhattan Island were constantly emerging, it
was deemed indispensable to conduct decisive operations 111 that
quarter Captain Underbill, whose long experience and known dis-
cretion in savage warfare indicated him as the man for the occasion,
was scut to Stamford, with orders to investigate and report upon the
situation Being trustworthily informed that a very numerous body
of the Indians was assembled at a village at no great distauce, and
placino- confidence in the representations of a guide who claimed to
know the way to the locality, he advised prompt action. Director
Kieft adopting his recommendation, placed him in command of one
hundred and thirty armed men, who were immediately transported
on three yachts to Greenwich. This was in the month of Febru-
ary, 1644.'

A raging snowstorm prevented the forward movement of the troops
from Greenwich for the greater part of a day and night. But the
weather being more favorable the next morning, they set out about
daybreak, and, led by the guide, advanced in a general northwest-
wardly direction. It was a toilsome all-day march through deep
snow ami over mountainous hills and frequent streams, some of the
latter being scarcely fordable. At eight o'clock in the evening they
halted within a few miles of the village, " which had been carefully

CAPTAIN JOHN UNDERBILL 101

arranged for winter quarters, lay snugly ensconced in a low moun-
tain recess, completely sheltered from the bleak northerly winds, and
consisted of a large number of huts disposed in three streets, each
about eighty paces long." After allowing his men two hours of rest
and strengthening them with abundant refreshments, Underbill gave
the word to resume the march. The enterprise, attended by extreme
hardships up to this time, was now, in its final stage, favored by
peculiarly satisfactory conditions. It was near midnight, the snow
completely deadened the footsteps of the avenging host, and a bril-
liant full moon was shining — fc* a winter's day could not be brighter.''
O'Callaghan, in his " History of New Netherland," gives the follow-
ing account of the resulting conflict:

The Indians were as much on the alert as their enemy. They soon discovered the Dutch
troops, who charged forthwith, surrounding the camp, sword in hand. The Indians evinced
on this occasion considerahle holdness, and made a rash once or twice to hreak the Dutch
lines and open some way for escape. But in this they failed, leaving one dead and twelve
prisoners in the hands of the assailants, who now kept up such a hrisk fire that it was impos-
sihle for any of the besieged to escape. After a desperate conflict of an hour, one hundred
and eighty Indians lay dead on the snow outside their dwellings. Not one of the survivors
durst now show his face. They remained under cover, discharging their arrows from behind,
to the. great annoyance of the Dutch troops. Underbill, now seeing no other way to overcome
the obstinate resistance of the foe, gave orders to Are their huts. The order was forthwith
obeyed; the wretched inmates endeavoring in every way to escape from the horrid dames, but
mostly without success. The moment they made their appearance they rushed or were driven
precipitately back into their burning hovels, preferring to be consumed by fire than to fall by
our weapons. In this merciless manner were butchered, as some of the Indians afterward
reported, five hundred human beings. Others carry the number to seven hundred; " the
Lord having collected most of our enemies there to celebrate some peculiar festival." Of
the whole party, no more than eight men escaped this terrible slaughter by fire and sword. Three
of these were badly wounded. Throughout the entire carnage not one of the sufferers — man,
woman, or child — was heard to utter a shriek or moan.

This battle, if battle it may be called, was by far the most sanguin-
ary ever fought on Westchester soil. At White Plains, the most
considerable Westchester engagement of the devolution, the com-
bined losses of both sides in killed, wounded, and missing did not
reach four hundred.

The site of the exterminated Indian village has been exactly lo-
cated by Bolton. It was called Xanichiestawack, and was in the Town
(township) of Bedford, not far from the present Bedford village. It
" occupied the southern spur of Indian Hill, sometimes called the
Indian Farm, and Stony Point (or Hill), stretching toward the north-
west. There is a most romantic approach to the site of the mountain
fastness by a steep, narrow, beaten track opposite to Stamford cart-
path, as it was formerly denominated, which followed the old Indian
trail called the Thoroughfare." The picturesque Mianus River flows
by the scene. The last ghastly memorials of the slaughter have long
since passed away, but local tradition preserves the recollection of

102 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

many mounds under which the bones of the slain were interred. They
were probably laid there by friendly hands. Underbill, in the bitter
winter season, with his small and exhausted party, and with no im-
plements for turning the frozen sod, naturally could not tarry to give
burial to Ave hundred corpses.

Captain John Underbill is an entirely unique figure in early Amer-
ican colonial history, both English and Dutch. Although his name,
when mentioned apart from any specific connection, is usually asso-
ciated with New England, he belongs at least equally to New Nether-
land and New York. Indeed, during more than two-thirds of his
residence in America he lived within the confines of the present State
of New York, where most of his descendants have continued. West-
chester County, by his prowess rescued from the anarchy into which
it had been thrown by the aboriginal barbarians and established on a
secure foundation for practical development, became the home of one
of his sons, Nathaniel Underbill, from whom a large and conspicuous
family of the county has descended.

The captain sprang from the old Underbill stock of Huningham, in
Warwickshire, England. He was born about 1000, and early im-
bibed an ardent love of liberty, civic and religious, by his service as a
soldier under the illustrious Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, in
the Low Countries, where he had for one of his comrades-at-arms the
noted Captain Miles Standish. Coming to New England with Gov-
ernor Winthrop, he immediately took a prominent place in the Massa-
chusetts colony, being appointed one of the first deputies from Boston
to the General Court, and one of the earliest officers of the Ancient
and Honorable Artillery Company. In the Pequod War (1636-37) he
was selected by the governor, Sir Harry Vane (who was hiu personal
friend), to command the colonial troops; and, proceeding to the seat
of the disturbances in Connecticut, he fought (May 26, 1637) the des-
perate and victorious battle of Mystic Hill. In this encounter seven
hundred Pequods were arrayed against him, of whom seven were
taken prisoners, seven escaped, and the remainder were killed — a
record almost identical, it will be noted, with that made at the battle
in our Bedford township in 1644. Captain Underbill felt no compunc-
tions of conscience for the dreadful and almost exterminating de-
structiveness of his victories over the Indians. In his narrative of
the Mystic Hill fight, alluding to this feature of, the subject, he says:
" It may be demanded: Why should you be so furious? Should not
Christians have more mercy and compassion? But I would refer
you to David's war. When a people is grown to such a height of
blood and sin against God and man, and all confederates in the ac-
tion, then He hath no respect to persons, but harrows and saws them,

CAPTAIN JOHN UNDERHILL 1C3

and puts them to the sword and the most terriblest death that may be.
Sometimes the Scripture declareth that women and children must
perish with their parents; sometimes the case alters, but we will not
dispute it now. We had sufficient light from the Word of God for
our proceedings.'7

Espousing the religious doctrines and personal cause of Anne
Hutchinson, Captain Underhill suffered persecution in common with
the other Hutchinsonians, and in the fall of 1637, only a few months
after his triumphant return from the wars, was disfranchised and
forced to leave Massachusetts. He went to England the next year,
and published a curious book, entitled kk News from America; or, A
New and Experimental Discoverie of New England: Containing a
true relation of their warlike proceedings there, two years last past,
with a figure of the Indian Fort, or Palizado. By Capt. John Under-
hill, a commander in the warres there/' Keturning to America, he
settled in New Hampshire. Later, he lived in Stamford, Conn., and
was a delegate from that town to the General Court at New Haven.
From the time that he accepted his commission from the Dutch in
their wars with the Indians until his death he lived on Long Island.
He first resided at Flushing, and finally made his home at Oyster Bay,
where he died July 21, 1672. In 1653 he was active in defending the
English colonists of Long Island against the hostilities of the Indians,
and in that year he fought his last battle with the savages, at Fort
Neck. In 1665 he was a delegate from the Town of Oyster Bay to the
assembly held at Hempstead under the call of the first English gov-
ernor, Nicolls, by whom he was later appointed under-sheriff of the
North Biding of Yorkshire, or Queens County. In 1667 he was pre-
sented by the Matinecoc Indians with one hundred and fifty acres of
land, to which he gave the name of Kenilworth or Killing-worth. A
portion of this tract is still in the possession of his descendants.

The character and personality of Captain John LTnderhill have been
variously estimated and pictured. No doubt most of our readers are
familiar with Whittier's poem, which quite idealizes him:

Goodly and stately and grave to see,

Into the clearing's space rode he,

With the sun on the hilt of his sword in sheath,

And his silver buckles and spurs beneath,

And the settlers welcomed him, one and all,

From swift Quanipeagan to Gonic Fall.

" Tarry with ns," the settlers cried,
« Thou man of God, as our ruler and guide."
And Captain Underhill bowed his head,
« The will of the Lord be done! " he said.
And the morrow beheld him sitting down
In the ruler's seat in Cocheco town.

104 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

And he judged therein as a just man should;
His words were wise and his rule was good ;
He coveted not his neighbor's land,
From the holding of bribes he shook his hand;
And through the camps of the heathen ran
A wholesome fear of this valiant man.

A man of independent and fearless convictions he unquestionably
was, as also of conscientious principles. He was not, however, a
typical Puritan hero; and it is not from the gentle and reverent muse
of Whittier, which loves to celebrate the grave and stately (but other-
wise mostly disagreeable) forefathers of New England, that a faithful
idea of the Captain John Underbill of history is to be obtained. His
associations during his very brief residence in Massachusetts were
certainly not with the representative men of that rigorous and somber
order, but with the imaginative, ardent, and sprightly natures, whose
presence was felt as a grievous burden upon the theocratic state. He
was grimly hated and scornfully expelled from Boston by the Puri-
tans, whom he reciprocally despised. In his book he gives decidedly
unflattering characterizations of Winthrop and others, showing this
animus. Captain Underbill was really a man of high and impetuous
spirits, fond of adventure, always seeking military employment, lead-
ing a changeful and roving life almost to his last days; yet possessing
earnest motives and substantial traits of character, which made him
a good and respected citizen, and enabled him to accumulate consid-
erable property. But although not a Puritan, his final adoption of
New Netherland as a place of residence was not from any special
liking for the Dutch; in fact, he never was satisfied to live in any of
the distinctive Dutch settlements, and, though much inclined to the
honors and dignities of public position, never held civic office under
the Dutch. During his life on Long Island he made his home among
the English colonists, and preserved a Arm devotion for English in-
terests, which he manifested on several occasions long before the
end of Dutch rule, by holding correspondence with the English au-
thorities concerning the position of affairs on Long Island.

Soon after Captain Underbill's expedition to Bedford the Indian
tribes again sued for peace. " Mamaranack, chief of the Indians re-
siding on the Kicktawanc or Croton River; Mongockonone, Pappeno-
harrow, from the Weckquaesgecks and Nochpeems, and the Wrap-
pings from Stamford, presented themselves, in a few days, at Fort
Amsterdam; and having pledged themselves that they would not
henceforth commit any injury whatever on the inhabitants of New
Netherland, their cattle and houses, nor show themselves, except in a
canoe, before Fort Amsterdam, should the Dutch be at war with any
of the Manhattan tribes, and having further promised to deliver up

DR. ADMAN VAN DER DONCK 105

Pacham, the chief of the Tankitekes (who resided in the rear of Sing
Sing), peace was concluded between them and the Dutch, who prom-
ised, on their part, not to molest them in any way." It appears that
this peace was effected through the intervention of Underbill, was
unsatisfactory to the Dutch, and proved but a makeshift; for in the
fall of 1644 the " Eight Men " wrote as follows to the home office of
the West India Company: tk A semblance of peace was attempted to
be patched up last spring with two or three tribes of savages toward
the north by a stranger, whom we, for cause, shall not now name,
without oue of the company's servants having been present, while
our principal enemies have been unmolested. This peace hath borne
little fruit for the common advantage and reputation of our lords,
etc., for as soon as the savages had stowed away their maize into
holes, they began again to murder our people in various directions.
They rove in parties continually around day and night on the island
of Manhattans, slaying our folks, not a thousand paces from the fort;
and 'tis now arrived at such a pass that no one dare move a foot to
fetch a stick of firewood without a strong escort."

It was not until the summer of 1645 that a lasting treaty was ar-
ranged. On the 30th of August, says O'Callaghan, a number of chiefs
representing the warring tribes " seated themselves, silent and grave,
in front of Fort Amsterdam, before the director-general and his coun-
cil and the whole commonalty; and there, having religiously smoked
the great calumet, concluded in the presence of the sun and ocean a
solemn and durable peace with the Dutch, which both the contracting
parties reciprocally bound themselves honorably and firmly to main-
tain and observe/' It was stipulated that all cases of injury on either
side were to be laid before the respective authorities. No armed
Indian was to come within the line of settlement, and no colonist was
to visit the Indian villages without a native to escort him. Hand-
some presents were made by Kieft to the chiefs, for the purchase of
which, it is said, he was obliged to borrow money from Adrian Van
der Donck, at that time sheriff of Hensselaerswyck.

The settlement of the lands beyond the Harlem was not, however,
resumed at once. For some time the restoration of the burned farm-
houses and ruined fields of Manhattan Island claimed all the energies
of the Dutch; and the memories of the dreadful experience of the
colonies of Anne Hutchinson and John Throckmorton effectually de-
terred other New Englanders from seeking the Vredeland. In 1646,
however, two enterprises of great historic interest were undertaken
within the limits of our county. One of these was the settlement by
Thomas Cornell on Cornell's Neck, whose details we have already
narrated. The other was the creation of kk Colen Donck," or Donck's

106

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

colony, embracing the country from Spuyten Duyvil Creek northward
along the Hudson as far as a little stream called the Ainackassin, and
reaching inland to the Bronx River, under a patent granted by the
Dutch authorities to Adrian Van der Donck.

The exact date of Van der Donck's grant is unknown, and the
record of his purchase of the territory from the Indians has not been
preserved. The tract constituted a portion of the so-called Keskes-
keck region, bought from the natives for the West India Company by
Secretary Van Tienhoven, " in consideration of a certain lot of mer-
chandise," under date of August 3, 1639. That Van der Donck made
substantial recompense to the original owners of the soil is legally
established by testimony taken in 1G66 before Richard Nicolls, the
first English' governor of New York, in which it is stated that

the Indian proprietors concerned
" acknowledged to have sold and
received satisfaction of Van der
Donck."

Adrian Van der Donck was a gen-
tleman by birth, being a native of
Breda, Holland. He was educated at
the University of Ley den, and studied
and practiced law, becoming uiriusque
juris. In 1641 he accompanied Kiliaen
Van Rensselaer to New Netherland,
and was installed as schout-fiscaal,or
sheriff, of the patroonship of Rens-
selaerswyck. In this post he con-
tinued until the death of the patroon, in 1646. Meantime he had
manifested a strong inclination to establish a " colonie " of his own,
at Katskill; but as such a proceeding by a sworn officer of an already
existing patroonship would have been violative of the company's reg-
ulations, he was forced to abandon the project. On October 22, 1645,
he married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Francis Doughty, of Long Is-
land. Earlier in the same year he loaned money to Director Kieft, a
transaction which probably helped to pave the way for the prompt
bestowal upon him of landed rights upon the termination of his offi-
cial connection with Rensselaerswyck.

In the Dutch grant to Van der Donck, the territory of which he
was made patroon was called Nepperhaem, from the Indian name of
the stream, the Nepperhan, which empties into the Hudsou at Yonk-
ers, where stood at that period, and for perhaps a quarter of a century
later, the native Village of Nappeckamack (the " Rapid Water Settle-
ment"). The whole extensive patroonship, styled at first Colen

<>LI> DUTCH IIOUSK.

DR. ADRIAN VAN DER DONOK 107

Donck, soon came to be known also as 'k De Jonkkeer's land," or " De
Jonkkeer's," meaning the estate of the jonkheer, or young lord or
gentleman, as Van der Donck was called. Hence is derived the name
Yo'nkers, applied from the earliest days of English rule to that entire
district, and later conferred upon the township, the village, and
the city. To the possibilities of this magnificent but as yet utterly wild
property Van der Donck gave a portion of his attention during the
three years following the procurement of his patent. In one of his
papers he states that before 1649 he built a sawmill on the estate, be-
sides laying out a farm and plantation; and that, having chosen
Spuyten Duyvil as his place of residence, he had begun to build there
and to place the soil under cultivation. His sawmill was located at
the mouth of the Nepperhan Kiver, and from its presence that stream
was called by the Dutch " De Zaag Kill," whence comes its present
popular name of the Sawmill River. Van der Donck's plantation, " a
flat, with some convenient meadows about it," was located about a
mile above Kingsbridge, near where the Van Cortlandt mansion now
stands. " On the flat just behind the present grove of locusts, north
of the old mill, he built his bouwerie, or farmhouse, with his planting-
field on the plain, extending to the southerly end of Vault Hill."
It is not probable that Van der Donck lived for any considerable time
upon his lands in our county. He was a man of prominence in Fort
Amsterdam, was its first lawyer, and soon became busied with its
local affairs in a public-spirited manner, which led to his embroilment
in contentions with the ruling authorities, and, in that connection, to
his departure for Europe and protracted absence there.

In the spring of 1G49 he was selected a member of the advisory
council of the " Nine Men," a body chosen by the popular voice to
assist in the general government. In this capacity he at once took
strong ground against the tyrannical conduct of the new director,
Stuyvesant, and, in behalf of the Nine, drew up a memorial, or re-
monstrance, reciting the abuses under which the people of New Neth-
erland suffered. Stuyvesant at first treated this action of his coun-
cilors with arbitrary vindictiveness, and caused Van der Donck to be
arrested and imprisoned. After his release, continuing his course of
active protest against misgovernment and oppression, he prepared a
second and more elaborate memorial, and, with two others, was dis-
patched to Holland by the commonalty to lay the whole subject be-
fore the States-General. In this mission he had the moral support of
the vice-director under Stuyvesant, Van Dincklagen, who wrote a
letter to the States-General promotive of his objects. But upon arriv-
ing in the mother country he found himself opposed by the powerful
influences of the company, which not only succeeded in defeating the

108 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

principal reforms that he sought to secure, but eventually directed
against him the persecution of the government, and prevented him, to
his great inconvenience and loss, from returning to New Netherland
for fully four years. Yet Van der Donck's earnest and commendable
efforts for the public weal wore not wholly without result. An act
was passed separating the local functions of the principal settlement
on Manhattan Island from the general affairs of the province. By
this measure the settlement formerly known as Fort Amsterdam be-
came an incorporated Dutch city, with the name of New Amsterdam;
and thus to the labors of Van der Donck the first municipal organiza-
tion of what is now the City of New York is directly traceable. In
addition, a final modification of the Charter of Freedoms and Exemp-
tions was effected (May 24, 1G50), introducing various improvements
in its detailed pro visions. He even procured the adoption of an order
recalling Stuyvesant, which, however, in view of the critical position
of political affairs (a war with England being threatened) was never
executed.

While in Holland Van der Donck was not forgetful of the interests
of his colony, but in good faith strove to fulfill the obligations which
he had assumed in acquiring the proprietorship of so extensive a
domain. On March 11, 1050, in conjunction with his two associate
delegates, he entered into a contract " to charter a suitable flyboat of
two hundred lasts, and therein go to sea on the 1st of June next, and
convey to New Netherland the number of two hundred passengers, of
whom one hundred are to be farmers and farm servants, and the re-
maining one hundred such as the Amsterdam Chamber is accustomed
to send over, conversant with agriculture, and to furnish them with
supplies for the voyage." In making this contract (which, on ac-
count of circumstances, was never carried out), Van der Donck un-
doubtedly had in view the locating of at least a portion of the two
hundred emigrants on his own lands. Pursuant to his perfectly serious
intentions respecting his estate in this county, he obtained from the
States-General, on the 20th of April, 1652, the right to dispose by will,
as patroon, " of the Colonie Nepperhaem, by him called Colen Donck,
situate in New Netherland." From this time for more than a year
he was constantly occupied in seeking to overcome the obstacles put
in the way of his departure for America by his enemies of the West
India Company. He evidently regarded the securing of this patent
as the final step preparatory to the systematic colonization and de-
velopment of Colen Donck; for immediately after its issuance he em-
barked his private goods, with a varied assortment of supplies for the
colony, on board a vessel lying at anchor in the Texel. But upon ap-
plying to the States-General, on the 13th of May, for a formal permit

DR. ADRIAN VAX DER DONCK

109

to return, he was refused. On the 24th, renewing his application, he

stated that " proposing to depart by your High Mightinesses' consent,

with his wife, mother, sister, brother, servants, and maids," he had

" in that design packed and shipped all his implements and goods ";

but he understood " that the Honorable Directors [of the West India

Company] at Amsterdam had forbidden all skippers to receive him, or

his, even though exhibiting your High Mightinesses' express orders

and consent," " by which he must, without any form of procedure or

anything resembling thereto, remain separated from his wife, mother,

sister, brother, servants, maids,

Beschryvinge

NIEUVV- NEDERLANT

( ©tjclrjtfc [jet tcgnitooo?0!gIj in istact is )

Begrijpende de Nature, Aerc, gelcgentheyt en vrucht-
baerheyt van het felve Lan t ; mitfgaders de proffij telij ckc en-
degewenfl

vallen, die aldaer
uyt hier fclvcn als van buyten ii

ndcrhout der Mcufchen , (fo<
ebrachr) gevonden worden.

©emanicte m onqfotmtvm cpgmfcfjappm

• Dantic ©ilomoftc J3atu«l|cri Uanorn 11 anDr.

Ecn byfonder verhael vanden wonderlijcken Aert

ende het Weefen der B E V E R S ,

Daer Noch By C evoeghe Is

tfcnSDifcourfi otorr be gelcrjrwrjcpt ban Nieuw Nederlandc ,

Olfftticn CHI Nedcrlandrs Patriot , cn&C COl

■ Nieuw Nederlander.

"Brfchnren doer

i D R I A E N vander D O N C
Beyder Rechten Do&oor, die teghenwoop-

digh noch in Nieuw Nederlant is.

family connections, from two
good friends, from his merchan-
dise, his own necessary goods,
furniture, and from his real estate
in New Netherlands' These and
other strenuous representations
proving unavailing, he was at last
compelled to dispatch his family
and effects, remaining himself in
Holland to await the more favor-
able disposition of the authorities.
Resigning himself to the situa-
tion, he now turned his attention
to literary labors, which resulted
in the composition of a most valu-
able work on the Dutch provinces
in America. Wo reproduce here
a facsimile of the title page of
this interesting book, which,
translated, is as follows: " De-
scription of New Xetherland (as
It is Today), Comprising the Nature, Character, Situation, and Fer-
tility of the Said Country; Together with the Advantageous and
Desirable Circumstances (both of Their Own Production and as
Brought by External Causes) for the Support of the People Which
Prevail There; as Also the Manners and Peculiar Qualities of the
Wild Men or Natives of the Land. And a Separate Account of the
Wonderful Character and Habits of the Reavers; to Which is Added
a Conversation on the Condition of New Netherland between a
Netherland Patriot and a New Netherlander, Described by Adriaen
Van der Donck, Doctor in Roth Laws, Who at present is still'
in New Netherland. At Amsterdam, by Evert Nieuwenhof, Rook-
seller, Residing on the Russia [a street or square], at the [sign of

25p Evert Nieuwenhof, r>orch-Ucrhoopcr/ luommiftcop't
fiuflanatm't&cljinf-rjocrli/ Anno i6jj,

TITLE PAGE OF VAX PER DONCK'S BOOK.

HO HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the] Writing-book. Anno 1655." The book was probably first pub-
lished in 1653, the copy from which the above translation is made
being of a later edition. It was Van der Donck's intention to enlarge
upon his facts by consulting the papers on file in the director-general's
office at New Amsterdam, to which end he obtained the necessary
permit from the company. But upon his return to America, which
occurred in the summer of 1653, Stuyvesant, who still harbored re-
sentment against him, denied him that privilege.

Van der Donck's book, despite its formidable title, is a volume of
but modest pretensions, clearly written for the sole object of spread-
ing information about the country. Considering the meagerness of
general knowledge at that time respecting the several parts of the
broad territory called New Netherland, and remembering that the
writer peculiarly lacked documentary facilities in its preparation, it
is a remarkably good account of the whole region. Especially in
those parts of it where he is able to speak from the results of personal
observation or investigation, he is highly instructive, and is thor-
oughly entitled to be accepted as an authority. His description of
the Indians, though quite succinct, ranks with the very best of the
early accounts of native North American characteristics, customs,
and institutions. While he makes frequent allusion to his residence
at Kensselaerswyck, there is no special mention of that part of the
country where his own patroonship was located— our County of West-
chester,— a circumstance which may reasonably be taken to indicate
that he never had made it his habitation for any length of time.

Some of the statements which appear in Van der Donck's pages
belong to the decidedly curious annals of early American conditions.
For example, he relates that in the month of March, 1647, "two
whales, of common size, swam up the (Hudson) river forty (Dutch)
miles, from which place one of them returned and stranded about
twelve miles from the sea, near which place four others also stranded
the same year. The other ran farther up the river and grounded
near the great Chahoes Falls, about forty-three miles from the sea.
This fish was tolerably fat, for, although the citizens of Bensselaers-
wyck broiled out a great quantity of train oil, still the whole river (the
current being rapid) was oily for three Aveeks, and covered with
grease." His accounts of the native animals of the country, excellent
for the most part, become amusing in places where he relies not upon
his individual knowledge but upon vague stories told him by the
Indian hunters of strange creatures in the interior. Thus, he makes
New Netherland the habitat of the fabled unicorn. " I have been
frequently told by the Mohawk Indians," says he, " that far in the
interior parts of the country there were animals, which were seldom

VAN DER DONCK's MAP OF NEW NKTHERLAND.

112 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

seen, of the size and form of horses, with cloven hoofs, having one
horn in the forehead from a foot and a half to two feet in length, and
that because of their fieetness and strength they were seldom caught
or ensnared. I have never seen any certain token or sign of such
animals, but that such creatures exist in the country is supported by
the concurrent declarations of the Indian hunters. There are Chris-
tians who say that they have seen the skins of this species of animal,
but without the horns." He also speaks of " a bird of prey which has
a head like the head of a large cat "—probably a reference to the cat-
owl. His remarks about the beaver, based upon personal study and
knowledge, are singularly interesting. The deer, he informs us, " are
incredibly numerous in this country. Although the Indians through-
out the year, and every year (but mostly in the fall), kill many thou-
sands, and the wolves, after the fawns are cast and while they are
young, also destroy many, still the land abounds with them every-
where, and their numbers appear to remain undiminished."

Being finally granted leave to go back to New Netherland, Van der
Donck applied to the West India Company for permission to practice
his profession of lawyer in the province. But the company, careful
in conceding substantial favors to a man who had caused it so much
trouble, allowed him only to give advice in the line of his profes-
sion, forbidding him to plead, on the novel ground that, " as there was
no other lawyer in the colony, there would be none to oppose him."
After his return to New Amsterdam he did not figure prominently in
public affairs. He died in 1655, leaving, it is supposed, several chil-
dren, whose names, however, as well as all facts of their subsequent
lives and traces of their descendants, are unknown.

Van der Donck's Colen Donck was the only patroonship ever
erected in Westchester County, and was the first of the great landed
estates which, during the seventeenth century, were parceled out in
this section to gentlemen of birth and means, and various enterprising
and far-seeing individuals. All who had preceded him above the
Harlem were ordinary settlers, who merely sought farms and home-
steads, without any aristocratic pretensions or aspirations. During
the nine years which intervened between his death and the end of
the Dutch regime, the general condition of the province was too un-
satisfactory to justifv any similar ambitious endeavor in the direction
of extensive land ownership above the Harlem. The Indians were
still restless and inclined to harass individual settlers. Indeed, in
1655, the year of Van der Donck's death, a general massacre of set-
tlers'by the Indians occurred, and the people in the outlying localities
again crowded into Fort Amsterdam for protection. It was not until
after the beginning of the English government that private land hold-
ings in Westchester County at all comparable to Van der Donck's

DR. ADRIAN VAN DER DONCK 113

were acquired. He was the only Dutch gentleman— for Bronck be-
longed strictly to the burgher class— throughout the forty-one years
of Dutch rule who, under the Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions,
an instrument framed expressly to create a landed aristocracy in
America, formally sought to establish a fief in this county, it is
noticeable, however, that most of the estate which he owned passed
before many years— although not until the Dutch period was ended—
into the hands of one of his fellow-countrymen, Frederick Philipse, in
whose family it continued for a century. Moreover, almost the entire
Hudson shore of Westchester County was originally acquired and
tenaciously held by Dutch, and not by English, private proprietors.

The tract of Nepperhaem, or Colen Donck, was devised by Van der
Donck, in his will, to his widow. This lady subsequently married
I high O'Xeale, of Patuxent, Md., and resided with her husband in
that province. Apparently, nothing whatever was done by O'Xeale
and his wife in the way of continuing the improvements begun by
Van der Donck; and, for all that we know to the contrary, the estate
remained in a wholly wild and neglected condition for some ten years,
lint in 1666 the O'Xeales, desiring to more perfectly establish their
legal title, with a view to realizing from the lands, obtained from the
Indians who had originally sold the tract to Van der Donck formal
acknowledgment of such sale, and also of their having received from
him full satisfaction; and thereupon a new and confirmatory patent
for Nepperhaem was issued by Governor Nicolls. This is dated "at
Fori James, New York, on the Island of Manhattan," October 8, 1666.
It describes the property in the following words: UA certain tract
of land within this government, upon the main, bounded to the north
wards by a rivulet called by the Indians Mackassin, so running south-
ward to Nepperhaem, from thence to the kill Sliorakkapork [Spuyten
Duvvil], and then to Faperinemen [the locality of Kingsbridge],
which is the southernmost bounds; then to go across the country to
the eastward by thai which is commonly known by the name of
Bronck's, his river and land, which said tract hath heretofore been
purchased of the Indian proprietors by Adriaen Van der Donck, de-
ceased." The English patent was bestowed upon O'Xeale and his
wife jointly. They at once proceeded to sell the lands in fee to dif-
ferent private persons. Notice of the resulting sales must be de-
ferred to the proper chronological period in our narrative. It may
be noted here, however, that the principal purchasers of Van der
Donck's lands were John Archer and Frederick Thilipse, who later
became the lords, respectively, of the Manors of Fordham and Phil-
ipseburgh, the former lying wholly, and the latter partly, within
the borders of the old patroonship.

CHAPTER VI

BEGINNINGS OF SERIOUS SETTLEMENT— WESTCHESTER TOWN, RYE

HE destruction by the Indians of the early English settle-
ments in the Vredeland on the Sound was followed by a
long period of almost complete abstention from further
™ colonizing enterprises in that portion of Westchester
County. It is true that after the definite conclusion of peace be-
tween the Dutch and the Indians in 1645, both the Dutch govern-
ment of New Netherland and the English government of Connec-
ticut began gradually to give serious attention to the question of
the boundary between their rival jurisdictions, and that the result-
ing conflict of interests touching the ownership of those lands gave
rise to practical measures on both sides. It will be remembered
that the Dutch authorities, while permitting Throckmorton and his
associates to settle on Throgg's Neck, and later granting Cornell's
Neck to Thomas Cornell, simply received these refugees from New
England as persons coming to take up their abodes under the pro-
tection of their government and subject to its laws. Indeed, the
formal acts of the Dutch director in issuing licenses to the English
colonists are sufficient evidences of the merely individual character
of the first English settlements on the Sound. But while willing to
accommodate separate immigrants from New England with homes,
the Dutch had always regarded the presence of the English on the
banks of the Connecticut River, and their steady advance westward
in an organized way, with apprehension and resentment. To secure
the Dutch title to original and exclusive sovereignty over the whole
country, Kieft made land purchases from the Indians, in 1039 and
1010, extending as far east as the Norwalk archipelago, purchases
which, however, were matched by similar early deeds granted by the
natives to the English to much of territory in the eastern part of
Westchester County. After the close of the Dutch and Indian wars,
the territorial dispute steadily grew in importance, although it was
a number of years before the Dutch found any special cause for
complaint on the score of actual English encroachment.

Ou July 11, 1019, Director Stuyvesant, representing the West
India Company, confirmed the former Indian deeds of sale by pur-
chasing from the sachems Megtegichkama, Oteyochgue, and Wegta-

SETTLEMENT OF WESTCHESTER TOWN 115

kockken the whole country " betwixt the North and East Rivers."
The boundaries of this tract, which in the record of the transaction
is called Weckquaesgeek, are not very distinctly defined; but the in-
tent of the purchase was evidently incidental to the general Dutch
policy of showing a perfect title to the country. At all events, a
very large part of Westchester County was embraced in the sale,
the recompense given to the Indians consisting of " six fathom cloth
for jackets, six fathom seawant [wampum], six kettles, six axes, six
addices, ten knives, ten harrow-teeth, ten corals or beads, ten bells,
one gun, two lbs. lead, two lbs. powder, and two cloth coats."

The English of Connecticut, on the other hand, do not seem to
have attached any peculiar political value to Indian land purchases.
There is no record of any purchase of Indian lands extending into
Westchester County on the part of the government of Connecticut.
The authorities of that colony were evidently satisfied to leave the
westward extension of English possessions to the individual enter-
prise of the settlers, meantime holding themselves in readiness to
support such enterprise by their sanction, and regarding all the land
occupied by their advancing people as English soil, without refer-
ence to the counterclaims of the Dutch.

The purchase made by Xathaniel Turner, lor the citizens of New
Haven, in L640, of territory reaching considerably to the west of the
present eastern boundary of our county, was confirmed to the inhab-
itants of Stamford on August 1 1, l<;r>r>, by the Indian chief Ponus and
Onox, his eldest son. The tract bought in L640 ran to a distance
sixteen miles north of the Sound. By the wording of the new deed of
l<;r>r>, its bounds extended "sixteen miles north of the town plot of
Stamford, and two miles still further north tor the pasture of their
[the settlers'] cattle; also eight miles east and west." The Indian
owners, upon this occasion, received as satisfaction four coats of
English (doth. No settlement of the region was begun during the
continuance of Dutch rule in Xew Xetherland, and thus the matter
did not come prominently to the notice of Director Stuyvesant.

But in the preceding year a private English purchase from the
Indians was made of a district lying nearer the Dutch settlements
and within the limits of the already well-established jurisdiction of
the New Amsterdam authorities, which became a matter of acute
irritation. On the 14th of November, 1(>54, Thomas Pell, of Fairfield,
Conn., bought from the sachems Maminepoe and Ann-Hoock (alias
Wampage), and five other Indians, " all that tract of land called West
Chester, which is bounded on the east by a brook, called Cedar Tree
Brook or Gravelly Brook, and so running northward as the said brook
runs into the woods about eight English miles, thence west to

116 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Bronck's River to a certain bend in the said river, thence
by marked trees south until it reaches the tide waters of the Sound,
together with all the islands lying before that tract." This
is the earliest legal record we have of the application of the name
Westchester to any section of our county; although there is reason
for believing that for several years previously this locality on the
Sound had been so called by the people of Connecticut, and that some
squatters had already made their way thither.1 The bounds of Pell s
purchase overlapped the old Dutch Vredeland and encroached upon
the grants formerly made in that region to Throckmorton and Cor-
nell." Indeed, after the English took possession of New Netherland,
the Town of Westchester set up a claim to the whole of Throgg's Neck,
and Pell brought suit to recover Cornell's Neck from Thomas Cor-
nell's heir; but as it was a part of the English policy to confirm all
legitimate Dutch land grants, both these pretensions were disal-
lowed Westchester, as originally so styled, covered a much greater
extent of country than the township of that name. Gravelly Brook,
named in the conveyance from the Indians as its eastern boundary
line is a creek flowing into the Sound in the Township of New
Rochelle; so that the territory at first called Westchester included
besides Westchester township proper, the townships (or portions of
them) of Pelham, Eastchester, and New Rochelle. It is an interest-
in^ fact that the first of these four townships to be settled was the
one most remote from Connecticut and nearest the seat of Dutch
authority; which lends color to the strong suspicion that the migra-
tion of the English to this quarter was under the secret direction, or
at the connivance, of the government of Connecticut, which sought
to extend settlement as far as possible into the disputed border terri-
tory Later as Pell's purchase became sub-divided, separate local
names were given to its several parts, the name of Westchester being
retained for' that portion only where the original settlements had
been established. Thus it came that the company making the first
considerable sub-purchase within the Pell tract conferred the name
of Eastchester upon their lands, which immediately adjoined West-
chester town at the east. The settlers in Westchester were not ex-
terminated or driven away, like those on Hutchinson's River and
Throw's and Cornell's Necks; and, though interfered with by the
Dutch" held their ground permanently. Westchester was therefore
the earliest enduring English settlement west of Connecticut. This

T 1 M F ng 11. e^^ents upon •• Oost- ton and his colonists had the express sanction
dorp ''-aT Westchester was called by the of the Dutch government.
Dutch. It is hardly likely that the English

SETTLEMENT OF WESTCHESTER TOWN 117

was remembered when, in 1683, under English rule, the erection of
regularly organized counties was undertaken; and accordingly the
name Westchester was selected as the one most suitable for the
county next above Manhattan Island.

It is certain that English settlers had begun to arrive in West-
chester before the execution of Pell's deed from the Indians (Novem-
ber 14, 1654); for on the 5th of November, 1054, nine days before that
execution, it was resolved at a meeting of the director-general and
council of New Netherland that " Whereas a few English are begin-
ning a settlement at no great distance from our outposts, on lands
long since bought and paid for, near Vredeland," an interdict be
sent to them, forbidding them to proceed farther, and commanding
them to abandon that spot. Tell, in the law suit which he brought
in L665 against the heir of Thomas Cornell to recover Cornell's Neck,
stated that in buying the Westchester tract he had license from the
governor and council of Connecticut, "who took notice of this land
to be under their government," and "ordered magistratical power
to be exercised at Westchester." The colonial records of Connect-
icut show that such License was in fact granted to him in 1663. This
sanction, issued nine years after his original purchase, was probably
procured by him with a view to a second and confirmatory purchase.
Whether the first settlers came to Westchester as the result of any
direct instigation on the pari of the Connecticut officials can not be
determined; but it is probable that the latter were fully cognizant of
their enterprise, and promoted it by some sort of encouragement.
Certainly the Westchester pioneers made no false pretenses, and
sought no favors from the Dutch, but boldly announced themselves
as English colonists. One of their first acts was to nail to a tree the
arms of the Parliament of England.

Stuyvesant permitted the winter of L654-55 to pass without offering
to disturb the intruders in the enjoyment of the lauds they had so
unceremoniously seized. Put in April he dispatched an officer, Claes
Van Elslandt, with a writ commanding Thomas Pell, or whomsoever
else it might concern, to cease from trespassing, and to leave the
premises. Van Elslandt, upon arriving at the English settlement,
was met by eight or nine armed men, to whose commander he de-
livered the writ. The latter said: "I can not understand Dutch.
Why did not the fiscaal, or sheriff, send English ? When he sends
English, then I will answer. We expect the determination on the
boundaries the next vessel. Time will tell whether we shall be under
Dutch government or the Parliament; until then we remain here
under the Commonwealth of England.'' Notwithstanding this de-
fiant behavior, the Dutch director-general was reluctant to act severe-

118 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

ly in the matter, and nearly a year elapsed before the next proceed-
ings were taken, which were based quite as much upon considerations
affecting the character of the English settlement as upon the desire
to vindicate Dutch territorial rights. The director and council, by
a resolution adopted March 6, 1656, declared that the English at
Westchester were guilty of " encouraging and sheltering the fugi-
tives from this province," and also of keeping up a constant corre-
spondence with the savage enemies of the Dutch. On these grounds,
and also to defend the rights of the Dutch against territorial usurpa-
tions, an expedition, commanded by Captains De Koninck and New-
ton and Attornev-General Van Tienhoven, was sent secretly to West-
chester. On the 14th of March this party made its descent upon the
village, and, finding the English drawn up under arms, prepared for
resistance, overpowered them, and apprehended twenty-three of their
number, some of whom were fugitives from New Amsterdam and
the others bona fide English colonists. All the captives were con-
veyed to Manhattan Island, where the Dutch runaways were con-
fined in prison and the English settlers placed under civil arrest and
lodged in the City Hall. The next day Attorney-General Van Tien-
hoven formally presented his case against the prisoners. In his argu-
ment he alleged as one of the principal grievances against the people
of Westchester that they were guilty of the offense of " luring and
accommodating our runaway inhabitants, vagrants, and thieves, and
others who, for their bad conduct, find there a refuge." He de-
manded the complete expulsion of the English from the province.
This demand was sustained by the director and council, with the
proviso however, that the settlers should be allowed six weeks'
time for the removal of their goods and chattels. At this stage the
prisoners came forward with a decidedly submissive proposition.
They agreed that, if permitted to continue on their lands, they would
subject themselves to the government and laws of New Netherland,
only requesting the privilege of choosing their own officers for the
enforcement of their local laws. This petition was granted by Stuy-
vesant, on condition that their choice of magistrates should be sub-
ject to'the approval of the director and council, selections to be made
from a double list of names sent in by the settlers. Under this
amicable arrangement, Toll's settlement at Westchester (called by
the Dutch Oostdorp), while retaining its existence, was brought under
the recognized sovereignty of New Netherland, in which position it
remained until the English conquest.

The history of this first organized community in Westchester
County is fortunately traceable throughout its early years. On
March 23 1656, the citizens submitted to Director Stuyvesant their

SETTLEMENT OF WESTCHESTER TOWN 119

nominations of magistrates, the persons recommended for these of-
fices being Lieutenant Thomas Wheeler, Thomas Newman, John
Lord, Josiah Gilbert, William Ward, and Nicholas Bayley. From
this list the director appointed Thomas Wheeler, Thomas Newman,
and John Lord. Annually thereafter double nominations were made,
and three magistrates were regularly chosen. There is no indication
in the records of New Netherland of any willful acts of insubordina-
tion by the settlers, or of any further delinquencies by them in the
way of harboring bad characters. The Dutch authorities, on their
part, manifested a moderate and considerate disposition in their
supervisory government of the place. At the end of 165(3 Stuyvesant
sent three of his subordinates to Westchester, to administer the oath
of office to the newly appointed magistrates and the oath of alle-
giance to the other inhabitants. But the latter objected to the form
of oath, and would promise obedience to the law only, provided it was
conformable to the law of God; and allegiance only " so long as they
remained in the province." This modified form of oath was gener-
ously consented to. Later (January 3, 1657), Stuyvesant sent to the
colonists, at their solicitation, twelve muskets, twelve pounds of pow-
der, twelve pounds of lead, two bundles of matches, and a writing-
book for the magistrates. At that time the population of West-
chester consisted of twenty-five men and ten to twelve women.

The Dutch commissioners dispatched by Stuyvesant to Westches-
ter in 1050 left an interesting journal of their transactions and ob-
servations there. The following entry shows that the colonists were
typical New Englanders in practicing the forms of religious worship:

81 December. — After dinner Cornelius Van Ruyven went to see their mode of worship, as
they had, as yet, no preacher. There I found a gathering of about fifteen men and ten or twelve
women. Mr. Baly said the prayer, after which one Robert Bassett read from a printed book
a sermon composed by an English clergyman in England. After the reading Mr. Baly gave
out another prayer and sang a psalm, and they all separated.

The writing-book for the magistrates provided, with other neces-
sary articles, by Governor Stuyvesant, was at once put to use; and
from that time forward the records of the towu were systematically
kept. All the originals are still preserved in excellent condition.
The identical magistrates' book of 1G57, with many others of the
ancient records of Westchester, and also of West Farms, are now in
the possession of a private gentleman in New York City.

In accepting and quietly submitting to Dutch rule, the English
were merely obeying the dictates of ordinary prudence. Their hearts
continued loyal to the government of Connecticut, and they patiently
awaited the time when, in the natural course of events, that govern-
ment should extend its jurisdiction to their locality. After seven
and one-half vears definite action was taken by Connecticut. At a

120 HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

court of the general assembly, held at Hartford, October 9, 1662, an
order was issued to the effect that -this assembly doth hereby de-
clare and inform the inhabitants of Westchester that the plantation
is included in ye bounds of our charter, granted to this colony oi
Connecticut." The Westchester people were accordingly notified to
send deputies to the next assembly, appointed to meet at Hartford
in Mav, 1663; and also, in matters of legal proceedings, to "take
the benefit," in common with the towns of Stamford and Greenwich,
of a court established at Fairfield. Readily attaching much impor-
tance to the will of Connecticut thus expressed, they abstained from
their usual custom of nominating magistrates for the next year to
Governor Stuyvesant. The latter, after some delay, sent to make
inquiries as to the reason for this omission; whereat Richard Mills,
one of the local officers, addressed to him a meek communication,
inclosing the notifications from Connecticut and saying: "We
humbly beseech you to understand that wee, the inhabitants of this
place, have not plotted nor conspired against your Honor." This
did not satisfy Stuyvesant, who caused Mills to be arrested and in-
carcerated in New Amsterdam. From his place of confinement the
unhappy Westchester magistrate wrote several doleful and contrite
letters to the wrathful director. " Right lion. Gov. Lord Peter Stev-
enson," said he in one of these missives, - thy dejected prisoner,
Richard Mills, do humbly supplicate for your favor and commisera-
tion towards me, in admitting of me unto your honor's presence,
there to indicate my free and ready mind to satisfy your honor
wherein I am able, for any indignity done unto your lordship m
any way, and if possible to release me or confine me to some more
wholesome place than where I am. I have been tenderly bred from
my cradle, and now antient and weakly," etc. The claims of Con-
necticut to Westchester being persisted in, Stuyvesant made a jour-
ney to Boston in the fall of 1663 to seek a permanent understanding
with the New England officials about the delicate subject. But no
conclusion was arrived at, and the Westchester affair remained in
statu quo until forcibly settled by the triumph of English force before
New Amsterdam in the month of September, 1664.

The Dutch-English controversy regarding the Westchester tract
was one of the incidental phases of the general boundary dispute,
which Stuyvesant, from the very beginning of his arrival in New
Netherland as director-general, had iu vain sought to bring to a deci-
sion In 1650, as the result of overtures made by him for an amicable
adjustment of differences, he held a conference at Hartford with
commissioners appointed by the United English Colonies; and on
the 19th of September articles of agreement were signed by both

SETTLEMENT OF WESTCHESTER TOWN 121

parties in interest, which provided that the bounds upon the main
"should begin at the west side of Greenwich Bay, being about four
miles from Stamford, and so to run a northerly line twenty miles up
into the country, and after as it shall be agreed by the two govern-
ments, of the Dutch and of New Haven, provided the said line come
not within ten miles of the Hudson River."

But these articles, constituting a provisional treaty, were never
ratified by the home governments. In 1054 the States-General of
the Netherlands instructed their ambassadors in London to negotiate
a boundary line, an undertaking, which, however, they found it im-
possible to accomplish. The English government, when approached
on the subject, assumed a haughty attitude, pretending total ignor-
ance of their High Mightinesses having any colonies in America, and,
moreover, declaring that, as no proposal on the boundary question
had been received from the English colonies in America, it would be
manifestly improper to consider the matter in any wise. Subsequent
attempts to settle this issue were equally unsuccessful. Neverthe-
less, it was always urged by Stuyvesant that, in the absence of a reg-
ularly confirmed treaty, tin- articles of 1050 ought to be adhered to
in good faith on both sides, as embracing mutual concessions for the
sake of neighborly understanding, which were carefully formulated
at the time and had never been repudiated. It will be admitted by
most impartial minds that this was a reasonable contention. But
the Westchester tract was not the only territory in debate. English
settlement had proceeded rapidly on Long Island, and the onward
movement of citizens of Connecticut in that quarter was quite as in-
consistent with the terms of the articles of 1050 as was the presence of
an organized English colony in the Vredeland. Thus whatever
course might be suggested by fairness respecting the ultimate Eng-
lish attitude toward Westchester, that was only one local issue among
others of very similar nature; and with so much at stake, the policy
of self-interest required a studied resistance to the Dutch claims in
general, even if that involved violation of the spirit of an agreement
made in inchoate conditions which, though in a sense morally bind-
ing, had never been legally perfected. Finally, there was no conceiv-
able risk for the English in any proceedings they chose to take, how-
ever arbitrary or unscrupulous; for in the event of an armed conflict
over the boundary difficulty, the powerful New England colonies
could easily crush the weak and meager Dutch settlements.

It is not known to what extent, if any, the settlers at Wrestchester
suffered from the great and widespread Indian massacre of 1055,
which occurred before they had submitted themselves to the Dutch
government and consequently before their affairs became matters

122 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

of record at New Amsterdam. On the 15th of September of that
year sixty-four canoes of savages — -k Mohicans, Pachamis, with others
from Esopus, Hackingsack, Tappaan, Stamford, and Onkeway, as
far east as Connecticut, estimated by some to amount to nineteen
hundred in number, from five to eight hundred of whom were armed,"
—landed suddenly, before daybreak, at Fort Amsterdam. They
came to avenge the recent killing of a squaw by the Dutch for steal-
ing peaches. " Stuyvesant, with most of the armed force of the set-
tlement, was absent at the time upon an expedition to subdue the
Swedes on the Delaware. A reign of terror followed, lasting for
three days, during which, says O'Callaghan, " the Dutch lost one
hundred people, one hundred and fifty were taken into captivity,
and more than three hundred persons, besides, were deprived of
house, home, clothes, and food." The Westchester people were
probably spared on this occasion. It was a deed of vengeance
against the Dutch, and, as the English pioneers had up to that time
firmlv resisted Dutch authority, the Indians could have had no reason
for interfering with them. The reader will remember that when
Stuyvesant's officer, Van Elslant, came to Westchester with his writ
of dispossession in the spring of the same year, he was met by only
eight or nine armed men; whereas one year later twenty-three adult
males were made prisoners by De Koninck's party at that place.
This demonstrates that the progress of the settlement had at least
undergone no retardation in the interval.

Thomas Pell, to whose enterprise was due the foundation of the
first permanent settlement in the County of Westchester, was born,
according to Bolton's researches, at Southwyck, in Sussex, England,
about 1G0S, although he is sometimes styled Thomas Pell of Nor-
folk. He was of aristocratic and distinguished descent, tracing his
ancestry to the ancient Pell family of Walter Willingsley and Dyin-
blesbye, in Lincolnshire. A branch of this Lincolnshire family re-
moved into the County of Norfolk, of which was John Pell, gentle-
man, lord of the Manor of Shouldham Priory and Brookhall (died
April 4, 155G). One of his descendants was the Rev. John Pell, of
Southwyck (born about 1553), who married Mary Holland, a lady of
royal blood. Thomas Pell, the purchaser of the Westchester tract,
was their eldest son. As a young man in England he was gentle-
man of the bedchamber to Charles I., and it is supposed that his
sympathies were always on the side of the royalist cause. It is
uncertain at what period he emigrated to America, but Bolton finds
that as early as 1G30 he was associated with Roger Ludlow, a mem-
ber of the Rev. John Warhani's company, who settled first at Dor-
chester, Mass., and later removed to Windsor, Conn. In 1G35, with

SETTLEMENT OF WESTCHESTER TOWN 123

Ludlow and ten families, he commenced the plantation at Fairfield,
Conn, (called by the Indians Unquowa). In 10-17 he traded to the
Delaware and Virginia. Being summoned in 1648 to take the oath
of allegiance to New Haven, he refused, for the reason that he had
already subscribed to it in England, "and should not take it hero."
For his contumacious conduct he was fined, and, refusing to pay
the fine, " was again summoned before the authorities, and again
amerced."

Thus his early career in Connecticut was attended by circum-
stances which, on their face, were hardly favorable to his subse-
quent selection by the government of that colony as an agent for
carrying out designs that they may have had regarding the absorp-
tion of Dutch lands. It is altogether presumable that in buying
the Westchester tract from the Indians in 1654 he acted in a strictly
private capacity, although the settlers who went there may have
been stimulated to do so by the colonial authorities. Pell himself
does not appear to have ever become a resident of Westchester. He
evidently regarded his purchase solely as a real estate speculation,
selling his lands in parcels at first to small private individuals, and
later to aggregations of enterprising men.

Of the more important of these sales, as of the conversion of much
of his property into a manorial estate called Pelham Manor, due men-
tion will be made farther along in this History. The erection of Pel-
ham Manor by royal patent dated from October 6, 1606, Thomas Pell
becoming its first lord. He married Lucy, widow of Francis Brew-
ster, of New Haven, and died at Fairfield without issue in or about
the month of September, 1669. He left property, real and personal,
valued at £1,294 14s. 4d., all of which was bequeathed to his nephew,
John Pell, of England, who became the second lord of the manor.

For some six years following Pell's acquisition of Westchester in
1654, there were, so far as can be ascertained, no other notable land'
purchases or settlements within our borders. Van der Donck's patent
of the " Yonkers Land," inherited by his widow, continued in force;
but the time had not yet arrived for its sub-division and systematic
settlement. The New Haven Colony's purchase from Ponus and
other Indians in 1640, confirmed to the people of Stamford in 1655,
which covered the Town of Bedford and other portions of Westchester
County, also continued as a mere nominal holding, no efforts being-
made to develop it. No new grants of any mentionable importance
were made by the Dutch after that to Van der Donck, and while in-
dividual Dutch farmers were gradually penetrating beyond the Har-
lem, they founded no towns or comprehensive settlements of which
record survives.

124 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

But with the decade commencing in 1660 a general movement of
land purchasers and settlers began, which, steadily continuing and
increasing, brought nearly all the principal eastern and southern
sections under occupation within a comparatively brief period.

The earliest of these new purchasers were Peter Disbrow, John
Coe, and Thomas Stedwell (or Stud well), all of Greenwich, Conn.,
who in L660 and the succeeding years bought from the Indians dis-
tricts now embraced in the Towns of Rye and Harrison. Associated
with them in some of their later purchases was a fourth man, John
Rudd;1 but the original transactions were conducted by the three.
Their leader, Peter Disbrow, says the Rev. Charles W. Baird, the
historian of Bye, was " a young, intelligent, self-reliant man,"'
who seems to have enjoyed the thorough confidence and esteem
of his colleagues. On January 3, 1660, acting by authority from
the Colony of Connecticut, he purchased ik from the then native
Indian proprietors a certain tract of land lying on the maine be-
tween a certain place then called Bahonaness to the east and to the
West Chester Bath to the north, and up to a river then called Moa-
quanes to the west, that is to say, all the land lying between the
aforesaid two rivers then called Peningoe, extending from the said
Bath to the north and south to the sea or Sound." This tract, on
Peningo Neck, extended over the lower part of the present Town of
Bye, on the east side of Blind Brook, reaching as far north as Port
Chester and bounded by a line of marked trees.

Six months later (June 29, 1660) the Indian owners, thirteen in
number, conveyed to Disbrow, Coe, and Stedwell, for the consider-
ation of eight coats, seven shirts, and fifteen fathom of wampum,
all of Manussing Island, described as " near unto the main, which
is called in the Indian name Peningo." A third purchase was ef-
fected by Disbrow May 22, 1661, comprising a tract lying between
the Byram River and Blind Brook, " which may contain six or seven
miles from the sea along the Byram River side northward." Other
purchases west of Blind Brook followed, including Budd's Neck and'
the neighboring islands; the West Neck, lying between Stony Brook
and Mamaroneck River, and the tract above the Westchester Path
and west of Blind Brook, or directly north of Budd's Neck. This
last-mentioned tract was " the territory of the present Town of Har-
rison, a territory owned by the proprietors of Rye, but wrested from
the town some forty years later." Baird describes as follows the

1 John Budd was a Quaker, originally from moved to Rye, and was the ancestor of the

Southold, Suffolk County, N. Y., and suffered numerous Horton family of Westchester Coun-

persecution there on account of his religious ty. For these particulars (not mentioned in

antecedents. One of his daughters married previous histories) we are indebted to Charles

Joseph Horton, also of Southold, who later re- H. Young, Esq., of New Rochelle.

SETTLEMENT OF RYE 125

aggregate landed property represented by the several deeds: "The
southern part of it alone comprised the tract of land between Byram
River and Maniaroneck River, while to the north it extended twenty
miles, and to the northwest an indefinite distance. These boun-
daries included, besides the area now covered by the Towns of Rye
and Harrison, much of the Towns of North Castle and Bedford, in
New York, and of Greenwich, in Connecticut; whilst in a north-
west direction the territory claimed was absolutely without a fixed
limit. As the frontier town of Connecticut, Rye long cherished pre-
tensions to the whole region as far as the Hudson." The satisfac-
tion given the Indians for all parts of the territory consisted chiefly
of useful articles, and for some of the section the recompense be-
stowed was very considerable according to the standards obtain-
ing in dealings with the Indians in those days. Thus, the value
paid for Budd's Neck was " eightie pounds sterling," and for the
Harrison tract twenty pounds sterling. These sums certainly con-
trast quite imposingly with the value given by the Dutch in 1624
for Manhattan Island — twenty-four dollars.

Little time was lost in laying out a settlement. For this purpose
Manussing Island was selected as the most available spot, and there
a community was established which took the name of Hastings. In
Disbrow's deed of May 22, 1661, to the lands between the Byram
River and Blind Brook, mention is made of "the bounds of Hast-
ings on the south and southwest," which indicates that at that
early date the island village had already been inaugurated and
named. The following list of all the inhabitants of Hastings (the
second town organized in Westchester County) whose names have
come down to us is taken from Baird: Peter Disbrow, John (Joe,
Thomas Stud well, John Bndd, William Odell, liichard Vowles, Sam-
uel Ailing, Robert Hudson, John Brondish, Frederick Harminson,
Thomas Applebe, Philip Galpin, George (Mere, John Jackson, and
Walter Jackson. It will be observed that all these, with one ex-
ception (Clere), are good English names. This settlement, only one
hour's sail from Greenwich, was too far removed from New Amster-
dam to excite the jealous notice and protest of Director Stuyvesant,
although it lay considerably to the west of the provisional boundary
line marked off in the articles of 1 <;.">(>. Its founders apparently re-
moved there with no other object than to secure homes and planta-
tions, holding themselves in readiness, however, like those of West-
chester, to come under the Connecticut government in due time. The
oldest Hastings town document that has been preserved is a decla-
ration of allegiance to "Charles the Second, our lawful lord and
king," dated July 26, 1662. At the same period when the people of

126 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Westchester were informed that their territory belonged to the Col-
ony of Connecticut, and instructed to act accordingly, like notifica-
tion was sent to Hastings. Early in 1663 the townsmen, at a public
meeting, appointed Richard Yowles as constable, who went to Hart-
ford and was duly qualified. John Budd was selected as the first
deputy to the Connecticut general court, which body, on the 8th of
October, 1663, designated him as commissioner for the Town of Hast-
ings with " magistraticall power."

The Island of Manussing, only one mile in length, was in the course
of two or three years found inadequate for the growing requirements
of the colonists, and they began to build up a new settlement on the
mainland. This was probably in 1661. Meantime other colonists
had joined them, including Thomas and Hachaliah Browne, George
Lane, George Kniffen, Stephen Sherwood, and Timothy Knap. They
called the new village Rye, " presumably," says Baird, " in honor of
Thomas and Hachaliah Browne, the sons of Mr. Thomas Browne, a
gentleman of good family, from Rye, in Sussex County, England,
who settled at Cambridge, Mass., in 1632/' " The original division
of Rye consisted of ten acres to each individual planter, besides a
privilege in the undivided lands." The general court of Connec-
ticut, on the 11th of May, 1665, ordered " that the villages of Hast-
ings and Rye shall be for the future conjoyned and made one plan-
tation, and that it shall be called by the appellation of Wye" Grad-
ually the island was abandoned. The village of Rye became Avithin
a few years a very respectable little settlement. It lay k" at the
upper end of the Neck, along the eastern bank of Blind Brook, and
the present Milton road was the village street, on either side of
which the home-lots of the settlers were laid out. . . . The
houses erected were not mere temporary structures, as on Manus-
sing Island, but solid buildings of wood or stone, some of which
have lasted until our own day. They were long, narrow structures,
entered from the side, ami stood with gable end close upon the road,
and huge chimney projecting at the rear. Each dwelling generally
contained two rooms on the ground floor — a kitchen and ' best room *
— with sleeping apartments in the loft."

The original Rye purchases of Disbrow and his associates in 1660
antedated by only one year the purchase of the adjacent Mamaro-
neck lands, extending from the Mamaroneck River to the limits of
Thomas Pell's Westchester tract. On the 23d of September, 1661,
the Indian proprietors, Wappaquewam and Mahatahan (brothers),
sold to John Riehbell, of Oyster Bay, Long Island, three necks of
land, described as follows in the conveyance: "The Eastermost is
called Mammaranock Neck, and the Westermost is bounded with

richbell's mamaroneck purchase 127

Mr. Pell's purchase." The three necks later became known as the
East, Middle, and West Necks. All the meadows, rivers, and islands
thereunto belonging were included in the sale; and it was also
specified that Eichbell or his assigns might " freely feed cattle or
cutt timber twenty miles Northward from the marked Trees of the
Necks.'' As payment, he was to deliver to Wappaquewam, half
within about a month and the other half in the following spring,
twenty-two coats, one hundred fathom of wampum, twelve shirts,
ten pairs of stockings, twenty hands of powder, twelve bars of lead,
two firelocks, fifteen hoes, fifteen hatchets, and three kettles. Two
shirts and ten shillings in wampum were given in part payment on
the day of the transaction. But Eichbell was not permitted to enter
into undisturbed possession of his fine property. Another English-
man of Oyster Bay, one Thomas Eevell, in the following month (Octo-
ber, 1GG1) appeared on the scene and undertook to buy the identical
lands, or a very considerable portion of them. His negotiations
were with the same Wappaquewam and certain other Indians, to
whom he paid, or engaged to pay, more than Eichbell had bound
himself for. Out of his rival claim arose a wordy legal dispute,
wherein affidavits were filed by various witnesses, one of whom (tes-
tifying in Eichbell's behalf) was Peter Disbrow, of Manussing Island.
From the testimony of Wappaquewam it appears that that chief was
overpersuaded by another Indian, Cockoo, to resell the territory to
Eevell, upon the alluring promise that " he should have a cote," " on
which he did it." The burden of the evidence was plainly in favor
of Eichbell, who, in all the legal proceedings that resulted, triumphed
over his opponent.

The Indian Cockoo, who contributed his good offices to the assist-
ance of Eevell in this enterprise, was none other than the notable
Long Island interpreter, Cockonoe, who was John Eliot's first in-
structor in the Indian language, and who was a frequent interme-
diary between English land purchasers and the native owners of
the soil. What is known of the history of this very unique char-
acter has been embodied in an interesting monograph by Mr. William
Wallace Tooker,1 to whom we are indebted for the article on Indian
local names in the second chapter of this volume.

His name appears variously in legal documents as Cockoo, Cokoo,
and Cockoe — all abbreviations of the correct form, Cockonoe. Eliot,
in a letter written in 1649, descriptive of how he learned the Indian
tongue, relates that he became acquainted while living at Dorchester,
Mass., with a young Long Island Indian, "taken in the Pequott
warres," whom he found Xi^vy ingenious, able to read, and whom

1 Coekonoe-de-Long Island. New York, 1S96.

128

HISTORY OF WESTOIIKSTER COUNTY

he taught to write, " which he quickly learnt." " He was the first,"
says Eliot, " that 1 made use of to teach me words and to be my in-
terpreter." And at the end of his " Indian Grammar," printed at
Cambridge in 1 <'><;*>, Eliot testifies more particularly to the services
rendered him by this youth. " By his help," he says, " I translated
the Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and many texts of Scripture;
also I compiled both exhortations and prayers by his help.'' Cocko-
noe attended Eliot for some time in his evangelistic expeditions, and
later made his home among the English settlers on Long Island,
whom he stood ready at all times to assist in their private dealings

with the Indians. When
Thomas Revell sought to
get the upper hand of
Richbell in the purchase
of lands in the present
Township of Mamaroneck,
he accordingly brought
Cockonoe with him from
Long Island, and confided
To him full authority in
the premises. Cockonoe
made large promises to
the native owners in Re-
vell's behalf, and readily
i nd need t hem t o grant
him power of attorney to
sell the lands to Revell.
The understanding was
shrewdly planned, but
Richbell's claim was too
well established to be
overcome.

Richbell, unlike Pell in
his Westchester purchase,
and Disbrow and his com-
panions in their Rye ven-
ture, did not hold himself independent of the Dutch provincial admin-
istration. He promptly applied to the government at New Amster-
dam for confirmation of his landed rights. Perhaps he was actuated
in this step by a prudent desire to avoid the legal complications and
annoyances which the settlers at Westchester had experienced, and
perhaps he sought to strengthen his case against his competitor
Revell by the forms of official recognition. In an elaborately polite

Indian Trimer-^

M ° ^ S&

Jjg The way nf Training up of our ^
wf fndi.n Tenth in die g->o«l gf
im knowledge of G.otl, in the ^5*
<55f knowledge of die Scdjrune* g^

jVtf and in an ability to Rea.te. j£^,

4g|— ^ ;z^7^ji7^ go,

$M _„ -ii_j-i-. — : — ,^

^fj t tm- 3 14,15* gut lt,ir..ig. J&
J[§ mu<an(b n'$ rttthtwtJuuMl'b «J*

^£p ncbji*kitbt'Mt}2dds $&

fj^ i?, K-ib watch h.ummikfii:fi!)n- |k&.
4&U. jjwt .'ivwn&lioxvitfncetvp.'itd. xjgC,
Mitmmt(J\\rrborp{b:&?. (§f

~¥ -^ ■ W »-f» *f- ^ ■ t^S *j* tf, *r yp j^

FAC-SIM ILE OF THE TITLE-PAQF OF THE PR1MF" OF 1669.)

RICH BELL'S MAMARONECK PURCHASE 129

communication, dated " In New Netherlands, 24th December, 1661,"
and addressed "To the most noble, great, and respectful lords, the
Director-General and Council in New Netherlands," he solicited
" most reverently " that letters patent be granted him for his tract,
promising not only that all persons settling upon it should similarly
crave letters patent from the Dutch authorities for such parcels of
land as they should acquire, but also that he would take care to
"enforce and instruct them of your Honour's government and will."
By a document signed May (I, 1662, Director Stuyvesant complied
with his request, stipulating, however, that Richbell and all persons
associated with him or settling under him should "present them-
selves before us to take the oath of fidelity anil obedience, and also,
as other inhabitants are used to, procure a land brief of what they
possess."

The bounds of RichbelPs patent on the Sound ran from " Mr. Pell's
purchase" at the southwest to the Mamaroneck River at the north-
east. The three necks, constituting its water front, are thus de-
scribed by the historian of the Manors of Westchester County:

The Middle Neek was sometimes styled the " Great Neck," from its longer extent of
water front, which led to the supposition that its area below Westchester Path was greater
than that of the East Neck. The East Neck extended from Mamaroneck River to a small
stream called Pipin's Brook, which divided it from the Great Neck, and is the same which
now (1886) crosses the Boston Road just east of the house of the late Mr. George Vander-
burgh. The North Neck extended from the latter stream westward to the month of a much
larger brook called Cedar or Gravelly Brook, which is the one that bounds the land now
belonging to Mr. Meyer on the west. And the West Neck extended from the latter to
another smaller brook still further to the westward, also termed Stony or Gravelly Brook,
which was the east line of the Manor of Pelham. A heated controversy arose between John
Richbell and John Pell (second lord of the Manor), as to which of the two brooks last named
was the true boundary between them. Pell claiming that it was the former and that the West
Neck was his land. After proceedings before Governor Lovelace and in the Court of
Assizes, the matter was finally settled on the 22d of .January, 1671, by an agreement prac-
tically dividing the disputed territory between them.

Richbell creeled ;i house on (lie East Neck, and resided there. In
the interior his landed rights, ;is understood in his deed from the
Indians, extended "twenty miles northward." By letters patent
from Governor Lovelace, issued to hint October Hi, Kills, the whole
tract was confirmed to him, " running northward twenty miles into
the woods." This tract embraced the present Towns of Mamaroneck,
White Plains, and Scarsdale, and most of New Castle. But the en-
terprising men of Rye in 1683 bought from the Indians the White
riains tract — a purchase which gave rise to a protracted contention
about the ownership of that section. The West and Middle Necks
went out of Richbell's possession under mortgage transactions, the
principal mortgage*' being Cornelius Steenwyck, a wealthy Dutch
merchant of New York. Most of the Middle Neck was subsequently

130 HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

acquired by the Palmer family (still prominent in the Town of Mamar-
oneck). Toward the end of the eighteenth century Peter J. Munro
became its principal proprietor, from whom it is called to this day
Munro's Neck. Upon it is located the widely known and exclusive
summer resort of Larchmont, The East Neck was conveyed by
Richbell, immediately after the procurement of his patent from Gov-
ernor Lovelace, to his mother-in-law, Margery Parsons, who forth-
with deeded it to her daughter Ann, his wife. By her it was sold
in 1697 to Colonel Caleb Heathcote, under whom, with its interior
extension, it was erected into the Manor of Scarsdale. Heathcote's
eldest daughter, Ann, married into the distinguished de Lancey
family. As he left no male heir, Ann de Lancey inherited much of
the manor property, and the de Laneeys, continuing to have their
seat here, gave their name to the locality still called de Lancey's
Neck.

John Richbell, the original purchaser of all the lands whose his-
tory has thus been briefly traced, was " an Englishman of a Hamp-
shire family of Southampton or its neighborhood, who were mer-
chants in London, and who had business transactions with the West
Indies or New England." lie was engaged for a time in commer-
cial enterprises in the British West India Islands of Barbadoes, then
a prominent center of transatlantic trade. In 1656 ho was a mer-
chant in Charlestown, Mass. (near Boston). The next year he en-
tered into a peculiar private understanding with Thomas Mediford,
of Barbadoes, and William Sharpe, of Southampton, England, which
is supposed to have afforded the basis for his purchase, four years
later, of the Mamaroneck tract. The details of the understanding
are not stated in terms in any document that is extant; but its
nature can readily be conjectured from the wording of the " Instruc-
tions " prepared for him by his associates, dated Barbadoes, Septem-
ber 18, 1657. He is advised to inform himself "by sober under-
standing men'' respecting the seaeoast between Connecticut and
the Dutch settlements, and the islands between Long Island and
the main, ascertaining "within what government it is, and of what
kinde that government is, whether very strict or very remisse."
Having satisfied himself, in these and other particulars, that he
"may with security settle there and without offense to any," he is
advised to "buy some small Plantation," which, among other ad-
vantages, must be " near some navigable Ryver, or at least some
safe port or harbour," and " the way to it neither long nor difficult."
He is next to obtain an indisputable title to the land, to settle there
with his family, and to clear and cultivate it. Precise directions
are given him for his agricultural and economic operations, includ-

RICHBELL'S MAMARONECK PURCHASE 131

ing the following significant ones: " Be sure by the first opportunity
to put an acre or two of hemp seed into the ground, of which you
may in the winter make a quantity of canvass and cordage for your
own use. In the falling and clearing your ground save all your
principal timber for pipe stands and clapboard and knee timber.''
Lastly, he is instructed to " advise us, or either of us, how affairs
stand with you, what your wants are, and how they may be most
advantageously employed by us, for the life of our business will
consist in the nimble, quiet, and full correspondence with us." There
can be no doubt that all this was with a view to procuring facilities
for contraband traffic. The navigation laws, at that time as through-
out the colonial period, were extremely burdensome, and large profits
were to be made in evading them. Although no direct evidence ex-
ists that the Mamaroneck shores were utilized to this end, we think
it highly probable that some illicit trade found its destination there.
It is a fact that Richbell's lands, unlike those of Thomas Pell and
Disbrow and his associates, were not taken up to any considerable
extent by bona fide colonists for many years. Yet he was a poor
man, always in debt, and could not afford to let his property lie idle.
As late as 1671 a warrant was issued by Governor Lovelace " for ye
fetching Mr. John Richbell to town [New York City] a prisoner,"
wherein it was recited that " John Richbell, of Mamaroneck," was " a
prisoner under arrest for debt in this city, from which place he hath
absented himself contrary to his engagement." It may hence justly
be remarked that, on the other hand, he could hardly have been en-
gaged in any very extensive or remunerative "nimble" business.

Before buying the Mamaroneck tract, Richbell had become an in-
habitant of Long Island, residing at Oyster Bay. On the 5th of Sep-
tember, 1660, he purchased Lloyd's Neck, on that island, for which
on December 18, 1665, he obtained a patent from Governor Nicolls.
This property he sold one year later for £150. Through his brother,
Robert Richbell, a member of the English Council of Trade created
by Charles II., he probably received early information of the expe-
dition intended for the conquest of Ne\\ Xetherland from the Dutch.
After the conquest he made his home at Mamaroneck, where he died
July 26, 1684, leaving a widow and three daughters — Elizabeth,
Mary, and Ann. Elizabeth, according to Bolton, became " the sec-
ond wife of Adam Mott, of Ham stead," and their son, William, was
the ancestor of Dr. Valentine Mott, of New York City. Mary Rich-
bell married Captain James Mott, of Mamaroneck, who, in an entry
in the town records, alludes to " a certain piece of land laying near
the salt meadow," ,f in my home lot or field adjoining to my house,"
as being the burial place of John Richbell.

CHAPTER VII

THE PORTION OF THE NORTH RIDING ON THE MAIN" PROGRESS OF

SETTLEMENT AND BEGINNINGS OF THE MANORIAL ESTATES

N the 6th of September, 1664, the City of New Am-
sterdam surrendered to an English fleet which had
been secretly dispatched across the Atlantic to take

J possession of the Dutch dominions in America; and
soon afterward the fortified places of the Dutch on the Dela-
ware and the upper Hudson gave in their allegiance to the
new rulers of the land. For many years the whole course of events
in New Netherland had been steadily tending to this eventuality. As
early as 1050, when the Hartford articles of agreement between Stuy-
vesant and the commissioners of the United Colonies of New Eng-
land were signed, the Dutch pretensions to territorial ownership on
the banks of the Connecticut were abandoned, and the English rights
as far west as Greenwich on the Sound and to within ten miles of the
Hudson River in the interior were recognized. At the same time,
sovereignty on Long Island was formally divided with the English,
it being provided in the articles that "upon Long Island a line run
from the westernmost part of Oyster Day, so, and in a straight and
direct line, to the sea, shall be the bounds betwixt the English and
Dutch there, the easterly part to belong to the English and the west-
ernmost part to the Dutch." Subsequent developments were uni-
formly in the direction of the acquisition by the English of all un-
settled intermediate territory. While the Dutch not only made no
encroachments upon the sections adjoining the English settlements,
but even neglected all systematic occupation of the undeveloped
country indisputably belonging to their own sphere, such as the
regions north of the Harlem Liver, the English were constantly ex-
tending, by actual seizure and occupation, the limits of their west-
ward claims. One after another the Dutch gave up to their rivals
every point in dispute. In 1 663, after a strenuous endeavor to re-
tain'the Westchester tract, where they had preserved the forms of
jurisdiction since the early days of its colonization by Pell's settlers,
they resigned this important vantage ground; and early in 1664,

AFTER THE ENGLISH CONQUEST

133

forced to au issue on Long Island by the stubborn attitude of the
English towns there, they entered into an arrangement by which
all controverted matters in that part of their diminishing realms
were determined agreeably to the British interests. By this latter
transaction the villages of Newtown, Flushing, Jamaica, Hempstead,
and Gravesend became English. The arrogant general disposition
of the English in Connecticut in the closing period of the Dutch
rule is described as follows by Stuyvesant iu a dispatch to the West
India Company, dated November 10, 1G63: "They know no New
Netherland, nor g< ivernment
of New Netherland, except
only the Dutch plantation
on the Island of Manhattan.
Tis evident and clear that
were Westchester and the
five English towns on Long
Island surrendered by us to
the Colony of Hartford, and
what we have justly pos-
sessed and settled on Long
Island left to us, it would
not satisfy them, because it
would not be possible to
bring them sufficiently to
any further arrangement
witli us by commissioners
to be chosen on both sides
by the mediation of a third
party; and as in case of dis-
agreement they assert, in
addition, that they may pos-
sess and occupy, in virtue of
their unlimited patent, the
lands lying vacant and un-
settled on both sides of the North River and elsewhere, which would
certainly always cause and create new pretensions and disputes, even
though the boundary were provisionally settled here." The patent
here referred to by Stuyvesant was one granted by Charles II. on
the 23d of April, 1662, to the Colony of Connecticut, wherein the
westward bounds of Connecticut were stated to be " the South Sea"
— that is, the Pacific Ocean. Tin southern bounds wore likewise
fixed at " the Sea " — meaning not the Sound, but the Atlantic Ocean
south of Long Island.

131 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

March 23, 1C61 (n. s.J, Charles II. by royal patent vested in his
brother, the Duke of York (afterward James II.), the proprietorship
of all of New Netherland. The sole semblance of justification of
this act was the venerable claim of England to the North American
mainland, based upon the discovery of the Cabots in the reign of
Henry VII., nearly a hundred and seventy years before. At the
time of the gift to the Duke of York, no state of war existed be-
tween England and the Netherlands. Neither was there the plau-
sible excuse of emergency on the ground of any threatening be-
havior of the Dutch in America, or even of dangerous differences
between the provinces of New Netherland and Connecticut; for, as
wTe have seen, the Dutch had pursued an undeviating course of for-
bearance and submission, and had but recently yielded all for which
their English neighbors contended. It was a deed of spoliation pure
and simple, and as such has been characterized in varying terms of
denunciation by all impartial historians. Four ships of war, car-
rying ninety-two guns and about four hundred and fifty land troops,
and commanded by Colonel Richard Nicolls, appeared before New
Amsterdam at the end of August, and demanded the surrender of
the city. Stuyvesant desired to resist to the last, but was over-
borne by the will of the citizens, and on the 6th of September articles
of capitulation were sigued, which were extremely generous in their
provisions, the Dutch being granted full privilege to continue in the
enjoyment of their lands and other possessions, as well as liberty of
religion and of occupying minor civil offices. Nicolls was installed
as governor of the province, which took the name of New York.

One of the first documents which the new authorities had to con-
sider was a communication from the "inhabitants of Westchester,"
reciting, under seven different heads, their local grievances against
the Dutch. In this paper no specific remedy was prayed for, and it
appears to have been drawn merely to put on record the real and
supposed injuries that the settlers had suffered from the New Neth-
erland government, and to attract official attention to their commu-
nity. O'Callaghan shows that in some of its more serious charges
it is distinctly untruthful, suggesting a malignant animus. It con-
cluded with the bitter complaint that, because of the conduct of the
Dutch, the plantation is at " a low estate," that conduct having
operated as " an utter obstruction from the peopling and improv-
ing of a hopeful country."

The form of tenure under which New Netherland was granted to
the Duke of York by the king was defined in the patent as fol-
lows: "To be holden of us, our heirs, and successors, as of our
Manor of Greenwich and our County of Kent, in free and common

AFTER THE ENGLISH CONQUEST 135

socage, and not in capite, nor by knight service, yielding and ren-
dering of and for the same, yearly and every year, forty beaver
skins when they shall be demanded, or within ninety days there-
after." This meant simply that there was to be no feudal tenure
of lands under its provisions (all feudal tenures having, in fact, been
abolished throughout English dominions by act of Parliament four
years previously), but that the system introduced should be strictly
allodial, patterned, moreover, upon that prevailing in " our Manor
of East Greenwich in the County of Kent," " the object being to
give to the new possessions in America the most favorable tenure
then known to the English law." The basis of the ancient and
effete feudal system was the complete subjection of the vassal to
his lord, the vassal being bound to perform military and other per-
sonal services and to be judged at law by his lord, and the lord
guaranteeing him, in consideration of his fealty, security in the pos-
session of his lands and general protection. On the other hand, allo-
dial tenure, or " free and common socage," was " a free tenure, the
land being a freehold, and the holder a freeman, because he, as well
as the land, was entirely free from all exactions, and from all rents
and services except those specified in his grant. £o long as these
last were paid or performed, no lord or other power could deprive
him of his land, and he could devise it by will, and in case of his
death intestate it could be divided among his sons equally." Thus
iu its very origin, English rule in what is now the State of New
York had for its basic principle an absolutely free yeomanry. The
erection of " manors," presided over by so-called " lords," did not
affect in the least this elementary free status; the manors being
only larger estates, and their lords wealthy proprietors with cer-
tain incidental aristocratic functions and dignities which violated in
no manner the principle of perfectly free land tenure,

New York, under this patent from Charles II., assumed at once
the character of a " proprietary province " — that is, a province owned
absolutely by the beneficiary, James, Duke of York, and ruled ex-
clusively by him through his subordinates, subject to the general
laws of England. In this character it continued for nearly twenty-
one years (excepting a little more than one year, when it was again
under Dutch sway by virtue of reconquest), at the end of that time
being merged in the provinces of the crown because of the acces-
sion of James to the throne of England. Richard Nicolls, the duke's
first governor, after substituting for the old name of New Nether-
land that of New York, proceeded to rename the various parts of
the province. He assigned the comprehensive designation of York-
shire to the whole district surrounding Manhattan Island, compris-

136 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

ing Long Island, Staten Island, and the present Westchester County;
and, following the local style of old Yorkshire, in England, he sub-
divided this district into three so-called " Hidings " — the ''East,"
"West," and "North." The East Hiding consisted of the present
Suffolk County; the West Hiding, of Staten Island, the present Kings
County, and the Town of Newtown, in the present Queens County;
and the North Hiding, of the remainder of the present Queens
County, together with the Westchester plantation. The first offi-
cial (as well as popular) name for our county, of more than mere
local application, was " the portion of the North Hiding on the main."
But the Long Island jurisdiction extended only to flu1 Bronx, the
settlements which later sprang up west of that stream being under
the government of Harlem and New York City until Westchester
County came into existence, in 1GS3.

Governor Nicolls, after proclaiming the Duke of York as lord pro-
prietor of the province, and exacting recognition of him as such,
which was readily forthcoming (Stuyvesant, and the leading Dutch
citizens generally, subscribing to the oath of allegiance), permitted
the former order of things to continue with as little interference as
possible. With the transfer of sovereignty, however, it became nec-
essary to issue new land patents to existing owners, extinguishing
the condition in the old deeds that lands were held under allegiance
to the Dutch West India Company, and instituting instead the au-
thority of the new regime. This formality was provided for in the
celebrated code known as "The Duke's Laws," adopted by an as-
sembly of delegates from the towns of the province held at Hemp-
stead in the summer of 1665. It was prescribed that "all persons
whatsoever who may have any grants or patents of townships, lands,
or houses, within this government, shall bring in the said grants or
patents to the said governor and shall have them renewed by au-
thority from his Loyal Highness, the Duke of York, before the next
Court of Assizes. That every purchaser, etc., shall pay for every
hundred acres as an acknowledgment two shillings and six pence."
The Dutch submitted cheerfully to the regulation, but some oppo-
sition to it was offered by the inhabitants of the English towns of
Long Island, who, conceiving that they belonged to the jurisdiction
of Connecticut, were disinclined to be thus summarily incorporated
under the new-fledged government.

The boundary question which so vexed Stuyvesant was immedi-
ately brought to the serious attention of Nicolls by the Connecticut
officials. He was no sooner well established in possession of the
Dutch province than delegates were sent to him from Connecticut
to congratulate him and arrange a settlement of the boundary line.

AFTER THE EN GUSH CONQUEST 137

He appointed commissioners to meet these delegates, and on the
28th of October, lf>C>4, it was agreed that the line should start on
the Sound at a point twenty miles east of the Hudson River and
pursue a north-northwest coarse until it intersected the line of
Massachusetts, which at that time was supposed to ran across the
continent to the Pacific Ocean. In locating the twenty-mile start-
ing point, Nicolls accepted representations made by the Connecticut
people, and it was fixed at the mouth of the Maniaroneck Eiver,
which in point of fact, however, is only ten miles from the Hudson.
Accordingly, the boundary between New York and Connecticut was
declared to be " a line drawn from the east point or side where the
fresh water falls into the salt,1 at high-water mark, north-northwest
to the line of Massachusetts." This produced a line striking the
east bank of the Hudson just above Croton Point, and the west bank
at West Point — an arrangement which, when the New York author-
ities discovered the fact, was greatly to their dissatisfaction, and
which later was rectified on a basis as nearly as convenient adjust-
able to the original twenty-mile understanding. But for the time
being, notwithstanding the serious miscalculation of distance, the
division of territory on the Sound appeared equitable enough. It
was unquestionable that everything east of Greenwich belonged to
Connecticut, by virtue of long settlement and also of the articles of
1 (;:»(}. West of Greenwich there were only three settlements on the
Sound— those at Rye and Westchester, and an infant colony at East-
dies) er — and all of these had been established exclusively by Con-
necticut people. Westchester village, and with it all the territory
on the Sound as far as the Maniaroneck River, was surrendered by
Connecticut to New York, only the Rye purchase being retained. As
for the interior, that was wholly unsettled as yet, and there was no
occasion to make any issue concerning it. Meantime the New York
government was able to contend that it was the original intent of
both parties to have the Connecticut line drawn at a distance of
twenty miles from the Hudson; and anything inconsistent with this
in the precise terms of the arrangement actually effected was natur-
ally subject to revision in due time.

Although the village of Westchester had attained to the impor-
tance of a separate organized community, the settlers there had held

1 •■ The place whore the fresh water falls into a northerly course, a rocky reef originally

the salt " is, says de Laneey, in his History crossed it nearly at right angles, causing the

of the Manors, the literal translation of the formation of rapids. It was high enough to

Indian name Maniaroneck. He adds: "A short prevent the tide rising over it at high water,

distance above the present bridge between the so that the fresh water of the river always

Towns of Maniaroneck and Rye, where the fell into the salt water of the harbor, and at

river bends suddenly to the east and then takes low water with a strong rush and sound."

138 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

their lands from the beginning under an arrangement with Thomas
Pell, the original white owner of the territory, whereby they were to
pay him kk a certain summe of money." Circumstances prevented the
fulfillment of this obligation, and on the 16th of June, 1664, three
months before the surrender of the province to the English, they
signed a document restoring to him all rights, titles, and claims to
the tract. One of the signers was " John Acer," probably the John
Archer who a few years subsequently became lord of the Manor of
Fordham. The restoration thus made was only temporary, for in
1007 Westchester received a town patent.

The proprietary pretensions of Thomas Pell were quite unlimited.
Besides undertaking to hold the Westchester settlers to the letter
of their agreement with him, he asserted and attempted to legally
enforce a claim to Cornell's Neck, which in 1646 had been patented
by the Dutch director, Kieft, to Thomas Cornell, and from him had
descended to his eldest daughter, Sarah, the wife of Thomas Willett
and later of Charles Bridges. Shortly after the English govern-
ment of New York had become established, Pell sought to oust Mrs.
Bridges from the possession of Cornell's Neck, and in consequence
of his arbitrary proceedings she, with her husband, brought suit
to restrain him from interfering with her in the enjoyment of her
inheritance. The action was tried before a jury on the 29th of
September, 1005. It proved to be a test case as to the validity of
Dutch grants in the whole territory which had been in dispute be-
tween New Netherland and Connecticut. Pell set up the plea that
the so-called Cornell's Neck was comprehended within the tract that
he had bought from the Indians in 1054; that the governor and
council of Connecticut had taken " notice of this land to be under
their government," and had licensed him to purchase it; and that
any prior Dutch grant ought to be voided, since " where there is no
right there can be no dominion, so no patent could be granted by
the Dutch, they having no right." On the other hand, the plaintiffs
alleged " ye articles of surrender, and the King's instructions, where-
in any grant or conveyance from the Dutch is , confirmed." The
jury promptly returned a verdict for the plaintiffs, with sixpence
damages; and it was ordered "that the high sheriff or the under-
sheriff of ye North Biding of Yorkshire upon Long Island do put
the plaintiffs in possession of the said land and premises; and all
persons are required to forbear the giving the said plaintiffs or
their assigns any molestation in their peaceable and quiet enjoy-
ment thereof." Under this decision the absolute ownership of Cor-
nell's Neck by the descendants of Thomas Cornell was never sub-
sequently questioned. Mrs. Bridges deeded the Neck to her eldest

PROGRESS OF PURCHASE AND SETTLEMENT

139

son, William Willett, who on the 15th of April, 1GG7, procured from
Governor Mcolls a new and more carefully worded patent to it.
The Keck continued in the Willett family for more than a century
afterward, and, although never invested with manorial dignity, was
recognized throughout the colonial period as one of the most im-
portant landed estates in Westchester County, the heads of the Wil-
lett family vying in social and public prominence with the Mor-
rises, Philipscs, de Lanceys, and Van Cortlandts.

old saint Paul's church, eastchkstek.

But though defeated in his attempt to acquire Cornell's Neck, Pell
was recognized as the " one only master " of the territory reaching
from the eastern confines of that locality to the Mamaroneck pur-
chase of Thomas Richbell. We have seen that the title to the West-
chester plantation was reconveyed to him by the settlers on the 16th
of June, 1661; and in the same month another circumstance occurred
indicating that Pell's authority over the whole domain was undis-
puted. On the 21th of June, 1661, he granted to " James Evarts

140

HISTORY OF WESTCHKSTKI! COUNTY

and Philip Pinckney, for themselves and their associates, to the
number of ten families,"' the privilege " to settle down at Hutch-
inson's, that is, where the house stood at the meadows and uplands,
to Hutchinson's River." This new English colony, located just above
Westchester, on the strip between Throgg's and Pelham Necks, was
called Eastchester, or the >k Ton Farms." All the grantees came from
Fairfield, Pell's home. The original ten families were soon joined
by others, making twenty-six families in all. A curious covenant,
comprising twenty-seven paragraphs, was adopted for the govern-
ment of the place, in which plain rules for the observance of all
wore laid down.1 To better secure themselves in the posession of

ze of God, sitt

1 Imprimis, that we by the :
down on the track of land lieng betwext
Huthesson's broock, whear the house was, un-
tell it com unto the river, that runeth in at the
head of the meados.

2. That we indeavor to keepe and maintayn
christian love and sivell honisty.

3. That we faithfully conssall what may be
of inlinnyti in any one of us.

1. l'lainlie to dealle one with another in
christian love.

5. If any trespas be don, the trespaed and
the trespaser shall ehuse tow of this company,
and they a thirde man if need be required, to
end the mater, without any further trubell.

U. That all and every one of us, or that

shall 1 f us. do pave unto the minester,

according to his meade.

7. That none exceed the quantity of fifteen
acres, until all have that quantity.

S. That every man hath that meadow that
is most convenient for him.

H. That every man build and inhabit on his
home lot before the next winter.

10. That no man make sale of his lot before
he hath built and inhabited one year, and then
to render it to the company, or to a man whom

17. Thar ev
good fence a
due time a :
pany's be gO(

IN. That ev
of the compa

19. That wt
Brewster cat
of exhortatio
we meet toge
to talk of th

view if the
s land whei

y sow or plant in their fields.

give new encouragement to Mr.
other week, to give us word
and that when we are settled

ler every other weeke. one hour,

best things.

11. T

>f his alot-

2u. That one man, either of himself, or by
consent, may give entertainment to strangers
for money.

21. That one day. every spring, be improved
for the destroying of rattle snakes.

22. That some, every Lord's day, stay at
home, for safety of our wives and children.

23. That every man get and keep a good lock
to his door as soon as he can.

21. That a convenient place be appointed for
oxen if need require.

25. If any man's meadow or upland be worse
in quality, that be considered in quantity.

26. That every man that hath taken up lottes
shall pay to all publick charges equal with
those that got none. That all that hath or
shall take up lots within this track of land

12. Thai no man shall cngro.sse to himself by
buying his neighbor's lot for his particular in-
terest, but with respect to sell it if an ap-
proved man come, and that without much ad-
vantage, to be judged by the company.

13. That all public affairs, all bridges, high-
ways, or mill, be carried on jointly, according
to meadow and estates.

11. That provision be endeavoured for educa-
tion of children, and then encouragement be
given unto any that shall take pains accord-
inn' to our former way of rating.

15. That no man shall give entertainment to
a foreigner who shall carry himself obnoxious
to the company except amendment be after
warning given.

16. That all shall join in guarding of cattle
when the company see it convenient.

Thomas Shute
The mark of

O
Nathaniel Tompkins,
Philip Pinkney.
The mark of X Joseph Joans.
John lloitt,
James Everts,

The mark of X Daniel Godwin,
The mark of X William Squire,
David Osburn,
John Goding,
Samuel Drake,
John Jackson,

The mark of John Drake, I D
The mark of

X
Nathaniel White,

PROGRESS OF PURCHASE AND SETTLEMENT

111

their lands, they obtained a further grant from the Indians in 1666;
and on the 9th day of March of that year a patent was issued to
them by Nicolls, through their representatives — Philip Pinckney,
James Evarts, and William llayden. They were to have the privi-
lege of electing a deputy constable, but in all other matters were to
" have relation to ye town and court of Westchester." Certain bor-
der lands between them and the Westchester people were " to lye in
common between them and ye inhabitants of Westchester," a pro-
vision which later gave rise to a good deal of local controversy.
Although the Eastchester settlement was made by men fresh from
Connecticut, its citizens do not appear to have sought at any time
to remain under that colony.

Having parted with all that section of his lands below Hutchin-
son's River, Thomas Pell next turned his attention to the erection of
the remainder into one imposing estate. This was accomplished by
letters patent procured from Governor Nicolls the 8th of October,
1666, a document under which the first manor in Westchester County
was organized. The boundaries given it were Hutchinson's River
on the west and Cedar Tree Brook or Gravelly Brook on the east;
and it was to include "all the islands in the Sound, not already
granted or otherwise disposed of, lying before that tract," and to
"run into the woods about eight English miles in breadth." The
whole was declared to be " an enfranchised township, manor, and
place by itself," and to bo entirely free from "the rules, orders, or
direct ions of any riding, township or townships, place, or jurisdic-
tion, either upon the main or upon Long Island." The proprietor
was to pay annually to the Duke of York "one Iamb upon the first
day of May, if the same shall be demanded." The subsequent history
of Pelham Manor will be traced in due chronological order.

The inhabitants of Westchester village accepted the government
of New York without demur. Applying to Governor Nicolls for a
town patent, they were informed by him (December 28, 1665) that
he would defer issuing it until the whole could be equally divided
into lots according to each man's assessed valuation. Early in Kit!"
(February 13) the desired instrument was granted to them, being the
first of its kind in our county. The persons mentioned in the docu-
ment are "John Quimby, John Ferris, Nicholas Bayley, William

William Haidon's mark, II

The mark of John Gay, I G

John A. Pinkney.

The mark of John Tompkins, 0

Richard Shute,

The mark of John Hollind, I II

Moses Hoitte,

Richard Hoadley,

The mark of II(
John Emory,
Moses Jackson,
John Clarke,

This is a true
iii.Mll. transcribe
23(1 Hay of Nov

142 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Betts, and Edmund Waters, as patentees for and on behalf of them-
selves and their associates, ye freeholders and inhabitants of ye said
town." The boundaries fixed were: At the west, " the western part
of the lands commonly called Bronks Land "; at the south, the Sound,
or East River; and at the east, Ann's Hook, or Pelham Neck. At
the north they extended "into the woods without limitation for
range of cattle." " All ye rights and privileges belonging to a town
within this government " were bestowed.

" Bronks' land," whose " western part " was indicated as the limit
of Westchester town in the direction of the Hudson Eiver, was a
territory of quite uncertain dimensions. Together with the lands
beyond along the Harlem and the Spuyten Duyvil Greek, it was
dotted with the farms of Dutch settlers who had been gradually
coming over from the Manhattan Island side.

On Manhattan Island, from the mouth of the Harlem River to
Spuyten Duyvil, the land was well occupied; and at the northeast-
ern extremity of the islaud a village called Harlem had been built
up. The interests of the settlers on both sides began to demand
that ferry communication be established. As early as 1658 this
need had received attention from the Dutch authorities, an ordinance
having been passed in that year with a view to the inauguration of
a terry from Harlem to the mainland, and the construction of a sub-
stantial wagon road from Fort Amsterdam to Harlem. Nothing-
practical was done by the Dutch in connection with these projected
improvements. But in 1666 Governor Nicolls granted to the people
of Harlem a charter providing for "a ferry to and from the main,"
and authorizing them "at their charge to build one or more boats
for that purpose fit for the transportation of men, horses, and cattle,
for which there will be such a certain allowance given as shall be
adjudged reasonable." A ferry was soon afterward put in opera-
tion, conducted by Johannes Verveelen, in whom the privilege was
vested for six years. He was required to maintain a tavern for the
accommodation of the public. Special favors were extended to him
in consideration of the expense that he was under and to encourage
him in his enterprise. He was given a small piece of land on the
Bronx side to build a house on. The sole right to remove cattle
from one shore to the other belonged to him, and persons swrimraing
cattle over were obliged to pay him half the ferriage rate per head.
The "fording place" on Spuyten Duyvil Greek was fenced about so
as to prevent its surreptitious use for cattle. Finally, he was ex-
empted from all excise duties on wine or beer retailed by him for
the space of one year. The ferriage charges, as fixed by law, were:
For every passenger, two pence silver or six pence wampum; for

PROGRESS OF PURCHASE AND SETTLEMENT 143

every ox or cow brought into the ferryboat, eight pence or twenty-
four stivers wampum; cattle under a year old, six peine or eighteen
stivers wampum. Government messages between New York and
Connecticut were free. Each passenger whom he entertained was
to pay " for his meal, eight pence; every man for his lodging, two
pence a man; every man for his horse shall pay four pence for his
night's hay or grass, or twelve stivers wampum, provided the grass
be in the fence."

The site of the ferry landing on the Manhattan side is located
by Biker, in his "History of Harlem," at the north of One Hun-
dred and Twenty-third Street, three hundred feet west of First Ave-
nue. But the Harlem aud Westchester ferry proved unprofitable,
and in 1609 was abandoned. This step was partly occasioned, how-
ever, by the growing promise of more favorable conditions over
toward Spuyten Dttyvil, where, on the Westchester side, the foun-
dations of the Town of Fordham were being laid and an era of
active settlement had set in; and there Verveelen obtained a new
ferry franchise, running from the 1st of November, 1009.

The reader will recall that the whole great tract known vari-
ously as Xepperhaem, Colon Donck, and the Jonkheer's Land, or
Yonkers Land, embraced between the Hudson and Bronx Rivers, and
extending to above the limits of the present City of Yonkers, granted
by the Dutch West India Company as a patroonship to Adrian Van
der Donck, was inherited after his death, in 1665, by his wife, Mary,
daughter of the Bev. Francis Doughty, of Maspeth, Long Island. She
presently took another husband, Hugh O'Xeale, and removed with
him to his home in Patuxent, Md. After the English conquest and
the issuance of notification to existing land proprietors to renew
their patents, she and her husband journeyed to New York, and ap-
peared before Governor Mcolls with satisfactory evidence of legal
ownership of this tract. The governor therefore (October 8, 1666)
granted a royal patent to " Hugh O'Xeale and Mary his wife," con-
firming them in its possession, its limits being thus described:
" Bounded to the northwards by a rivulet called by the Indians
Macakassin, so running southward to Xeperhaem [Yonkers], from
thence to the Kill Shorakkapoch [Spuyten Duyvil] and then to
Paprinimen [Kingsbridge], which is the southernmost bounds, then
to go across the country to the eastward by that which is com-
monly known by the name of Bronck's his river and land." As
these limits were the original ones of the patroonship, it follows
that no part of the Y^onkers tract had been disposed of since Van
der Donck's death, and that any persons living upon it previously
to October, 1666, were either tenants or mere squatters.

144 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

The O'Neales lost no time in divesting themselves completely of
the ownership of the property, which they doubtless considered
troublesome because of its remoteness from their Maryland home.
On October 30, 1666, twenty-two days after the procurement of the
Nicolls patent, it was conveyed to Elias Doughty, of Flushing, Mrs.
O'Neale's brother— a conveyance which was further and finally per-
fected May 16, 1667.

The new proprietor very soon began to receive and accept offers
for portions of the estate. In March and September, 1667, he sold
to John Archer, of Westchester, - fourscore acres of land and thirty
acres of meadow," in the vicinity of the present Kingsbridge, " lying
and beino' betwixt Brothers River and the watering place at the end
of the Island of Manhatans." This was the beginning of a new
manorial estate— the second of our country in point of antiquity.
Douohtv also sold, Jnlv 6, 1668, to William Betts and George Tippett,
his Sm-in-law (for whom Tibbet's Brook is named), about two thou-
sand acres reaching from the Hudson to the Bronx, with its south-
ern boundary starting just below Kingsbridge and above Archers
lands and its northern passing through Van Cortlandt Lake along
the north side of - Van der Donck's planting field." About the same
time (June 7, 1668), for the value of a horse and £5, Doughty con-
veyed to Joseph lladden some three hundred and twenty acres di-
rectly north of Van der Donck's planting field, lying in unequal parts
on both sides of Tibbet's Brook. In 1676 he sold a tract one mile
square (still called -'the Mile Square"), bordering on the Bronx
River to Francis French, Ebenezer Jones, and John Westcott. And
finally on the 20th of November, 1671', all that remained of the
Yonkers Land was disposed of in equal thirds to Thomas Delaval,
Thonms Lewis, and Frederick Philipse.

Of these various sales, the first, to Archer, and the last, to Philipse
and others, arc of special historic interest, each of the two being fol-
lowed by consecutive developments which will demand particular

attention. . .

John Archer, the earliest sub-purchaser in the original Van der
Donck tract, was, as already stated, an inhabitant of the Town oi
Westchester. There is some uncertainty whether he was of English
or Dutch origin. According to Bolton he was a descendant of Hum-
phrey Archer of Warwickshire (i:>27-62), whose ancestor was Fulbert
1/ Archer, one of the companions of William the Conqueror; and from
Humphrey the same authority carefully traces John's descent. Bol-
ton is of the opinion that he came with the early Westchester settlers
from Fairfield, Conn., about 1654-5. But the whole English pedigree
for John Archer which Bolton has so painstakingly constructed is of

FORDHAM MANOR

145

at least doubtful authenticity. Hiker, the
that in the original records of that villag
pears in connection with Fordhani and s
is invariably written "Jan Arcer." It
others that he came from Amsterdam, Ilo
this country an Englishwoman, and livi
settlement, he ultimately anglicized his
John Archer.

His purchase in 1667 from Doughty o
was but one step toward the final acquire
comprising (Bolton says) 1,253 acres,
exception of the hundred odd acres sol<
bought from the Indians. There still
Indian deed to him of Territory running
a point on the Harlem, and extending

historian of Harlem, states
e ids name occasionally ap-
imilar matters, and that it

is supposed by Riker and
Hand, and that marrying in
ng in an English-speaking

original Dutch name into

f lands below Kingsbridge
meiit of a handsome estate.
Ml this property, with the
1 to him by Doughty, was
survives the record of an
from Papirinemen down to
to the Bronx. This pur-

VIEW OK KINGSBRIDGE.1

chase, which made him the sole owner probably as far south as
High Bridge, was effected on the 2Sth of September, 1669, the con-
sideration given by him to the Indians being " 13 coats of Duffels,
one-halfe anchor of Runie, 2 cans of Brandy, wine with several other
small matters to ye value of 60 guilders wampum." The lands which
he bought from Doughty in L66T, and other adjacent lands which he
possessed, were leased by him in twenty and twenty-four acre par-
cels to such persons as would clear and cultivate them, and accord-
ingly became occupied in 1668-69 by a number of former Harlem
residents.

A little settlement sprang up which, says Edsall in his "History
of Kingsbridge," was located " on the upland just across the meadow
from Papirinemen." The place, from being near the " fording place,"
was called Fordhani. " It had the countenance and protection of

1 The building shown in the cut was Macomb's tidoiuill. II was blown down in 1S50.

146 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the governor, being in a convenient place for the relief of strangers,
it being the road for passengers to go to and from the main, as well
as for mutual intercourse with the neighboring colony. The village
consisted of aboul a dozen houses in an extended line along the base
of Tetard's Bill, crossed ai the middle by the 'old Westchester Path '
(Boston Posl Road), leading up over the hill toward Connecticut.
No traces of these old habitations remain." Of course the reader
will not confound the Fordham of Poe's Cottage mow a station on
the New York and tlarlem Railroad) with this ancienl community
on Spuj'ten I >u\ \ il < 'reek.

The people settled ai Fordham and thereabouts on both shores
felt sorely aggrieved ai the diversion of eastern travel from its nat-
ural route across the wading place to the ferry ai Harlem. The
assumption exercised by the Ilarl.au ferryman and his fellow-towns-
men in fencing in the ford so as to protecl the ferry monopoly was
milch resented bv them, and they threw down the fence and claimed
the right to cross a1 pleasure. Finally, in L0C9, the controversy was
settled by the transfer of
veelen was continued in <

settled bv the transfer of the ferry to i leir locality. John Vei

,-m,., operated i lie line until his death,

and was succeeded <>\
the lime

his son, Daniel, who was still ferryman ai
l1(, (.,,.r,i..n of the King's Rridge |ir>04). The elder
Verveelen, upon assuming his new functions, received "the tsland,
or neck of land, Papirinemen " for liis use, where he was "required
to provide a dwelling house furnished with three or lour good beds
for lll(, entertainment of strangers; also provisions a1 all seasons for
them, their horses an. I cattle, will, stabling and stalling; also a suf-
ficieni .M„| abie boal to transfer passengers and cattle on all occa-
sions lie was charued with one-third the expense of a causeway
built aeross the meadow from Papirinemen to Fordham. It is note-
worthy thai about the time when the Fordham ferry was pul in op-
eration the Albany and Boston Posl Roads won- projected ami their
construction begun.

In the contracl made with Verveelen for taking charge ot the
ferry, its location was fixed -at tin- place commonly called Spuyten
Duyvil, between Manhattan lslan.1 and the now village called Ford-
ham." This name Spuyten Duyvil, now restricted to the point ot
confluence of the Hudson River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek, was. says
Bdsall, originally "applied to a strip on the Manhattan Island side
of the wading place, then to the crossing itself, and finally to the
nock, which still retains it." 1

,,„.,,, ,,.,s always been controversy as to jeot from the Rev. Dr. Cole, our well-known

,!„. derivation I 'ordinal significan £ the Westchester authority on the Dutch period and

curious name Snuyten Duyvil. The editor of Dutch names. rhe following is 01. •

this History requested an ..pinion on the sub- reply:

FORDHAM MANOR 147

The villa-.- of Fordham, like That of Harlem, had its dependence
up' hi i In- mayor's court of Xew York, although causes involving less
than £5 could be locally disposed of there.

John Archer was not only the founder of Fordham, but remained
its principal man ami controlling spirit until his death. On May 3,
L669, ho received authority from Governor Lovelace to settle sixteen
families on the mainland "near the wading place." 'in the period
1»'»«'>!'-. 1 lie leased various farms about Fordham to tenants. But his
private affairs, like those of Richbell of Mamaroneck, had become in-
volved, and. like Richbell, In- sought relief by mortgaging lands to
the Dutch ni. -reliant. Cornelius Steenwyck. On September IS, 1GG9,
he executed to Steenwyck a mortgage for 2,200 guilders; on Novem-
ber 14. 1671, another tor 7,000 guilders; and on November 24, 1676,
a third for 24,000 guilders, the lasl mentioned being payable in seven
years.

Meanwhile, however, despite his financial complications, Archer
obtained from Governor Lovelace a royal patent consolidating his
landed possessions inn, one complete property, which was appointed
to be "an entire and enfranchised township, manor, and place of
itself." It included the hamlel of Fordham, and was styled Ford-
ham Manor, being tin* second in poiiil of time among the six manors
of Westchester < 'mini \ . N.-xt lo the Manor of Morrisania, which em-
braced nil (he mainland directly south of it. it was the smallest.
h> northern line began not far ft present Kingsbridge, where

the Spuyten Duyvil ('reek bends due smith, merging into the Har-

[i le or point on which we im-

Of course I he popular i Sp tt'o use this instrument in our cooking

i iP.ook pr 'sses.

VII.. Chapter vii.t, with whieh we are both Tl nly matter to be decided with our

familiar ll I k ai ham], is how it was originally spelled. Was

his spelling n duyvil" li is iioi Duyvil, or Spuyten Duyvil? If it
" spuyt." Inn •• spijt." I .1" iioi know how were the latter, it meant "Spouting Devil."
Irving was, Im il could mean nothing else. Ii might have
il for "in spl ,-il " his spell sted by an energetic or boiling
iiiK i" spijt "I spring in tin vicinity. This would turn en-
"Spijt" and '•spuyt." in the I) irely on a question of fact. Was t here such a
wholl.i : - loe 1 spring? See a footnote of Dr. Thomas
sorrow, grief, disph isnre, vexation, H. Edsall, ou page 748 of Vol. I. of Scharf's
etc. Our English word ' all its History. He suggests that it may have re-
mil. I. t and more intense detinitions, meets ii ferred ton -strong dashing of the tides at cer-
exactly. tain line- upon the liar at the entrance to the
"Spuyt" is very different, our words strait. We do not know on what historic
"spout," " -pit " (Lai.. " sputa n "i, meaning facl the name rests, and so we can not know
lo throw out or belch forth, are its equiva- whether the original root was "spijt " or
lents. "spuyt." Of course, Irving's fun decides
In the phrase of which you speak as sus nothing. It may, however, have rested on
Kested bj soi no. viz.: "point "f the dov- some tradition which lias not come down to us.

Yours as ever, very cordially.

lis," the word is confounded with another and

-till wholly different Teutonic root, which is

neither "spijt " nor "spuyt," bul "spit " or David Col

"spits." We have this in our Kn-li-h word Yonkers, February 26, 1900.

148

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

lem River; and its southern started from a point on the Harlem below
High Bridge. Its eastern boundary was the Bronx. As "acknowl-
edgment and quit rent" for his manorial patent, Archer was to pay
yearly " twenty bushels of good peas, upon the first day of March,
when it shall be demanded."

The history of Fordham Manor is brief. Already mortgaged in
part two years before its creation, and again mortgaged for a much
larger amount on the very day after the issuance of the royal patent,
it never recovered from the burden of indebtedness thus laid upon it.
Moreover, at the end of the fifth year of its existence, it became
pledged beyond the hope of redemption. In Archer's mortgage of
1676 to Steenwyck, all his rights in the manor were transferred to
the latter, conditioned only upon the proviso that if before the 24th

of November, 1683, he should repay the
amount borrowed, at six per cent,
yearly interest, he should re-enter as
proprietor. The debt Avas not dis-
charged, and Steenwyck took the whole
estate as his property. By the will of
Cornelius Steenwyck and his wife, Mar-
garet t a, drawn November 20, 1684, they
devised the manor without any reser-
vations to "the Nether Dutch Beformod
Congregation within the City of New
York." By that congregation it was
preserved intact (its lands being leased
to various persons) until 1755, when an
act was passed permitting the minister,
elders, and deacons of the church to sell
the lands.

John Archer, the patentee and lord of the manor, is referred to
in the will of the Steenwycks as "the late John Archer," and there-
fore must have died some time before November 20, 1684, the date
which that document bears. " It is said (we quote from Bolton)
that he suddenly expired in his coach while journeying from his
manorial residence to New York City, and was interred on Tetard
Hill.'' He was a contentious man, being involved in many legal
disputes with his tenants and neighboring land owners. Upon one
occasion the mayor's court in New York, acting upon a complaint
from the people of Fordham that he had undertaken to govern them
by "rigour and force," and had "been at several times the occasion
of -Teat troubles betwixt the inhabitants of the said town," ad-

COKNELIUS STEENWYCK.

FORDHAM MANOR 149

monished him k* to behave himself for the future civilly and quietly,
as he will answer for the same at his peril." He held the office of
sheriff of New York City. His sou, John, inherited what was left
of his property. To quote again from Bolton, it is said that three
hundred acres upon which stood the old manorial residence were,
through the liberality of Mrs. Steenwyck (who survived her hus-
band), exempted from the bequest to the Dutch Church, and con-
tinued in the possession of the Archers. At all events, members of
the family continued to reside upon their ancestral lands, and in
the eighteenth century Benjamin Archer, a direct descendant of the
first John, owned in fee a considerable section of the old manor.
The progeny of John Archer in Westchester County at the present
time are numerous.

Although the settlers in Fordham Manor were brought under the
jurisdiction of Manhattan Island, its lands owed their development
mainly to the activity of men belonging to the ancient Town of
Westchester; and it is with the history of Westchester town that
this old manorial patent will always be associated. Indeed, the
limits of the Town (township) of Westchester as originally created
by the legislature of the State of New York embraced all the ter-
ritory of Fordham and also of Morrisania Manor. Out of West-
chester township, as thus first established, was subsequently (1846)
carved the new Township of West Farms, which included both Ford-
ham and Morrisania .Manors; and West Farms was in turn sub-
divided, the lower section of it being erected (IS.").")) into another
township, called Morrisania, whose bounds coincided generally with
tlK.se of the historic Morrisania Manor, having for their northern
limit a line beginning on the Harlem River near the High Bridge;
and finally, in 1872, the Township of Kingsbridge was organized, con-
sisting of all the former Township of Youkers lying south of the south-
erly line of the City of Yonkers. This township included the whole
of the original Manor of Fordham. The three names— Fordham,
West Farms, and Morrisania — are all of seventeenth century origin;
ami the three localities, as individual parts of the original Township
of Westchester, came into existence within the same general period
of time. Having given in brief tin' history of the village and Manor
of Fordham, it is proper to notice its neighboring and associated lo-
calities of West Farms and Morrisania before turning our attention
again to other portions of the county.

The West Farms tract, like that of the "Ten Farms," or East-
chester, never attained to manorial dignity. It was a strip along
the Bronx River, extending to the vicinity of what is still known
as West Farms village (now a part of the City of New York). By

150 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

a deed dated "West Chester, March the 12th, 1663/' this strip was
sold by nine Indians to Edward Jessup and John Richardson, of
Westchester, who on the 25th of April, 1666, were confirmed m its
proprietorship by royal letters patent from Governor Nicolls, each
beino- allotted one-half of the whole. Jessup's half, after his death,
came into the possession of Thomas Hunt, of Westchester, and Rich-
ardson's was inherited by his three married daughters, one of whom
was the wife of Gabriel Leggett, progenitor of the West Farms Leg-
o-etts, and the other the wife of Joseph Hadley, of the Yonkers. Ike
whole patent was originally divided into twelve parcels, collectively
styled " The West Farms," a name descriptive of its local relation
to Westchester, by whose citizens it was opened up and upon whose
government it depended. Between the West Farms patent and the
lands of the Morrises, at the southwest, lay a strip whose owner-
ship was long in controversy, and which hence was called " the de-
batable ground."

The foundations of the great Morris estate were begun about 16 <U,
when Captain Richard Morris, an English merchant from Barbadoes,
purchased, in behalf of himself and his brother Lewis, from Samuel
Edsall the old Bronxland tract. This was the identical land, con-
sisting of some five hundred acres, which about 1639 was granted
by the Dutch West India Company to Jonas Bronck, the first known
settler in Westchester County. After Bronck's death, it was owned
by his widow and her second husband, the noted Arendt van Curler
(or Corlaer), from whom it passed through several proprietors to
Samuel Edsall, a beaver-maker in New Amsterdam. Edsall's pur-
chase was made on the 22d day of October, 1664, almost immedi-
ately after the conquest of New Netherland by the English; and he
promptly took out a patent for it from Governor Nicolls. The
Nicolls patent describes it as " a certaine tract or parcel of land
formerly in the tenure or occupation of Jonas Bronck's, commonly
called by the Indians by the name of Ranackque, and by the Eng-
lish Bronck's land, lying and being on the maine to the east and
over against Harlem town, having a certain small creek or Kill
which rans between the north east part of it and Little Barnes
Island, near Hellgate, and so goes into the East River, and a greater
creek or river which divides it from Manhattan Island, containing
about 500 acres or 250 margon of land.1' It is an interesting his-
torical reminiscence that this Bronxland tract, now the most thickly
populated portion of the old County of Westchester, was not only
the first locality within our borders to be settled under the Dutch,
but was also the object of the first private purchase made under
the English.

THE MORRIS PURCHASE 151

The brothers Richard and Lewis Morris, who became owners of
Bronxland by purchase from Edsall in 1G70, were descended from
an ancient Welsh family of Monmouthshire. Lewis inherited the
paternal estate of Tintern in that county, which was confiscated by
Charles I. because of his connection with the Parliament party, in
whose service he fought as commander of a troop of horse. For
the loss thus suffered he was later indemnified by Cromwell. Emi-
grating to Barbadoes, he bought a splendid property on that island.
He took part in the successful English expedition against Jamaica,
haying received from Cromwell the commission of colonel. Adopt-
ing the principles of the Quakers, he became a leading member of
that sect, and entertained George Fox upon his visit to Barbadoes
in 1671.

Richard Morris, a younger brother of Lewis, fought with him in
support of the Parliament, being a captain in his regiment. He
followed him to Barbadoes after the Restoration, and there mar-
ried Sarah Pole, a wealthy lady. The attention of the brothers was
attracted to New York as a place offering favorable opportunities
for enterprise, and it was decided that Richard should remove to
that quarter and buy a large landed property. Articles of agree-
ment were entered into between the brothers, providing that " if
either of them should die without issue, the survivor, or issue of
the survivor, if any, should take the estate." By an instrument
dated August 10, 1670, Captain Richard Morris, who is styled " a
merchant of New York," and Colonel Lewis Morris, " a merchant
of Barbadoes," jointly purchased from Edsall the five hundred Bronx-
land acres. Here Richard made his home with his young wife and
a number of negro slaves whom he had brought from the West
Indies. Both Richard and Sarah Morris died in the fall of 1672,
leaving an infant son, Lewis Morris the younger.

Information being sent to Colonel Lewis Morris of the decease of
his brother, he came to New Y^ork in 1673 to look after the in-
terests of the estate. Meantime the province had been recaptured
by the Dutch, and the new governor, Anthony Colve, finding that
" Colonel Morris, being a citizen of Barbadoes, was not, under the
terms of the capitulation, entitled to the same liberal terms as
British subjects of Virginia or Connecticut," and " also that the in-
fant owned only one-third of the estate and the uncle two-thirds,"
resolved upon the confiscation of the latter's two-thirds. Never-
theless, the uncle managed to arrange matters advantageously with
the Dutch officials, and was not only appointed administrator of
Richard's estate and guardian of the infant, but was finally " granted
the entire estate, buifdings, and materials thereon, on a valuation to

152 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

be made by impartial appraisers for the benefit of the minor child,
but Colve ' appropriated ' (due regard being had, of coarse, to the
infant's interests) all the fat cattle, such as oxen, cows, and hogs."

The elder Lewis .Morris, having thus brought about a tolerably
satisfactory adjustment of the matter, returned to Barbadoes to
close up his private interests. This accomplished, he came to New
York again in 1675, with the resolve of making it his permanent
home. During his absence the English had resumed the govern-
ment of the country. On March 25, 1G7G, Governor Andros issued
to him a patent covering not only the original five hundred acres
of Bronck, but some 1,420 adjoining acres in addition. The word-
ing of this important patent, in its description of the property, is as
follows: "Whereas, Colonel Lewis Morris of the Island of Barba-
does, hath long enjoyed, and by patent stands possest, of a certain
plantation and tract of land, lying and being upon the maine, over
against the town of Harlem, commonly called Bronck's land, the
same containing about five hundred acres or two hundred and fifty
morgen of land, besides the meadow thereunto annexed or adjoin-
ing, called and bounded as in the original Dutch ground brief and
patent of confirmation is set forth; and the said Colonel Morris
having made good improvement upon the said land, and there lying
lands adjacent to him not included in any patent or grants, which
land the said Colonel Morris doth desire lor further improvement,
this said land and addition being bounded from his own house over
against Harlem, running up Harlem river (oj)aniel Turner's land,
ami so along his said land northward to John Archer's line [Ford-
ham Manor], and from thence stretching east to the land of John
Richardson and Thomas Hunt [West Farms patent], and thence
along the Sound about southwest, through Bronck's kill to the said
Colonel .Morris his house, the additional land containing (accord-
ing to the survey thereof) the quantity of fourteen hundred, ami
the whole, one thousand, nine hundred and twenty acres." In con-
sideration of this grant Colonel Morris was to pay "yearly and every
year, as a quit-rent to his royal highness, five bushels of good winter
wheat." The land of Daniel Turner, mentioned in the patent, was
a narrow strip of about eighty acres extending along the Harlem
River just below Fordham Manor. Turner was one of the original
patentees of Harlem, and was one of the first men of that village to
compete with the Westchester people in acquiring lands beyond the
Bronx.

Colonel Morris, to render his title to the whole estate absolutely
invulnerable, took the precaution of obtaining a deed from the In-
dians, dated February 7, 1685. Of course this formality was not

THE MORRIS PURCHASE 153

necessary as to the portion of the property which formerly belonged
to Edsall, and he had in view simply to secure himself beyond all
possibility of legal dispute in the possession of the additional lands
granted to him by Andros.

In the same year that the patent for Bronxland and its adjacent
territory was issued, Colonel Morris bought a very extensive tract
in East Jersey, to which he gave the name of Tintern and Mon-
mouth, after his ancestral seat in the old country. His New Jer-
sey property amounted to about 3,500 acres. Thus, besides found-
ing one of the principal hereditary domains of Westchester County,
he was among the earliest of large landed proprietors in New Jer-
sey, where also ho selected what has since become a very conspicu-
ous and valuable section. lie lived on his Bronxland property until
his death, in 1001, occupying a handsome residence, which even in
those early colonial times was a place of liberal hospitality. He
was a prominent man in the province, sustaining intimate relations
with Governor Andros and other celebrated official characters, and
from 1683 to 1686 was a member of Governor Dongan's council. Dur-
ing his lifetime, although possessing abundant means and enjoy-
ing the distinction of aristocratic birth and antecedents, no steps
were taken to erect the estate into a manor. He was twice mar-
ried, but left no descendants, his sole heir being his nephew, Lewis,
the only son of his brother, Richard. The value of Colonel Morris's
personal property, etc., exclusive of his real estate, as appraised by
Stephanus Van Cortlandt, Nicholas Bayard, John Tell, and William
Richardson, was estimated at above £4,000. Among the chattels
enumerated in the inventory were the following:

NEGROES.

22 man negroes at 20 1 440 0 0

1 1 women at 15 1 165 0 0

6 boys at 15 1 90 0 0

2 gai-les at 12 1 24 0 0

25 children at 5 1 125 0 0

844 0 0

In the will of Colonel Morris appears this interesting item: " I
give and bequeathe unto my honored friend, William Penn, my negro
man Yaff, provided said Penn shall come to dwell in America.'' Re-
ferring to this bequest at a meeting of Friends in Philadelphia in
i?00, Penn said: " As I am now fairly established here in America,
1 may readily obtain the servant by mentioning the affair to my
young friend, Lewis Morris; although a concern hath laid upon my
mind for some time regarding the negroes, and I almost determined
to give my own blacks their freedom. For I feel that the poor cap-

154 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

tured Africans, like other human beings, have natural rights, which
can not be withheld from them without great injustice." Upon the
same occasion Penn spoke of his long and familiar acquaintance with
Colonel Morris, which intimacy, he said, had its influence in in-
ducing him (Morris), although many years older, to become a Friend.
Colonel Morris retained his Quaker convictions to the last, and in
his will provided for the payment of annuities to the meeting of
Friends at Shrewsbury, N. J., and the meeting in the province of
New York. To his nephew and heir, young Lewis Morris, he refers
in the will with considerable severity, adverting to " his many and
great miscarryages and disobedience toward me and my wife, and
his causeless absenting himself from my house, and adhering to and
advizeing with those of bad life and conversation." This graceless
youth soon proved himself, however, eminently deserving of his fine
inheritance. Under him the Bronxland estate was converted into
the Manor of Morrisania in 1697. He rose to be one of the most
distinguished men of his times in America, holding, among other
prominent positions, those of chief-justice of New York and governor
of New Jersey.

CHAPTEE VIII

THE PHILIPSES AND THE VAN CORTLANDTS

E have seen that the old patroonship of Colen Donck, after
being confirmed by Governor Nicolls in 1GGG to Van der
Donck's widow and her second husband, Hugh O'Neale,
was conveyed by them to Mrs. Q'Neale's brother, Elias
Doughty, and by him sold in parcels to a number of purchasers.
The southernmost portion was bought by John Archer, and, with
other land adjoining, was erected, under his proprietorship, into
the Lordship and Manor of Fordham in 1671. North of Archer's
purchase was a tract of about two thousand acres, sold to William
Betts and George Tibbetts, which stretched from the Hudson River
to the Bronx, forming a parallelogram. Other purchasers were John
Hadden, who bought some three hundred and twenty acres on both
sides of Tippett's Brook just north of the present Van Cortlandt
Lake, and Francis French and associates, who wore the original
owners of the " Mile Square " in the present City of Yonkers.
Finally, all the remainder of the Yonkers land, aggregating 7,708
acres, was disposed of by Doughty, November 29, 1G72, in equal
thirds, to Thomas Delaval, Thomas Lewis, and Frederick Philipse.

After Archer, none of these purchasers except Philipse require
special mention, all the others having been ordinary farming men,
who, while good citizens and substantial promoters of the progress
of settlement, left little impress upon the development of the country.
Tibbetts came from Flushing, Long Island. Betts had lived for a
number of years in Westchester, where he served as one of Stuyve-
sant's magistrates, and later was a patentee of the town under the
English patent. Tibbetts, Hadden, and Betts, as settlers outside
the limits of Fordham, had various disputes with the authorities of
that place, and especially with Archer, the lord of the manor. Being
summoned to assist in the building of the " causeway " from the
ferry terminal to the firm land, they objected, representing to the
governor that this improvement would be of less value to them than
a bridge across the Bronx on the road to Eastchester, to whose
construction they promised to devote themselves if excused from
contributing to the other work. The governor sagaciously decided
that both enterprises should be carried through, and directed that

15(3 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Tibbetts, Betts, and Hadden should first join the Fordham people in
making the causeway, after which an equivalent amount of help
should be given by the townsmen toward the building of the Bronx
bridge. The latter structure was completed in due time, being pro-
vided with a gate on the Eastchester side to prevent the " Hoggs"
from coming over. All the lands north of Archer's line, with the
sole exception of the Mile Square, were eventually absorbed in the
great Philipsc purchase; and accordingly by June 12, 1693, the date
on which the royal charter for the Manor of Philipseburgh was is-
sued, the independent holdings of Hadden, Metis, and Tibbetts had
been completely extinguished. .Such of their former proprietors, or
their descendants, who continued to live on the lands, remained not
as owners but as tenants of the Philipses. Even the so-called island
of Papirinemen1 (now Kingsbridge), where the ferry from Manhattan
island terminated, became a part of the manorial lands. The south-
ern section of the old Van der Donck patroonship, embracing the
parcels originally bought from Doughty by Betts, Tibbetts, and Had-
den, was called' the Lower Yonkers, the residue, which embraced
more than three-fourths of the whole, being known as the Upper
Yonkers.

Frederick Philipse, in his first appearance as a purchaser of lands
in this county, acted only as one of three associates, who combined
to acquire all that was left of the Van der Donck grant after the
first sales of it to various persons, each of the three agreeing to take
an equal third of the property. By this arrangement he became
seized in 1072 of some twenty-nine hundred acres in the Upper
Yonkers— certainly a large proprietorship, very much larger than
either the Archer or the Morris patents. But this was only the
initial venture in a series of land-buying transactions, at least eight in
number, which continued over a period of fifteen years, and, when
completed, made him sole owner of the country from Spuyten Duyvil
to the Croton River and from the Hudson to the Bronx. He bought
additional lands successively as follows: 1081 (confirmed in 1683X,
the Pocantico tract, covering the territory around Tarrytown; 1682
(confirmed in 1684), the Bissightick tract, or Irvington; 1082 (con-
firmed in 1081), the Weckquaesgeck tract, or Dobbs Ferry; 1681 (con-
firmed in 1081), the Nepperhan tract, stretching from the north line
of the present Yonkers to the extreme northern limits of the manor,
between the Sawmill and Bronx Rivers; 1085, the equal thirds of his

the Spuyten Duyvil Creek way was the so-called Island of Papirinemeu,

;e, while identical with' the pres- where Verveelen's ferry terminated.

It was

',„t channel, formed at high tide another across the shallow tideway that the "cause-
(though shallow) tideway; and the land in- way >' was built before the days of the Kings
closed between the main channel and this tide- Bridge.

THE THILIPSES AND VAN CORTLANDTS 157

associates of 1072, Thomas Delaval and Thomas Lewis, in the Upper
Yonkers tract; 1686, the Sint-Sinck tract, or Sing Sing, which had
previously been purchased by and confirmed to his son, Philip Phil-
ipse; 1687, the " Tappan Meadows" (Rockland County); and finally,
at a date or dates now indeterminate, but previously to June 12,
1693, the holdings of Betts, Tibbetts, and Hadden in the Lower
Yonkers tract, together with the island or flat of Papirinemen. This
vast region, whose individual parts had been separately confirmed to
him as purchased, was vested in him as a whole by Governor Fletcher
on the 12th of June, 1693. The document is one of the most elab-
orate of ancient land deeds. Besides confirming him in tin* owner-
ship, it erects the estate into a manor called Philipseburgh or Phil-
ipseborough, and also confers upor> Philipse the privilege of build-
ing a bridge across Spuyten Duyvil Creek at Papirinemen, on the
line of the then existing ferry, and authorizes him, in recompense
for his expenses in that enterprise, to collect, for his own behoof, fares
from all persons using the bridge.

Although along the Hudson the lands of Philipse reached as far
north as Croton Bay, their limits in the interior were considerably
farther south, not being above the headwaters of the Bronx River;
and thus the northern boundary of his property, as finally converted
into the Manor of Philipseburgh, was a southeast line from the month
of the Croton to the sources of the Bronx. At its northwest corner
it touched the estate of Stephanas Van Cortlandt, the brother of his
second wife — an estate which also (1<;!>7| became one of the great
manors, called Cortlandt Manor, running east from Croton Bay to
the Connerticnt line, and including, besides almost the whole of the
northern part of Westchester Comity, a tract on the west bank of the
Hudson. Van Cortlandt's purchases did not begin until L683, about
three years after Philipse had entered actively upon his land-absorb-
ing operations.

In addition to his various purchases in this county, Philipse bought
of white people, in 1C>S7, the Tappan salt meadows lying opposite
Ervington and Dobbs Ferry in the present County of Rockland, a
comparatively small but finely situated tract, which was incorpor-
ated in the manor grant of June 12, 1693, and always remained a
part of the hereditary manor.

The ancestors of Frederick Philipse are said to have been Hussites
of Bohemia, who, driven from their home by religious persecution,
emigrated to Friesland, one of the provinces of the United Nether-
lands. There his father, Frederick, married Margaret Dacres, sup-
posed to have been a lady of good family from the parish of Dacre,
in England. The son was born in Bolsward, Friesland, in 1626, and.

158

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

according to Bolton, came to New Netherland some time previously
to 1(353, in which year lie was appointed one of the appraisers of the
house and lot of Augustine Heermans, in New Amsterdam. His sur-
name in Dutch was variously written Flypse, Flypsen, Vlypse, Ylyp-
sen (meaning the son of Philip), which was anglicized into Philipse
(pronounced Phillips). Whether he came to this country in 1 he pos-
session of any comfortable amount of means is unknown; but it is
certain that as a young man in New Amsterdam he began life in a
humble capacity, working at the trade of carpenter. But soon em-
barking in commerce, aud developing great shrewdness and money-
getting ability, his fortunes rapidly improved. He made large
profits" from transactions with the Indians and from the shipping
business, and, having the tact and address to place himself on good
terms with the government, he enjoyed from an early period valu-
able special favors. From Stuyvesant he received grants to desir-
able lands on Manhattan Island. There is little if any doubt that

he was engaged in the slave trade and al

ilso in contraband and
piratical traffic. Final-
ly, at the age of thirty-
six, in 1662, be con-
tracted a very advan-
tageous marriage, es-
pousing Margaret Har-
denbroek DeYries, the
daughter of Adolf Har-
denbroek and widow of
Pietries Rudolphus De
Vries, a wealthy New
Amsterdam merchant.
This lady proved to be
hardly less energetic
and resourceful than
Philipse himself, and,
retaining the manage-
ment of her own affairs, added not a little to the growing wealth of
the family. She continued the business of her first husband, and
made frequent voyages to and from Holland on the vessels which
she owned acting as supercargo. In the well-known " Journal of a
Voyao-e to' New York and Tour in Several of the American Colonies
in 1679-80," by Jasper Dankers and Peter Sluyter (published by the
Lon<r island Historical Society), the writers, who crossed on one of
hor "ships, make various allusions to her business characteristics
which while by no means complimentary, give an excellent idea of

PHILIPSE MANOR HOUSE, YONKERS

THE PHILIPSES AND VAN CORTLANDTS 159

her extreme carefulness of her private interests. " The English mate,
who afterward became captain,'" these narrators say, " was very close,
but was compelled to be much closer, in order to please Margaret.

It is not to be told what miserable people Margaret and
Jan (her man) were, and especially their excessive covetousness.

Margaret and her husband would not have a suitable boat
for the ship built in Falmouth, but it must be done in New
York, where timber was a little cheaper. ... A girl attempt-
ing to rinse out the ship's mop let it fall overboard, whereupon the
captain put the ship immediately to the wind and launched the jolly-
boat, into which two sailors placed themselves at the risk of their
lives in order to recover a miserable swab, which was not worth six
cents. As the waves were running high, there was no chance of
getting it, for we could not see it from the ship. Yet the whole
voyage must be delayed, three seamen be sent roving at the risk
of their lives, and Ave, with all the rest, must work fruitlessly for
an hour and a half, and all that merely to satisfy and phase the
miserable covetousness of Margaret."

Within a comparatively few years after his marriage to Margaret,
Frederick Philipse had become by far the wealthiest man in New
York. During the Dutch interregnum, in 1674, his possessions were
valued by commissioners appointed by Governor Colve at 80,000 guil-
ders, an amount which, though large for the times, was small com-
pared with the wealth that he ultimately amassed. In 1002, Mar
garet having died, li<- married for his second wife Catherina, daughter
of Oloff Stevense Van Cortlandt and widow of John Dervall — an-
other fine alliance from the substantial point of view. His commer-
cial and financial operations continually grew in magnitude and
profitableness. He was the largest trader with the Five Nations at
Albany, sent ships to both the Fast and West Indies, imported
slaves from Africa, and, besides enjoying the profits of irregular
commerce, shared, as has been with good reason alleged, in the gains
of piratical cruises. All the time he maintained his former judicious
relations with the government. He was a member of the governor's
council for twenty years, extending from the administration of An-
dros to that of Bellomont. He resigned from the council in 1698,
in anticipation of his removal by the home government in England,
which followed, in fact, not long after. This removal was the re-
sult of satisfactory evidence that he was interested in the piratical
East Indian trade, having its rendezvous in Madagascar — evidence
upon which a number of New York citizens had based a petition,
praying that "Frederick Philips, whose great concerns in illegal
trade are not only the subject of common fame, but are fully and

150 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

particularly proved by depositions," "be removed from his place in
the council." He died in 1702. His children, four in number-
Philip, Adolphus, Annetje, and Rombout— were all by his first wife.
Philip and Rombout died before himself (the latter probably in child-
hood), and he accordingly divided the manor between his grandson,
Frederick (Philip's son), and his son Adolphus, the former taking the
section from Dobbs Ferry southward, and the latter the remainder.
Frederick the grandson, succeeded to the title of lord of the manor;
and his eldest son, Frederick, was not only the third lord, but in-
herited the whole original estate (Adolphus Philipse having died
without issue). Under Frederick, the third lord, the manor con-
tinued to exist in its integrity until the Revolution, when, m conse-
quence of his being a Tory partisan, and his removing himself to the
British lines, the whole property was confiscated, to be sub-divided
and sold in due time bv the State commissioners of forfeiture. Annetje
Philipse, the daughter of Frederick, the first lord of the manor, mar-
ried Philip French, and left descendants who intermarried with prom-
inent patriotic families, including the Brockholsts, Livings tons ami
Javs The first Frederick Philipse also had an adopted daughter
Eva (child of his wife Margaret by her first husband), who married
the eminent New York merchant, Jacobus Van Cortlandt, a brother
of Catherina, the second wife of Frederick Philipse the first. Jaco-
bus Van Cortlandt bought fifty acres from his father-in-law in the
Lower Yonkers tract, which formed the nucleus of the his One Van
Cortlandt estate in the present Borough of the Bronx (whence tin
names of Van Cortlandt Lake and Van Cortlandt Park).

Frederick Philipse, the original proprietor, with whose history
alone we are concerned in this portion of our narrative, not long-
after beoinning the systematic upbuilding of his great estate, took
steps toward erecting two residences upon it, one on the banks of
the Nepperhan, not far from the site of Van der Donck's mill, and
the other on the Pocantico, near Tarrytown, in the present Town of
Mount Pleasant. At what period the Yonkers residence, which later
became the -Manor House" of the Philipses, was begun is a ques-
tion that has never been settled satisfactorily, although it has in-
volved some very animated controversy. The date 1682 was ac-
cepted at the time when the -Manor House" became the City Hall
of Yonkers; but it is sturdily maintained by respectable authorities
on the early history of Philipseburgh Manor that the dwelling did
not have its beginning until many years later. The time of the
erection of the Pocantico house, styled "Castle Philipse,' is like-
wise unknown. Ultimately the « Manor House " at 1 onkers became
the principal seat of the family, much excelling the Pocantico house

THE PHILIPSES AND VAN CORTLANDTS 161

in architectural pretensions; but of the two dwellings as originally
built, the latter was undoubtedly the finer, a fact of which suffi-
cient evidence is afforded by the circumstance that it was the pre-
ferred habitation of the proprietor after the procurement of the ma-
norial patent. The selection of the Yonkers site for one of the resi-
dences was undoubtedly determined by the existence there of Van
der Donck's mill and the conspicuous natural advantages of the
locality. The other, being intended as the family seat for the dis-
tant northern section of the property, was naturally located on the
most important stream falling into the Hudson in that section, the
Pocantico River.

Opinions differ as to whether Philipse had a predecessor on the
Pocantico as on the Nepperhan. Although in the former quarter
his proprietorship was the earliest of legal record, the question
whether private settlers boasting no legal pretensions had not ar-
rived there before his purchase is, of course, a fair one. Bolton finds
no evidence of any such ancient occupancy. The Rev. Dr. David
Cole, in his " History of Yonkers," written in 18S6, discussing the
subject of the two Philipse houses, makes no allusion to possible
settlements at or near Tarrytown antedating Philipse's appearance,
or to the pre-existence of a mill there, simply remarking that he
chose the banks of the Pocantico " as a site for a new mill." More
over, in the same connection, speculating with regard to the period
at which Philipse established himself in his residence on the Po-
cantico, Dr. Tole concludes that it was not until after the death ot
his first wife, Margaret, in 1000 or 1091. Yet in his historical discourse
delivered at the third centennial of the old Dutch Church of Tar-
rytown, October 11, 1807, Dr. Cole, after fixing upon 10S3 as the year
when Philipse removed to the Tarrytown dwelling, says that he found
there, at that earlv date, "a small community already gathered."
Already, he informs us, there was upon the Pocantico " a mill site
like the Van der Donck site of Yronkers," which already had upon
it " a simple dwelling for the miller," upon whose foundations Castle
Philipse was built. ' Continuing, Dr. Cole says that " around were
farmers who brought to the mill their grain to be ground and their
logs to be sawed. ' They (the Philipses) found the old graveyard, as
old as the settlement, with regard to which 1 have no difficulty in
accepting Mr. Irving's belief that it had been started as early as
1645 and that it had in it three graves by 1050, and fifty by 1075,
and one hundred and eighty by 1700." J According to this changed

^pTop^f the question of the antiquity of interments and his opinion is apparent* con-

the graveyard, see the statement by Benjamin curred in by the author of Scharfs article on

F CorneU, superintendent of the Sleepy Hoi- the Town of Mount Pleasant, the late Rev.

low Cemetery, in Scharf, ii., 293. Mr. Cornell John A. Todd,
adopts the date 1645 as that of the earliest

1(52 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

view of Dr. Cole's, Tarrytown and the country round about belong-
to the oldest settled localities of the county. Of course the fact of the
presence of a mill before the coming of Philipse would lend color
to the belief that settlers in some numbers had been there and in
that vicinity for a period of years. This much is certain: that a mill;
whether an old one established by some enterprising pioneer whose
name is unknown to us, or a new one built by Philipse, was in
operation on the Pocantico from the time that Castle Philipse was
erected by the proprietor. The Yonkers and Tarrytown mills were
styled by Philipse, respectively, the Lower Mills and the Upper
Mills.

The residence on the Nepperhan at Yonkers was very substan-
tially built, " the bricks, and indeed all the building materials," says
Mrs.' Lamb, " being imported from Holland at what was then es-
teemed a prodigal expenditure. The great massive door, which still
swings in the center of the southern front, was manufactured in
Holland and imported by the first Lady Philipse in one of her own
ships." Only the southern front of the structure was built by the
first Frederick. Here he lived for a time with his wife Margaret; at
least during the summer seasons. Traces of an underground pass-
ago, apparently leading from the Manor House, were recently dis-
covered by some workmen engaged in making excavations in Yonk-
ers; and it has been surmised that this was a secret means of exit
for 'the occupants of the dwelling, connecting probably with a neigh-
boring blockhouse, to be used in case of an Indian raid. In 1SS2,
two hundred years after the presumed erection of the original build-
ing, the Manor House, renamed Manor Hall, after having been put
inl state of permanent preservation, Avas formally dedicated to the
uses of the City of Yonkers as a municipal building.

Castle Philipse, on the Pocantico, was also very substantially built,1
and possessed a feature entirely lacking in the Manor House, being
carefully fortified to resist attack. Its walls were pierced with

.Mi William F. Minnerly, well known in inches deep, to the same height as before, and

Tarrytown as a builder, states that in 1864 he a new partition built, fifteen feet long and

was Vmplovod to make some alterations in the nine feet high. The remainder of the bricks

old (Pocantico) Manor House. One was in that came out of the chimney-tor. strange to

Hkin* Lvn the chimney, which was very say, there was a remainder, and a large one.

arge In the second story he found that a too-Mr. Minnerly bought and with them he

oom about four feet square had been built in tilled in a new house, twenty-two feet front . bj

he chimney to be used as a smoke-house for twenty-eight feet deep and two stories high,

mok ■" n at The number of bricks in this and found them amply sufficient for the pur-

;. , n U was a marvel. They had all been pose. The bricks were so hard that when the

, „m-ht from Holland, and landed on the north masons who did the work wished to cut them

shore of the Pocantico, very near the old mill. they wer liged to use a hatchet In size,

one of the prominent objects on the manor. each brick was an inch and a garter thicl.

The portion of the chimney taken down was three and one-halt inches wide, and seven

relaid with the bricks, Ave feet breast, sixteen inches Iong.-ScMrf, n., o09.

THE PHILIPSES AND VAN CORTLANDTS 163

port and loop holes for cannon and musketry. The difference be-
tween the two residences in this respect is convincing proof that dur-
ing the last twenty years of the seventeenth century, while the lower
portion of the county had become practically secure against Indian
depredations, the middle section was still deemed somewhat unsafe.
The building of Castle Philipse was followed quickly by the advent
of tenants, and in a comparatively few years quite a number of
farming people had secured homes as far north as Tarrytown and
beyond. The progress made toward the general settlement of the
lands of that locality was so encouraging that Philipse deemed him-
self under obligations to provide the people with facilities for re-
ligious worship. To this worthy deed he was prompted by his first
wife, Margaret; and his second wife, Catherina, also took a deep in-
terest in the matter. The result was the building of the Dutch
Reformed Church of Sleepy Hollow, one of the most noted of old
religious edifices in America. From certain circumstances Dr. Cole,
in the centennial address already referred to, feels justified in ex-
pressing the conviction that the erection of the church was com-
menced by Philipse as early as 1681. He points out that its bell
was cast to order in 1685 — " proof positive,'' he declares, " that the
building had already been begun/' But according to the only au-
thentic records in existence, it was not until 1697 that the church
organization was effected and a minister, Rev. Guiliam Bertholf,
summoned. The tablet over the door of the church states that it
was built in 1699, but this tablet was probably not put up until
within comparatively recent years, and it records the accepted date
of the completion of the structure, making no mention of the time
at which it was begun. Philipse was a worshipper within its walls,
and he was buried in a vault beneath it, which was prepared ex-
pressly for his family. His decided preference for the Pocantico
house as his permanent place of residence is illustrated by his selec-
tion of the Pocantico instead of the Nepperhan settlement as the
location for the church building.

We have now traced the early history of the various original land
patents and grants along the shore line of Westchester County, ex-
tending from the mouth of the Byram River on the Sound to the
Hudson, with incidental accounts of the principal patentees or
grantees and of the settlements established. This embraces all the
exterior portions of the county except the section from Croton Bay
to the Highlands — that is, the present Town of Cortlandt, — which, as
we have indicated, was bought by Stephanus Van Cortlandt in a
series of purchases commencing in 1683, and, with its eastward ex-
tension to the Connecticut line, together with a tract on the west

164

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

side of the Hudson River, was erected into the Manor of Cortlandt

in 1697. , ., j »

Stephanus Van Cortlandt was the eldest of the seven children of
Oloff Stevense Van Cortlandt and Annetje, sister of Govert Locker-
mans a very wealthy and distinguished burgher of New Amster-
dam' ' His father, Oloff, was a man of note in New Amsterdam
and 'New York for forty years. He came to New Netherland m
1638 with Director Kieft, as a soldier in the service of the Dutch
West India Company. Oloff was a native of the province of Ltrecht,
in Holland, possessed a good education, and is supposed to have
been of thoroughly respectable if not gentle descent although noth-
hm- definite is known of his ancestry. After remaining a brief time
in'the military service in New Amsterdam, he was .appointed by
Kieft to official position, from which he resigned in 1648 to en-
o-age in mercantile and brewing pursuits, wherein he was very suc-
,on acquiring a large fortune. He was ^— <^

most uninterruptedly
from 1655 to the Eng-
lish conquest. At the
time of the surrender of
the province to Nicolls
he was one of the Dutch
commissioners to nego-
tiate the terms of the
capitulation. Under the
English government he
continued to be a prom-
inent and influential
citizen until his death
(April 4, 1684). He mar-
ried Annetje Locker-
mans on the 26th of
February, 1642, and by
her had seven children,
three sons and four

VAX CORTLANDT MANOR HOUSE, CROTON.

daughters.1 Of these children Stephanus, the eldest (born May 7,
164:?), and Jacobus, the youngest (born July 7, 1658), were the pro-
genitors of all the Van Cortlandts of subsequent generations; Steph-
anus being the founder of the so-called elder Van Cortlandt branch,

t- Stephanus, whose history is given in the
text; Maria, married Jeremias Van Rensselaer;
Johannes, died a bachelor; Sophia, married
Andries Teller: Catherina, married, first, John

Dervall, and, second. Frederick Philipse the
first; Cornelia, married Brandt Schuyler: and
Jacobus, noticed in the text.

THE PHILTPSES AND VAX COKTLAXDTS 165

of Cortlandt Manor, and Jacobus (who married Eva, stepdaughter of
the first Frederick Philipse) the founder of the younger or Yonkers
branch.

Stephanus, a native-born Dutch-American, received an excellent
education under the direction of the scholarly Dutch clergymen of
New Amsterdam. He had just become of age when the English
fleet, in 10(34, in the name of the British king and of James, Duke
of York, demanded and received the submission of New Netherland.
His first public employment was therefore under English rule. He
was a member of the original Court of Assizes created by the duke's
laws, and thereafter was constantly engaged in official service, hold-
ing practically every position of importance in the province except
that of governor. His career was probably the most conspicuous
and creditable of that of any inhabitant of New York in the seven-
teenth century, and " undoubtedly the first brilliant career that any
native of New York ever ran." In 1077, at the age of thirty-four,
he was appointed mayor of New York, being the first native Amer-
ican to hold that office, in which he continued with hardly an in-
terruption until his death. He was, with Philipse, one of the orig-
inal members of the governor's council, and served in that body
without any intermission to the end of his life. At the time of
the Leisler regime, the responsibility for the government of the
province was temporarily committed to him and Philipse by the de-
parting lieutenant-governor, Nicholson, and, although a kinsman of
Leisler's, he firmly resisted the hitter's assumption of authority, an
act which for a time endangered his life, so that he was obliged
to flee from the city. He was later one of the justices of the Supreme
Court of the province, and for several months previously to his death
was its chief justice. " He was prominent in all the treaties and
conferences with the Indians as a member of the council, and was
noted for his influence with them. His letters and dispatches to
Governor Andros, and to the different boards and officers in Eng-
land charged with the care of the colonies and the management of
their affairs, remain to show his capacity, clear-headedness, and
courage. Equally esteemed and confided in by the governments of
James as duke and king, and by William and Mary in the troublous
times in which he lived, and sustained by all the governors, even
though, as in Bellomont's case, they did not like him personally, no
greater proof could be adduced of his ability, skill, and integrity."
He died on the 25th of November, 1700.

Under date of November 10, 1077, Yan Cortlandt received from
Governor Andros a license authorizing him to acquire such lands
" on the east side of Hudson's River " as " have not yet been pur-

166 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

chased of the Indyan proprietors," " payment whereof to be made
publicly at the Fort or City Hall." He did riot begin to avail him-
self of this privilege, however, until six years later, when (August 24,
16S3) he bought from seven Indians, " in consideration of the sum
of twelve pounds and several other merchandises," what is known
as Verplanck's Point (called by the Indians Meanagh, whence the
present local name of Meahagh), together with an adjacent tract
running eastward, called Appamapogh. The general situation of
the purchase thus made is described in the deed as follows: " Being
on the east side of the Hudson River, at the entering in of the
Highlands, just over against Haverstraw."

Earlier in the same year (July 13, 1683) Van Cortlandt purchased
from the Haverstraw Indians a tract of about fifteen hundred acres
on the west side of the Hudson, " directly opposite to the promon-
tory of Anthonv's Nose and north of the Dunderberg Mountain,
forming the depression or valley through the upper part of which, m
the Revolutionary War, Sir Henry Clinton came down and cap-
tured Forts Clinton and Montgomery."

The territory below Verplanck's Point, extending to the mouth of
the Croton River, was originally bought from the Indians in part
by one Cornelius Van Bursum, of New York City, and in part by
Governor Dongan. Van Bursum was the first white owner of the
peninsula of Croton Point, which in the Indian language was called
by the pleasing name of Senasqua, and, before receiving its present
name, had long been known as Teller's Point (also Sarah's Point),
from 'william and Sarah Teller, who were early settlers upon it.
Governor Dongan's lands (purchased from the Indians in 1685) em-
braced all the river shore, excepting Croton Point, from the mouth
of the Croton to Van Cortlandt's property, and in the interior reached
to the Cedar Ponds. Both Van Bursum's and Dongan's holdings
were later sold to Van Cortlandt. To him was conveyed also a
tract owned by " Hew MacGregor, Gentleman, of the City of Xew
York," lying above Verplanck's Point.

Thus Stephanus Van Cortlandt became the proprietor of nearly
the whole of Westchester County along the Hudson from Croton
Bay to the Highlands. In the interior his bounds, both at the north
and the south, ran due east twenty miles to the Connecticut border
(which border was, by the interprovincial agreement between Con-
necticut and New York, considered to be at a distance of twenty
miles from the Hudson). But there were two strips of land above
Verplanck's Point of which neither Van Cortlandt nor his heirs ever
obtained the ownership. One was the so-called Ryke's patent, a
tract called by the Indians Sachus or Sackhoes, embracing about

THE PHILIPSES AND VAN CORTLANDTS 167

eighteen hundred acres between Verplanck-s and Peekskill Creek,
whereon a large portion of the village of Peekskill has been built.
This tract was bought from the Indians, April 21, 1GS5, by Ei chard
Abramsen, Jacob Abramsen, Tennis Dekey (or DeKay), Seba, Jacob,
and John Harxse, and soon afterward was patented to them for a
quit-rent of " ten bushels of good winter merchantable wheat year-
ly." The name of Ryke's patent is Dutch for Richard's patent, so
called after Richard Abramsen, the principal patentee, who later
assumed the English name of Lent. Substantially the whole tract
passed to Hercules Leut, Richard's son, about 1730. The second of
the two strips on the Hudson which always remained independent
of the Van Cortlandt estate was a three-hundred-acre parcel front-
ing on the inner and upper part of Peekskill Bay, which was deeded,
on April 25, 1685, to Jacobus DeKay " for the value of four hun-
dred guilders, seawant," and which ultimately became the property
of John Krankhyte (ancestor of the Cronkhites). Upon this strip is
the Peekskill State Camp of Military Instruction.

The area of the Van Cortlandt estate in Westchester County, omit-
ting the two Peekskill strips just noticed, was 86,203 acres, and,
adding that of the tract on the opposite side of the Hudson, aggre-
gated 87,713 acres. Van Cortlandt, as a man of large business con-
cerns and important official interests in New York, continued to live
in the city, or at least to spend most of his time there, notwith-
standing his extensive landed acquisitions and his ultimate design
of procuring for them manorial dignity. But it was probably as
early as 1683 that the historic mansion of the family at the mouth
of the Croton River, which is still standing in a good state of preser-
vation, had its beginning. This house was originally intended as a
trading place and a fort, and was built with very thick stoue walls,
pierced with loopholes for musketry, all of which have been filled in
save one, iu what is now the sitting-room, which is preserved as a
memento of olden times and of the antiquity of the dwelling. Sit-
uated just where the road from Sing Sing to Croton Landing crosses
the wide mouth of the Croton River, where that stream empties into
the Hudson, it commands a magnificent view of the broad Tappan
Sea. In former times the ferry across the Croton River mouth,
which was the only means of reaching the country above without
making a wide detour, had its northern terminus near the mansion.
During the first ten years after its construction the house was prob-
ably occupied by the proprietor only as a temporary residence when
visiting his lands; but later it was enlarged and improved to be-
come suitable for the purpose of a manor house aud the accommo-
dation of the numerous family of its wealthy owner. It has re-

1(38 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

niamed in the possession of the Van Cortlandts continuously since
the time of Stephanus, and has always been used as a habitation by
some member of the family. Near it is the Van Cortlandt burial
ground, a small, square inclosure, where a number of the most emi-
nent descendants of Stephanus, including the noted General and
Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Van Cortlandt of the devolution, are in-
terred.

Apart from the erection of this dwelling, and of mills for the
benefit of his existing and prospective tenants, Van Cortlandt ac-
complished little in the way of developing his estate. On the 17th of
June, 1G9T, the whole was established as the Lordship and Manor of
Cortlandt, bv royal letters patent from Governor Fletcher, a quit-
rent of " forty shillings current money " to be paid annually to the
governor " on the feast day of Annunciation of our Blessed Virgin
Mary," " in lieu and stead of all other rents, services, dues, duties,
and demands whatsoever." Tan Cortlandt died at the early age of
fifty-seven, three years and one-half after the issuance of this manor
:.rant. Judging from the well-known character of the man, it may
readily be believed, in the words of the historian of the " Manors of
Westchester County," that " had he lived to be seventy-five or eighty
years old, like so very many of his descendants in every generation,
instead of dying at fifty-seven, leaving a large family, mostly minors,
it is probable that he would have left his manor as flourishing and
as populous in proportion as that of Eensselaerswyck at the same
date " The great distance of Cortlandt Manor from New York City
and its surrounding settlements, as well as its difficulty of access from
the country immediately below on account of the obstruction pre-
sented by the Croton, delayed for many years the occupation of its
lands- and so meagre was its population that it was notuntil 1734 that
the Manor of Cortlandt availed itself of the privilege conferred in the
orant of sending a representative to the general assembly. The first
settlements were in the neighborhood of Croton and Peekskill. The
Indians continued numerous, though for the most part peaceable,
until an advanced period in the eighteenth century.

Stephanus had fourteen children,1 of whom eleven were living at

il Johannes, married Anne Sophia Van (Mary), married, first, Kil^en Van Kens^aei,
Schaaek and eft one child, Gertrude, who fourth patroon and first manorial lord of Rens-
'n „ Verplanck, grandson of Abra- selaerswyck. 6. Gertrude, died unmarried 7.
Zm Tsaacsen Verplanck, the first of that name Philip, married Catherine de Peyster daughter
fn America 2. Margaret, married Colonel of the first Abraham; from this couple sprang
Samuel Bavard, only son of Nicholas Bayard, the eldest line of Van Cortlandts now British
^e youngest of the three nephews of Gov- subjects. 8. Stephen, marred CatalmaStaats
ernor Stuvvesaut. 3. Ann. married Etienne these were the ancestors of the Van Cort
(Steph n) Te Lancey, founder of the de Lancey landts of Second River • (the Passaxe) N^J
family of New York City and Westchester now extinct in the males. 9. Gertrude mar-
County. 4. Oliver, died a bachelor. 5. Maria ried Colonel Henry Beekman; no issue. 10.

V]::'-- ■ i ; .

;fii

. - .i;';':^;'lB!;il?;ii;:i ' . -

170

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the time of the father's death; and he devised the manor lands to
them in equal shares, excepting that the eldest, Johannes, received,
in addition to his equal portion, the whole of the peninsula of Ver-
planck's Point. (This peninsula was so called for Philip Verplanck,
grandson of Johannes, who inherited it, and in whose family it con-
tinued uutil sold to a New York syndicate in the first half of the
present century.) One of the eleven children, Oliver Van Cort-
landt, dying without issue in 1706, bequeathed his share equally
among his brothers and sisters and their heirs. The ten remaining
heirs kept the property intact and undivided until 1730, when a divi-
sion was determined upon, which followed in due course. Cort-
landt Manor remained a separate political division (embracing also,
for purposes of representation in the assembly, the Eyke and the
Krankhyte patents) until divided into townships by the New York
State act of 1788. The original townships carved out of it were
Cortlanclt, Yorktown, Stepkentown (now Somers), Salem (now North
Salem and Lewisboro), and about a third of Poundridge. In area
it was the largest of the six Westchester County manors, consider-
ably exceeding in this respect the Manor of Philipseburgh, which
in its turn was several times larger than the four other manors (Pel-
ham, Scarsdale, Ford-
ham, and Morrisania)
combined. Its eastern
boundary was fixed
in the governor's
grant at a distance
twenty miles from the
Hudson, and coincid-
ed at the time with
the boundary line be-
tween New York and
Connecticut; but the
ultimate State line,
as adjusted by com-
promise under the
" Oblong " arrangement, ran somewhat to the east of it; so that the
extreme northeastern portion of the county, as well as a part of
the extreme northwestern section, was never included in this manor.
Jacobus Van Cortlandt, younger brother of Stephanus and an-

TLANDT MANSION, NEAR KINGSBRIDGK.

Gysbert, died young. 11. Elizabeth, died
young. 12. Elizabeth, 2d, married Rev. William
Skinner, of Perth Amboy. N. J. 13. Catharine,
married Andrew Johnston, of New Jersey. 14.
Cornelia, married John Schuyler, of Albany;

these were the progenitors of the Schuylers
descended from General Philip, who was their
son, and from his brothers and sisters. (The
above is taken from Edward Floyd de Lancey's
History of the Manors.)

THE PHILIPSES AND VAN CORTLANDTS 171

cestor of the so-called Yonkers branch of the Van Cortlandt family,
was born on the 7th of July, 1G5S, and on the 7th of May, 1691,
married Eva Philipse, adopted daughter of the first Frederick Phil-
ipse. In 1699 he purchased from his father-in-law fifty acres of
choice land in the " Lower Yonkers," a property which he increased
to several hundred acres by subsequent purchases. Out of this land
was erected the historic Van Cortlandt estate, about a mile above
Kingsbridge. He left the property to his son, Frederick, who mar-
ried a daughter of Augustus Jay (ancestor of Chief Justice John
Jay). Frederick built in 171S the line Yan Cortlandt mansion,
which, together with the then existing residue of the estate, was
purchased by the City of Xew York in 1889, the land being con-
verted into a public park (Yan Cortlandt Park) and the mansion
placed in the custody of the Colonial Dames of the State of New
York, and by them utilized for the purposes of a historical museum.

Jacobus Yan Cortlandt, the ancestor of the Yonkers Van Cort-
landts, also owned a large estate in the Town of Bedford, part of
which descended to Chief Justice John Jay and is still in the pos-
session of the Jay family.

Our narrative, from the period when the active acquisition of
the lands of Westchester County began, about the time of the Eng-
lish conquest (1661), has naturally followed the course of the pro-
gressive new purchases and occupation running from the seat of the
already settled localities on the Sound westward and northward
along the formerly unpurchased or undeveloped shores of the Har-
lem River, Spuyten Duyvil Creek, and the Hudson. Pursuing this
natural course, our attention has been mainly claimed by the great
land grants of Morrisania, Fordham, Philipseburgh, and Cortlandt
Manors, extending consecutively from near the mouth of the Bronx
to Anthony?s Nose, and covering substantially the whole of the west-
ern half and northern section of the county. The reader has, of
course, borne in mind that throughout the period we have traversed
in tracing the originial land acquisitions under English rule in the
western division of the county — that is, a period reaching to the end
of the seventeenth century, — the more complete settlement of the
already well-occupied eastern division was steadily proceeding, and,
besides resulting in the constant upbuilding of the little communities
on the Sound, was incidentally bringing all previously neglected dis-
tricts of the interior, up to the confines of Philipse's and Van Cort-
landt's lands, under definite private ownership, and distributing
through them an enterprising and energetic element of new settlers.
To this onward movement from the east the inhabitants of all the
existing patents from Westchester town to Byram Point contributed;

172 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

and, moreover, ihe people of the adjoining parts of Connecticut con-
tinued to manifest a hearty interest and to share in the work of oc-
cupation and development. As Avill be shown later, much of the
most notable enterprise undertaken from the east was by certain
communities of settlers, or by individuals having only comparatively
small personal interests, as distinguished from large landed proprie-
tors. Indeed, notwithstanding the presence of two quite extensive
and very solidly founded manor grants on the Sound (Pelham and
Scarsdale), the general character of the original settlement and suc-
ceeding history of the eastern division of Westchester County differs
totally from that of the western, in that the former represents
mainly the results of communal and minor individual interest and
activity, while the latter sprang essentially from manorial aspira-
tion, proprietorship, and patronage.

But in recurring to the history of the eastern portions of the
county and of the gradual movement of settlers thence into the
interior, Ave shall first review the progress of events in the two
large proprietary estates of that division: the Pell estate, which,
when last noticed, had been erected into a manor under the lord-
ship of its founder, Thomas Pell; and the estate of John Pdchbell,
of Mamaroneck, transmitted after his death to his wife, Ann, and
from her purchased by Caleb Ileathcote, who soon afterward pro-
cured its erection into the Manor of Scarsdale. So many of our im-
mediately preceding pages have been devoted to the origin and early
history of Fordham, Morrisania, Philipseburgh, and Cortlandt Man-
ors, that similar accounts of the two remaining manors may very
fittingly follow here. This, with some general observations, will
complete what is necessary to be said about the foundations of the
manors of Westchester County.

CHAPTER IX

PELHAM MANOR AND NEW ROCHELLE CALEB HEATHCOTE AND SCARS-
DALE MANOR GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE MANORS

HOMAS TELL died in the month of September, 1669, three
years after obtaining from Governor Nicolls the manorial
patent for his magnificent estate on the Sound, stretching
from Hutchinson's River to RichbelPs Mamaroneck grant.
Leaving no issue, he willed all his possessions, excepting certain
personal bequests, to his nephew, John Pell, then residing in Eng-
land, the only son of his only brother, the Rev. John Pell, D.D.
Doctor Pell, Thomas's brother, was a man of brilliant intellectual
accomplishments, served as ambassador to Switzerland under Crom-
well, and subsequently took orders in the Church of England. But
despite his talents he had faults of temperament which prevented
him from advancing in the church, and being of an improvident dis-
position he wasted his property to such a degree that he was com-
mitted to the King's Bench Prison for debt. To his son, John, the
golden inheritance from the rich uncle in America must have been
singularly welcome.

John Pell, the successor of Thomas iu the " lordship " of Pelham
Manor, was born on the 3d of February, 1643. He arrived in Amer-
ica and entered into his proprietorship in the summer of 1670. On
the 25th of October, L687, a new royal patent of Pelham Manor was
issued to him by Governor Dongan, the reason for this proceeding-
being, as stated in the patent, that he desired " a more full and firme
grant and confirmation " of his lands. The bounds of the manor as
specified in the new instrument were precisely the same as those pre-
scribed in the Nicolls patent to his uncle — Hutchinson's River on
tin1 south and Cedar Tree or Gravelly Brook on the north, with the
neighboring islands; but the dignities attaching to the manorial lord-
ship were somewhat more elaborately defined, and instead of pay-
ing to the royal governor as quit-rent " one lamb on tin1 first day of
May," as had been required of Thomas Tell, he was to pay "twenty
shillings, good and lawful money of this province," "on the five and
twentyeth day of the month of March." He married (1685) Rachel,
daughter of Philip Pinkney, one of the first ten proprietors of East-

174 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Chester. He resided on his estate, and seems to have taken an active
and influential interest in public matters related to Westchester
County, having been appointed by Governor Andros (August 25, 1688)
the first judge of Westchester County, and serving as delegate from
our county in the provincial assembly from 1G91 to 1695. He died
in 1702. The tradition is that he perished in a gale while upon a
pleasure excursion in his yacht off City Island.

The most notable event of John Pell's administration of his manor
was the conveyance by him through the celebrated Jacob Leisler of
six thousand acres as a place of settlement for the Huguenots— a
transaction out of which resulted the erection of the Town of New

Rochelle.

The Edict of Nantes, a decree granting a measure of liberty to the
Protestants of France, promulgated in 1598 by King Henry IV., was
on the 22d of October, 1685, revoked by Louis XIV., and by that act
of state policy the conditions of life in the French kingdom were
made quite intolerable to most persons of steadfast Protestant faith.
For some years previously to the revocation numerous French Prot-
estants had begun to seek homes in foreign lands, especially America;
and after 1685 the emigration grew to large proportions. A great
many of the Huguenots came to New York City. Several of the lead-
ers of the sect abroad entered into correspondence with Leisler
(known to them as a responsible merchant and influential citizen
of New York and, moreover, a man of strong liberal principles), with
a view to the purchase by him as agent of eligible land for the estab-
lishment of a Huguenot colony. It happened that a number of the
Huguenot immigrants in New York City, looking about them for
suitable places of residence, had in 1686 and 1687 chosen and secured
from John Pell parcels of land in that portion of Pelham Manor now
occupied by the present City of New Rochelle. From this circum-
stance Leisler, as the constituted agent of the Huguenots, was led to
locate the settlement at that place. He entered into negotiations
with Pell, and on the 20th of September, 1689, " John Pell and
Rachel his wife " conveyed to him, " in consideration of the sum
of sixteen hundred and seventy-five pounds sterling, current silver
money of this province," " all that tract of land lying and being
within said Manor of Pelham, containing six thousand acres of land,
and also one hundred acres of land more, which the said John Pell
and Rachel his wife do freely give and grant for the French church
erected, or to be erected, by the inhabitants of the said tract of
land, or by their assignees, being butted and bounded as herein is
after expressed, beginning at the west side of a certain white oak
tree, marked on all four sides, standing at high water mark at the

SETTLEMENT OF NEW ROCHELLE 175

south end of Hog Neck, by shoals, harbour, and runs northwesterly
through the great fresh meadow lying between the road and the
Sound, and from the north side of the said meadow to run from
thence due north to Bronckes river, which is the west division line
between the said John Pell's land and the aforesaid tract, bounded
on the southeasterly by the Sound and Salt Water, and to run east-
northerly to a certain piece of salt meadow lying at the salt creek
which runneth up to Cedar Tree brook, or Gravelly brook, and is
the bounds to Southern. Bounded on the east by a line that runs
from said meadow northwesterly by marked trees, to a certain black
oak tree standing a little below the road, marked on four sides, and
from thence to run due north four miles and a half, more or less, and
from the north side of the said west line, ending at Broncke's river,
and from thence to run easterly till it meets with the north end of the
said eastern most bounds, together with all and singular the islands
and the islets before the said tract of land lying and being in the
sound and salt water," etc. This was an absolute deed of sale of
the property. The sum paid for it, £1,G75, was extraordinarily large,
in comparison with the usual amounts given in those times for un-
improved landed property, and is a demonstration of the entirely
substantial character of the settlement of New Rochelle at its very
foundation. In addition to the purchase money, " said Jacob Leisler,
his heirs and assigns,1' were to yield and pay " unto the said John
Pell, his heirs and assigns, lords of the said Manor of Pelham, to
the assigns of them or him, or their or either of them, as an acknowl-
edgment to the lords of the said manor, one fat calf on every four and
twentieth clay of June, yearly and every year forever — if demanded."
This proviso was incorporated conformably with the customs of the
times, which required the vouchsafing of peculiar courtesies to the
lords of manors on the part of individuals upon whom they bestowed
their lands. The ceremony of the presentation of the fat calf was
duly observed for many years, and was always made a festival oc-
casion.

Although the deed of sale specified the Bronx River as the western-
most boundary of the tract, its bounds as finally established stopped
at Hutchinson's River or creek. The six thousand acres comprised
the whole northern section of the manor, Pell retaining the southern
portion, a wedge-shaped territory, about one-half less in area than the
part conveyed to Leisler.

Shortly after the consummation of the purchase, Leisler began to
release the lands to the Huguenots, and the place was settled with
reasonable rapidity. It was called New Rochelle in honor of La
Rochelle in France, a community prominently identified with the

176

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Huguenot cause in the religious wars. From the first the French
refugees proved themselves most desirable additions to the popu-
lation of our county, and the entire history of New Rochelle is a
gratifying record of progress.

It will be remembered that John Rickbell's original purchase from
the Indians of what is now the Township of Mamaroneck— a purchase
confirmed to him at the time by the Dutch authorities, and later by
the English governor, Lovelace— comprised three necks on the Sound
between the Mamaroneck River and Thomas Pell's lands, and that
the interior extension of the purchase was twenty miles northward
" into the woods." Of the three necks, called the East, Middle, and
West Necks, the first was deeded by Richbell to his mother-in-law,
Margery Parsons, and by her immediately conveyed to his wife, Ann;
but "the latter two were mortgaged and finally lost to Richbell's

estate. These Middle and West
Necks, with their prolongation
into the interior, formed a tri-
angular tract of land owned by
several persons, which lay
wedge-shaped between the
Manor of Pelham, at the south-
west, and what later became
the Manor of Scarsdale, at the
northeast. The East Neck, ter-
minating at the mouth of the
Mamaroneck River, continued
to be the property of Mrs. Rich-
bell until its sale by her to Caleb Heathcote, in 1G97. It formed
the nucleus of Scarsdale Manor, erected in 1701. It is of interest,
before coming to the period of Heathcote's proprietorship, to glance
at the origin of the village of Mamaroneck, which we have omitted to
do in our account of Richbell's connection with this section.

Soon after procuring his English patent (1G68), John Richbell and
his wife set apart for the purpose of allotments, or house lots, a
strip of land running from the Mamaroneck River westward along
the harbor shore, and fronting on the old Westchester path. These
lots were eight in number: one he reserved for himself, one he deeded
as a gift to John Basset (1669), and the others he leased or sold.
\mono- the purchasers was Henry Disbrough, or Disbrow, in 16-6,
who the next year erected on his lot the famous Disbrow house.
Tr£n eler-s along the Boston Post Road may still see, on the western
outskirts of Mamaroneck, a stone chimney, all that remains of this
structure. The ruin is remarkable for its great size, giving an idea

OLD GUION

JEW ROCHELLE.

SETTLEMENT OF MAMARONECK

177

of the enormous fireplaces in use at the time when the house was
built. It is said that the Disbrow house is one of the landmarks
described by James Fenimore Cooper (who lived in Mamaroneck) in
the " Spy," and that a secret cupboard in the chimney served as a
hiding place for Harvey Birch, the hero of that story. The strip
devoted by Eichbell to the Mamaroneck house lots was called " Bich-
belFs two-mile bounds," from the fact that each lot ran two miles
" northwards into the woods." Such was the beginning of the ven-
erable village of Mamaroneck. For many years, however, only a
very few settlers lived there, and in an instrument drawn as late
as 1707, by " the freeholders of Mamaroneck " in common, the names
of only eight persons appear as signers.

Just before his death John Eichbell was engaged in a controversy
with the townspeople of Eye concerning the ownership of a tract
called by the Indians Quarop-

pas, which had already become ^

known among the whites as
"the White Plains." This land
was unquestionably embraced
within the limits of EichbelFs
original purchase, described as
running northward twenty
miles into the woods; but in
16S3 the people of Eye bought
the same White Plains district
from the Indians claiming its
proprietorship. At that time
the New York and Connecticut
boundary agreement of 1664

was still in force, whereby the dividing line between the two provinces
started at the mouth of the Mamaroneck Eiver and ran north-north-
west. Under the then existing boundary division, therefore, Eye
was still a part of Connecticut, and, moreover, the White Plains tract
also fell on the Connecticut side. This circumstance, strengthened
by the incorporating of it within the Eye limits while the old bound-
ary understanding still prevailed, enabled the Eye men to advance
plausible pretensions to it when, very soon afterward (in fact, only
six days subsequently), a new boundary line was fixed, beginning at
the mouth of the Byram Eiver, which gave both the White Plains
and Eye to New York. The claim set up by Eye to the White
Plains caused Eichbell's title in the upward reaches of his twenty-
mile patent to assume a decidedly cloudy aspect; and to the confu-
sion thus brought about was due the comparatively limited range of

Aet&BlktitA*

ANCIENT DISr.ItOW HOUSE, MAMARONECK.

178 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the bounds of the Manor of Scarsdale, which otherwise would have
run twenty miles north from the mouth of the Mamaroncck River,
instead of stopping short at the White Plains.

After Kichbell's death (July 26, 1684), his widow continued in
quiet possession of the estate, making no efforts to further develop
or improve it, and, with the exception of a renewed protest against
the intrusion of the Rye men in the White Plains tract, doing nothing
in the way of asserting her proprietary rights outside of the East
Neck, where, of course, they were unquestioned. In 1696 she gave
to Caleb Heathcote, of the Town of Westchester, her written consent
to his procuring from the Indians deeds of confirmation of the old
Richbell patent; and in the same year Governor Fletcher granted to
Colonel Heathcote a license authorizing him to buy vacant and un-
appropriated lands in Westchester County and to extinguish the title
of the natives. On December 23, 1697, Heathcote bought from Mrs.
Richbell her entire landed estate for £600, New York currency. Avail-
ing himself of the rights and privileges thus acquired, ho not only
became the founder and lord of an organized manor, but embarked
in comprehensive original purchases of the interior lands of West-
chester County, which ultimately gave him, in association with
others, the title to most of the county between the Manors of Cort-
landt on the north, Philipseburgh on the west, Scarsdale on the
south, and the Connecticut line on the east. These latter purchases,
made under Governor Fletcher's license of 1696, were entirely dis-
connected from his manor grant of Scarsdale, and resulted in ex-
tensive new patents, which are known in the history of the county
as the " Three Great Patents of Central Westchester," named re-
spectively the West, Middle, and East Patents, and having an aggre-
gate area of some seventy thousand acres. The history of the Three
Patents belongs, however, with our account of Colonel Heathcote as
one of the great early proprietors, and will receive brief notice after
the story of Scarsdale Manor has been told.

Caleb Heathcote was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England,
in 1665, and was the sixth of the seven sons of Gilbert Heathcote,
gentleman, of that place. "The family was an ancient one, the
first of whom there is authoritative mention having been a master
of the Mint under Richard II." His father, Gilbert, was a Round-
head and stanch adherent of the Parliament in the civil Avars, serv-
ing creditably in the Parliamentary army. He held the office of
mayor of Chesterfield. All of the seven sons became successful
merchants. The eldest, Sir Gilbert, was " Lord Mayor of London,
member of Parliament, one of the founders and the first governor of
the Bank of England, knighted by Queen Anne, and created a baronet

COLONEL CALEB HEATHCOTE

179

in 1732 by George II." His descendants have ever since belonged
to the British aristocracy, and his grandson, the third Sir Gilbert,
was raised to the peerage as Baron Aveland. Another son, Samuel,
was the progenitor of the Baronets Heathcote, of Harsley Park,
County of Hampshire.

Caleb came to America about 1691, making his home in New
York and pursuing trade there. It is said that his removal to this
country was occasioned by an unfortunate love affair, his bride-
elect having broken off her engagement with him to marry his
brother Gilbert. He immediately became a prominent man in the
city and province, and served at
various times in a number of im-
portant offices, among them being
those of surveyor-general of His
Majesty's customs for the eastern
district of North America, judge
of the Court of Admiralty for the
provinces of New York, New Jer-
sey, and Connecticut, member of
the governor's council, mayor of
New York City, judge of the Court
of Common Pleas of Westchester
County, colonel of the Westchester
County militia, and mayor of the
borough Town of Westchester. It
was from his connection witli tin
military that he obtained his title
of " Colonel," by which he was
always known. He was mayor
of New York at the same time
that his brother Gilbert was Lord Mayor of London. lie was firmly
attached to the Church of England, and probably did more than any
other man of his times to promote its dominance in New York, being
one of the founders of the parish of Trinity Church in New York
City, and the leading person in establishing the parishes of West-
chester, Eastchester, and Bye in Westchester County. As lord of
Scarsdale Manor he caused that manor to be constituted one of the
precincts of the parish of Bye, of which he was" chosen warden and
vestryman. He is described by a contemporary writer as " a gen-
tleman of rare qualities, excellent temper, and virtuous life and
conversation."

At an early period of his residence in New York, Heathcote began
to take a decided interest in the advantages offered by this county,

( AI.KIi IIKATHCOTK

180 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

and bought property both in the Town of Westchester and East-
chester patent. In 1696, through his influence, Westchester was
created a "borough town," patterned in all particulars after the
old English borough towns. It is noteworthy that only two borough
towns were ever established in New York Province, one being West-
chester and the other Schenectady. Westchester's town charter,
dated April 16, 1696, conferred the " municipal privileges of a mayor
and aldermen and assistants, and the additional one of a repre-
sentative of its own in the assembly of the province"; and Colonel
Heathcote was appointed its first mayor. It was in this same year,
as we have seen, that he took the steps which led to the creation of
the Manor of Searsdale and to the great purchases by him and asso-
ciates of the vacant and unappropriated lands in the central part
of Westchester County which comprised the " Three Patents."

By the terms of Mrs. Riehbell's conveyance to him of the Rich-
bell estate in 1697, he succeeded to all of her property rights, both
on the East Neck and in the interior region patented to her hus-
band by Governor Lovelace, running northward " twenty miles into
the woods." This conveyance did not include, however, the " allot-
ments " previously made to various persons in the " two-mile bounds "
(upon which the foundations of the Village of Mamaroneck had al-
ready been begun); and there was also a small tract of thirty acres
on wbat is now de Lancey's Neck, previously deeded by Mrs. Rich-
bell to James Mott, which Colonel Heathcote did not acquire. With
these exceptions, he became the absolute owner of all the lands in
Westchester County left by John Richbell at his death. Prepara-
tory to his application for a manorial grant, he procured Indian con-
firmations of his title to various portions of the property thus bought;
and he also extended its limits southward to the Eastchester patent
by purchasing from the Indians all the country between the head-
waters of the Hutchinson River and the Bronx, a strip known as the
Fox Meadows.

On the 21st of March. 1701. letters patent for the Manor of Scars-
dale were issued to Caleb Heathcote by Lieutenant-Governor Nanfan.
Its bounds are not very clearly described in that document. Accord-
ing to the spirit of the grant, its northward projection was to be a
distance of twenty miles, as in the original Richbell patent; but
an express proviso was made that no further title should be given
to Heathcote than that which he " already hath to ye lands called
ye White Plains, which is in dispute between ye said Caleb Heath-
cote and some of the inhabitants of the Town of Rye." In point of
fact, Searsdale Manor was always limited at the north by the White
Plains tract, Heathcote never having been able to legally establish

COLONEL CALEB HEATHCOTE 181

his ownership of the disputed lands. The northern line of the
manor followed the Mamaroneck River from its mouth for about
two miles, and thence proceeded to the Bronx. At the west and
east it was bordered, respectively, by the Bronx and the Sound. On
the south it was bounded by the wedge-shaped private lands already
mentioned, by the extreme northern corner of the old Pelham Manor
(included in the New Bochelle purchase of the Huguenots), and by
the Eastchester patent. The annual quit-rent fixed in the grant
was " five pounds current money of New Yorke, upon the Nativity
of our Lord."

The manor was called Scarsdale by its proprietor after that por-
tion of Derbyshire in England where he was born — a locality known
as " the Hundred of Scarsdale." Although his proprietary interest
in the town lots of Mamaroneck was confined to his personal owner-
ship of two of them, he was always regarded by the settlers there
as the controlling spirit of the place, and he gave much attention to
the promotion of its development and welfare.

Concerning the improvements made by him upon the manor, and
his general administration of it, we quote from the accouut written
by his descendant, Edward F. de Laucey:

Colouel Heathcote established a grist mill on the Mamaroneck River near the original
bridge crossed by the "Old Westchester Path," and a sawmill high up on that river, now the
site of the present Mamaroneck Water Works, upon which site there continued to be a mill
of some kind until it was bought two years ago [1884] to establish those works. He made
leases at different points throughout the manor, but did not sell in fee many farms, though
always ready and willing to do so, the whole number of the deeds for the latter on record
being only thirteen during the twenty-three years or thereabout which elapsed between his
purchase from Mrs. Richbell and his death. Some of these farms, however, were of great
extent. He did not establish, as far as now known, any manor courts under his right to do
so. The population was so scant, and the manor, like all others in the county, being subject
to the judicial provisions of the provincial legislative acts, there was really no occasion for
them. He personally attended to all duties and matters connected with his manor and his
tenants, never having appointed any steward of the manor. Papers still in existence show that
his tenants were in the habit of coming to him for aid and counsel in their most private affairs,
especially in the settlement of family disputes, and lie was often called upon to draw their
wills

Upon the eminence at the head of the [Mamaroneck] Harbor, still called Heathcote
Hill, he built a large double brick manor house in the style of that day in England, with all
the accompanying offices and outbuildings, including the American addition of negro
quarters in accordance with the laws, habits, and customs of the period. Here he lived
during the remainder of his life, which terminated on the '28th of February, 1720-1, in his
fifty-sixth year. The house stood till some six or seven years before the American Revolu-
tion, occupied, however, only by tenants after the death of his widow in 173G. Later it was
accidentally destroyed by tire. The present double frame building standing on a portion of
the old site was built in 1792 by the late John Peter de Laucey, a grandson of Colonel
Heathcote, who had succeeded to the property.

Colonel Heathcote married Martha, daughter of the distinguished
William Smith ("Tangier" Smith), of Saint George's Manor, Loug
Island, who was chief justice and president of the council of the

182

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

province. They had six children, two sons and four daughters, but
both the sons and two of the daughters died in early life. Thus
Caleb Heathcote left no descendants in the male line. One of his
daughters, Anne, married James de Lancey, afterward royal chief
justice and governor of New York, the progenitor of the present
de Lanceys of Westchester County. The other surviving daughter,
Martha, became the wife of Lewis Johnston, of Perth Amboy, N. J.

The descendants of this
branch have never been
identified with our coun-
ty. Mrs. de Lancey and
Mrs. Johnston inherited
from their father the
whole of the manor prop-
e r t y in equal shares.
V a r ions parcels were
gradually disposed of by
the two heirs, and in 1775
a general partition sale
was held, under which
both the de Lancey and
Johnston interests were
divided up among numer-
ous purchasers. Scars-
dale Manor, as it existed before the partition, comprehended the pres-
ent Towns of Mamaroneck and Scarsdale, with a small part of Har-
rison.

The reader will remember that Heathcote, in addition to buying
the Kichbell estate and some adjacent Indian lands, called the Pox
Meadows (the latter being secured in order to extend the limits of
his proposed manor southward to the Eastchester boundary), pro-
cured from Governor Fletcher a license to purchase vacant and un-
appropriated land in Westchester County, and extinguish the title
of the natives. Under this license, dated October 12, 169G, he, with
a number of associates, bought up practically all of the county that
still remained in the possession of its aboriginal owners — that is,
all of the previously unpurchased portions bounded on the south by
Harrison's Purchase and Scarsdale Manor (or, rather, Harrison's
Purchase and the disputed White Plains tract), on the east by Con-
necticut, on the north by Cortlandt Manor, and on the west by Phil-
ipseburgh Manor. In the aggregate, the purchases thus made em-
braced "about seventy thousand acres, or some twelve thousand
seven hundred acres of so-called " improvable land," and they were

COLONEL CALEB HEATHCOTE 183

largely confirmed to Heathcote and his associates in three patents
issued by Lieutenant-Governor Nanfan, known as the West, Mid-
dle, and East Patents. The West Patent, dated February 14, 1701,
to Robert Walter and nine other patentees, included all of the
large angle between Philipseburgh and Cortlandt Manors, and
stretched eastwardly to the Bryam River and the Town of Bed-
ford. It contained five thousand acres of improvable land. The
Middle Patent, dated February 17, 1701, to Caleb Heathcote and
twelve others, extended from the West Patent to the Mianus River,
and had fifteen hundred acres of improvable land. The East Patent,
the largest of the three, embracing sixty-two hundred acres of im-
provable land, was granted on the 20th of March, 1701, to R. Walter
and ten others, and covered much of the northeastern section of the
county.

In the purchases consolidated in these three patents Heathcote was
the original mover, but had the co-operation of several other active
parties, notably Robert Walter and Joseph Horton. Heathcote, with
a view to protecting his individual interests already acquired in the
deed from Mrs. Richbell (which transferred to him such rights as
she and her husband had previously possessed "northward twenty
miles into the woods"), had a proviso inserted in each of the new
patent deeds reserving to himself any lands possibly included in
these purchases whereof he might already be the owner. The first
of the purchases leading up to the three patents was made by him
personally, October 10, 1696 (seven days after the procurement of
his license from Governor Fletcher), from Pathunck, Wampus, Co-
hawney, and five other Indians. This is known as " Wampus's Land
Deed," or the " North Castle Indian Deed," and was " for and in con-
sideration of 100 pounds good and lawful money of New York."
Among the names of Indian chiefs participating in the sales of the
northern-central Westchester lands to Heathcote and his associates
is the familiar one of Katonah. None of the three patents was ever
erected into a manor or developed as any recognized separate do-
main or sphere of settlement. All the lands comprised in them
were gradually disposed of to incoming individual aggregations of
settlers wishing to enlarge their limits. As an example of this
process, the tract known as the Middle Patent, or Whitefields, was
in 1733 sub-divided, by agreement of the surviving patentees, into
thirteen lots, having a total estimated value of £1,989, upon which,
in 1739, fifteen settlers were living; and in 17(35 final settlement with
the individual occupants of the lands (at that time twenty-six in num-
ber) was effected by the proprietors on the basis of nine shillings
per acre.

184 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

All the Three Patents were granted in the same year (1701) that
the Manor of Scarsdale was erected. With the purchases upon which
this manor and the Three Patents were constructed, the original ac-
quisition of great areas of land in Westchester County by individual
proprietors came to an end, there being, indeed, no more " vacant
and unappropriated " soil to be absorbed. It may therefore be said
that with the beginning o'f the eighteenth century, but not until then,
the whole of our county had come under definite tenure — a period
of some seventy-five years after the first organized settlement on
Manhattan Island having been required for that eventuality. With
the exception of a few localities of quite restricted area — namely, on
the Sound the Eye, Harrison, Mamaroneck, New Eochelle, East-
chester, and Westchester tracts and settlements; on the upper Hud-
son the Ryke and Kranckhyte patents, upon which the village of
Peekskil] has been built; and in the interior the disputed White
Plains lands, the Bedford tract, and some minor strips bought or oc-
cupied by men from the older settlements on the Sound, — all of West-
chester County, as originally conveyed by the Indians under deeds of
sale to the whites, was parceled out into a small number of great
estates or patents representing imposing single proprietorships, as
distinguished from ordinary homestead lots or moderate tracts taken
up incidentally to the progress of bona fide settlement. These great
original proprietorships were, indeed, only nine in number, as fol-
lows: (1) Cortlandt Manor, the property of Stephanus Van Cortlandt,
which went after his death to his children and was by them pre-
served intact for many years; (2) Philipseburgh Manor, founded by
Frederick Philipse and retained as a whole by the Philipse family
until confiscated in Revolutionary times; (3) Fordham Manor, estab-
lished by John Archer, subsequently forfeited for mortgage indebted-
ness to Cornells Steenwyck, and by him and his wife willed to the
Nether Dutch Congregation in New York, which continued in sole
ownership of it until the middle of the eighteenth century; (1) Morris-
ania Manor, the old " Bronxland," built up into a single estate by
Colonel Lewis Morris, by him devised to his nephew, Lewis Morris
the younger, who had the property erected into a manor, and whose
descendants continued to own it entire for generations; (5) Pelham
Manor, originally, as established under Thomas Pell, its first lord, an
estate of 9,1 C6 acres, but by his nephew John, the second lord, di-
vided into two sections, whereof one (the larger division) was sold to
the Huguenots, and the other was preserved as a manor until after
the death of the third lord; (6) Scarsdale Manor, the estate of
Colonel Caleb Heaihcote, which for the most part remained the prop-
erty of his heirs until sold by partition in 1775; and (7, 8, 9) the

OBSERVATIONS ON THE MANORS 185

Three Great Patents of Central Westchester, granted to Heathcote
and associates on the basis of purchases from the Indians, and by
the patentees gradually subsold, mainly to settlers who in I he course
of time occupied the lands. In the nine estates and patents thus
enumerated were contained, at a rough estimate, about 225,000 of the
300,000 acres belonging to the old County of Westchester.

It will be observed that with the single exception of Pelham the
six manors of the county long retained their territorial integrity.
A small portion of the Manor of Philipseburgh, it is true, was trans-
ferred by the Philipses to the younger branch of the Van Cortlandts,
but this was a strictly friendly conveyance, the two families being
closely allied by marriage. Even in the three manors where no second
lord succeeded to exclusive proprietorship — Cortlandt, Fordham, and
Scarsdale — sales of the manorial lands in fee to strangers were ex-
tremely rare, and it was an almost invariable rule that persons set-
tling upon them, as upon Philipseburgh, Morrisania, and Pelham
Manors (where the ownership devolved upon successive single heirs),
did not acquire possession of the soil which they occupied, but merely
held it as tenants. The disintegration of the manors, and the substi-
tution of small landed proprietorship for tenantry, was therefore a
very slow process. Throughout the colonial period tenant farming
continued to be the prevailing system of rural economy outside of
the few settlements and tracts which from the start were independ-
ent of the manor grants — a system which, however, did not operate
to the disadvantage of population in the manor lands. Upon this
point de Lancey, the historian of the manors, says : " It will give a
correct idea of the great extent and thoroughness of the manorial
settlement of Westchester County, as well as the satisfactory nature
of that method of settlement to its inhabitants, although a surprise,
probably, to many readers, when it is stated that in the year 1769 one-
third of the population of the county lived on the two manors of
Cortlandt and Philipseburgh alone. The manors of Fordham, Mor-
risania, Pelham, and Scarsdale, lying nearer to the City of New
York than these two, and more accessible than either, save only the
lower end of Philipseburgh, were, if anything, much more settled.
It is safe to say that upward of five-eighths of the people of West-
chester County in 1769 were inhabitants of the six manors. "

The distinguishing characteristics of the manors demand notice
here, although our space does not permit any elaborate treatment of
this particular subject.1 First, it should be understood that the
manors, one and all, were only ordinary landed estates, granted to

1 Readers desiring a more detailed account "Origin and History of the Manors," in
are referred to Edward Floyd de Lancey's Scharf's " History of Westchester County."

186 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

certain English subjects in America who, while popularly styled
" lords " of the manors, enjoyed no distinguished rank whatever,
and were in no way elevated titalarly, by virtue of their manorial
proprietorships, above the common people. In no case was a mano-
rial grant in Westchester County conferred upon a member of the
British nobility, or even upon an individual boasting the minor rank
of baronet; and in no case, moreover, was such a grant bestowed in
recognition of services to the crown or as a mark of special honor
by the sovereign. Without exception, the proprietors of the manors
were perfectly plain, untitled gentlemen. Yet, says de Lancey, " we
often, at this day, see them written of and hear them spoken of as
nobles. ' Lord Philipse ' and ' Lord Pell ' are familiar examples of
this ridiculous blunder in Westchester County. No grant of a feudal
manor in England at any time from their first introduction ever car-
ried with it a title, and much less did any grant of a New York
freehold manor ever do so. Both related to land only. The term
Lord of a Manor is a technical one, and means simply the owner, the
possessor of a manor— nothing more. Its use as a title is simply
a mark of intense or ignorant republican provincialism. ' Lord ' as
a prefix to a manor owner's name was never used in England nor
in the Province of New York."

The manor was a very ancient institution in England, but by the
statute of quia emptorvs, enacted in 1290, the erection of new manors
in that kingdom was forever put to an end. The old English man-
ors, founded in the Middle Ages, were of course based upon the feudal
system, involving military service by the fief at the will of his lord,
and, in general, the complete subjection of the fief. The whole
feudal system of land tenure having been abolished by the statute
of Charles II. in 1GG0, and the system of " free and common socage "
(meaning the right to hold land unvexed by the obligation of feudal
service) having been substituted in its stead, New York, both as a
proprietary province under the Duke of York and subsequently as a
royal province, never exhibited any traces of feudality in the mat-
ter of land tenures, but always had an absolutely free yeomanry.
But it was never contemplated that New York or any of the other
provinces in America should develop a characteristically democratic
organization of government or basis of society. Titled persons were
sent to rule over them, and, particularly in New York, there was a
manifest tendency to render the general aspect of administration and
social life as congenial as possible to people of high birth and ele-
gant breeding. Moreover, there being no provision for the creation
of an American titled aristocracy, it was deemed expedient to offer
some encouragement to men of aristocratic desires, and the institu-

OBSERVATIONS ON THE MANORS 187

tion of the manor was selected as the most practicable concession
to the aristocratic instinct — a concession which, while carrying with
it no title of nobility, did carry a certain weighty dignity, based
upon the one universally recognized foundation for all true original
aristocracy — large landed proprietorship, coupled with formally con-
stituted authority. The establishment of new manors in England
was discontinued by the statute of 1290 for the sole reason that at
that period no crown lands remained out of which such additional
manors could be formed, the essential preliminary to a manor being
a land grant by the sovereign to a subject. But in the American
provinces, where extensive unacquired lands were still awaiting ten-
ure, the manor system was capable of wide application at discre-
tion; and in New York and some of the other provinces it was the
policy of the English government from the beginning to encourage
the organization of manors. " The charter of Pennsylvania," said
the learned Chief Judge Denio of the New York Court of Appeals, in
his opinion in the Rensselaerswyck case, " empowered Penn, the pat-
entee, to erect manors and to alien and grant parts of the lands to
such purchasers as might wish to purchase, ' their heirs and assigns,
to he held of tlu. said William Pain, his heirs and assigns, by such serv-
ices, customs, and rents as should seem tit to said William Penn, etc.,
and not immediately of the said King Charles, his heirs or successors,' not-
withstanding the statute of quia emptores" Similarly in New York,
the manor grants issued during the time that it remained a propri-
etary province (namely, those to Thomas Pell in 1666 and to John
Archer in 1671) were made by the authority and in the name of the
Duke of York as proprietor, and not of the king. After New Y^ork
was changed into a royal province, the manor grants were continued
by the authority ami in the name of the king.

The privileges attaching to the manor grants in Westchester
County varied. All of them, however, had one fundamental char-
acteristic. Each manor was, in very precise language, appointed to
be a separate and independent organization or jurisdiction, entirely
detached from other established political divisions. To give the
reader an idea of the formality with which such separation was
made, we reproduce the wording of one of the manor grants upon
this point, which is a fair specimen. In his letters patent to John
Archer for the Manor of Fordham, Governor Lovelace says: " I doe
grant unto ye said John Archer, his heirs and assigns, that the house
which he shall erect, together with ye said parcel of land and prem-
ises, shall be forever hereafter held, claimed, reputed and be an
entire and enfranchised township, manor, and place of itself, and shall
always, from time to time and at all times hereafter, have, hold, and

188

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

enjoy like and equal privileges and immunities with any town en-
franchised or manor within this government, and shall in no manner
or way be subordinate or belonging unto, have any dependence upon, or in
any wise be under the rule, order, or direction of any riding, township, place,
or jurisdiction, either upon the main or Long Island,"

Thus, first of all, and as its great essential characteristic, the ma-
norial estate was always made a political entity. As such it was
under the government of its proprietor and his subordinates, who,
however, in all their acts were subject to the general laws of the
land, simply applying those laws as circumstances and conditions

required. According to the
theory of the old English manors,
a so-called " Court Baron " was
an indispensable attachment of
every manor — that is, a court for
the trial of civil cases, over which
the lord or his steward presided,
the jurors being chosen from
among the freehold tenants.
There was also usually a so-
called " Court Leet," which has
been described as " a court of
record having a similar jurisdic-
tion to the old sheriff's ' Tourns '
or migratory courts held by the
sheriff in the different districts or
' hundreds ' of his county, for the
punishment of minor offenses and
the preservation of the peace,"
which was provided for in order
that the lords of manors " might
administer justice to their tenants at home." In all the West-
chester County manor grants, except Fordham, authority is given
to the grantee to hold " one Court Leet and one Court Baron." This
privilege was not always availed of; for example, we have seen
that in the Manor of Scarsdale the manorial courts were never or-
ganized. It is worthy of note in this connection that among the
manor lords of Westchester County were several of the early judges
of the province, including John Pell (second lord of Pelhani Manor),
who was the first judge of Westchester County; Caleb Heathcote, of
Scarsdale Manor, who served as county judge for twenty-seven years,
and was also an admiralty judge; Lewis Morris, of Morrisania, one
of the most famous of the royal chief justices; and the second Fred-

GOVERNOR LOVELACE.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE MANORS 189

erick Philipse, who was a puisne judge of the Supreme Court. To
this list should be added the name of the celebrated chief justice
and royal governor, James de Lancey, who married the eldest daugh-
ter of Caleb Heathcote. In addition to their civil functions, the pro-
prietors of four of the manors (Cortlandt, Philipsebnrgh, Pelham,
and Morrisania) enjoyed the right of advowson and church patron-
age, under which they had the power to exercise controlling influ-
ence in church matters within their domains. The prevailing sec-
tarian tendencies of different localities in Westchester County during
the colonial era and for many years subsequently were owing mainly
to the particular religious preferences and activities of the respective
manor lords of those localities. In Westchester, Eastchester, and
Rye the Church of England early secured a firm foundation through
the zeal of Colonel Caleb Heathcote, of Scarsdale, who was its earnest
supporter. A similar influence, with a similar result, was exercised
in the Yonkers land by the second Frederick Philipse, who had been
educated in England, where he became attached to the Established
Church, and who as proprietor of the lower part of Philipseburgh
Manor founded Saint John's Church at Yonkers, which to this day
maintains the leading position in that community. On the other
hand, at Tarrytown, on the upper part of Philipseburgh Manor, the
Dutch Reformed Church enjoyed supremacy from the beginning, on
account of the patronage accorded it by the first lord and by his
son and successor in that division of the manor, Adolph.

Upon one of the Westchester manors, Cortlandt, was bestowed an
extraordinary privilege: that of being represented in the general
assembly of the province by a special member. This privilege
was granted to no other manor of New York, except Rensselaers-
wyck and Livingston, although it was enjoyed also by the two bor-
ough towns, Westchester and Schenectady. But it was provided
that the exercise of the privilege, so far as Cortlandt Manor was
concerned, was not to begin until twenty years after the grant (i. e.,
in 1717). At the expiration of that time, Stephanus Van Cortlandt,
his heirs or assigns, had full authority to " return and send a dis-
creet inhabitant in and of the said manor to be a representative of
the said manor in every assembly," who should " be received into
the house of representatives of assembly as a member of the said
house, to have and enjoy such privilege as the other representatives
returned and sent from any other county and manors." Cortlandt
Manor did not, however, choose a representative in the assembly
until 1734, when Philip Yerplanck was elected to sit for it. He
continued to serve in that capacity for thirty-four years, being suc-
ceeded by Pierre Van Cortlandt, who remained a member of the

190 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

assembly until 1775. Notwithstanding the exceptional privilege
of representation given to Cortlandt Manor as a manor, the other
manors of Westchester County were equally able to make their influ-
ence felt in that body. In addition to the special members from
Cortlandt Manor and Westchester town, the county as a whole was
entitled to representation by two general delegates. Heathcote,
John Pell, the Philipses, and the Morrises all sat at various times
for the county.

The original purpose of the manor grants being to encourage the
development of the semi-aristocratic system for which they provided,
no onerous charges in the way of special taxation were assessed upon
the manor proprietors. In each grant was incorporated a provision
for the payment of annual " quit-rent " to the provincial government,
but the amount fixed was in every case merely nominal. The vari-
ous quit-rents exacted were, for the Manor of Pelham, as originally
patented to Thomas Pell, " one lamb on the first day of May (if the
lamb shall be demanded) "; for Pelham, as repatented to John Pell,
"twenty shillings, good and lawful money of this province, at the
City of New York, on the five and twentieth day of March"; for
Fordham, " twenty bushels of good peas, upon the first day of March,
when it shall be demanded"; for Philipseburgh, "on the feast day
of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, . . . the an-
nual rent of four pounds twelve shillings current money of our said
province"; for Morrisania, "on the feast day of the Annunciation
of our Blessed Virgin, . . . the annual rent of six shillings";
for Cortlandt, " on the feast day of our Blessed Virgin Mary, the
yearly rent of forty shillings, current money of our said province";
and for Scarsdale, " five pounds current money of New York, upon
the nativity of our Lord." Appended to most of the quit-rent leases
was the significant statement that the prescribed payment was to be
"in lieu of all rents, services, and demands whatever," apparently
inserted to emphasize the well-understood fact that the manor grants
were strictly in the line of public policy, and were in no way intended
to become a source of revenue to the government.

The importance of the manorial proprietorships in Westchester
County, in their relations to its political and social character and
to its eventful history for a hundred years, can not be overestimated.
All the founders of the six manors were men of forceful traits, native
ability, and wide influence. With a single exception,1 they left their
estates, entirely undiminished and unimpaired, either to children or
to immediate kinsmen, who in turn, by their personal characters and

i John Archer, of Fordham. In consequence continued to be a respectable and useful one
of financial complications, his manor did not in the country.
remain in his family. Yet the Archer family

OBSERVATIONS ON THE MANORS 191

qualities, as well as by their marital alliances, solidified the already
substantial foundations which had been laid, and greatly strength-
ened the social position and enlarged the spheres of their families.
To enumerate the marriages contracted during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, in the male and female lines, by the Van Cort-
landts, the Philipses, the Morrises, the Pells, and the descendants
of Caleb Heathcote, would involve almost a complete recapitulation
of the more conspicuous and wealthy New York families of the
entire colonial period, besides many prominent families of other
provinces. To the Westchester manorial families belonged some of
the most noted and influential Americans of their times — men of
shining talents, fascinating manners, masterful energy, and splendid
achievement; statesmen, orators, judges, and soldiers — who were
among the principal popular leaders and civic officials of the prov-
ince and who won renown both in the public service and in the held
during the Revolution. Alike to the patriot cause and the Tory
faction those families contributed powerful and illustrious support-
ers. As the issues between the colonies and Great Britain became
more closely drawn, ami the inevitable struggle approached, the in-
fluences of the representative members of the Westchester families
were thrown partly on one side and partly on the other. The tenants
in each case were controlled largely by the proprietor, and thus an
acute division of sentiment ami sympathies was occasioned which, in
connection with the unique geographical position of this county in
its relations to the contending forces of the Revolution, caused it
to be torn by constant broils and to be devastated by innumerable
conflicts and depredations. Remembering that the old manorial
families of Westchester County rested upon an original foundation
of very recognizable aristocratic dignity, which was made possible
only by monarchical institutions; that the pride of lineage had, at
the time of the Revolution, been nourished for the larger part of a
century; and that the disposition of attachment to the king naturally
arising from these conditions had been much strengthened by con-
tinuous intermarriage with other families of high social pretension
and political conservatism, it seems at this day remarkable, or at
least a source of peculiar satisfaction, that their preferences and
efforts were, on the whole, rather for the popular cause than against
it. Even in the formative period of the Revolution, before passions had
been stirred by experience and example, and before actual emergency
impelled men to put aside caution, it was distinctly apparent that the
Tory party was the weaker, both numerically and in point of leader-
ship; and at a very early period of the war, notwithstanding the
loss of New York Citv to the American army and the retreat of

192 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Washington into New Jersey, Toryism became an unwholesome thing
throughout much the larger part of Westchester County. The in-
fluence of the Tory landlords, even upon their own tenantry, was,
indeed, a constantly diminishing factor, while that of the patriotic
leaders steadily grew. This could not have been the case if the
weight of sentiment among the principal families of the county had
not been genuinely on the side of American freedom.

CHAPTEE X

GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO THE BEGINNING OF THE EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY COMPLETION OF THE WORK OF ORIGINAL SETTLEMENT

N tracing to the beginning of the eighteenth century the
history of the great land purchases and manor erections,
only incidental allusion has been made to the general
history of the times during the first few decades which
followed the surrender of New Netherland by the Dutch, and to
the coincident progress of such settlements as were not directly asso-
ciated with the manorial estates. After briefly summarizing the
general history of the province and the county during that period,
we shall complete the account of original local settlement. The
narrative as a whole will then proceed more uniformly and rapidly.

Eichard Nicolls, the first of the English governors, continued in
office until 1G68, when he was succeeded by Francis Lovelace. Dur-
ing Mcolls's administration, the old Dutch land patents throughout
the province were reissued, being altered only so as to provide for
allegiance to the Duke of York and the government of England, in-
stead of the Dutch West India Company and the government of the
United Netherlands; the boundary line between New York and Con-
necticut was provisionally established, although upon a basis soon
to be totally repudiated; and the code known as "the Duke's Laws,"
for the general government of the province, was adopted. This code
" established a very unmistakable autocracy, making the governor's
will supreme, and leaving neither officers nor measures to the choice
of the people." Among its detailed features were " trial by jury, equal
taxation, tenure of land from the Duke of York, no religious estab-
lishment but requirement of some church form, freedom of religion
to all professing Christianity, obligatory service in each parish on
Sunday, a recognition of negro slavery under certain restrictions,
and general liability to military duty."

The legitimacy and propriety of owning negro slaves was never
questioned in New York or elsewhere in America in those days.
Bondmen, both black and white, were brought here during the earli-
est period of settlement by the Dutch; and with the arrival of Director

11)4

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Kieft, in 1638, the practice of furnishing negroes to all who desired
them had become a thoroughly established one. A distinct article
providing for the furnishing of blacks to settlers was incorporated in
the " Freedoms and Exemptions " of the Dutch West India Com-
pany, a series of regulations adopted to promote colonization. All
the leading English families who came to the province after the con-
quest owned negroes, both as laborers and as house servants. Colonel
Lewis Morris, as has been noticed in another place, possessed at his
death sixty-six negroes, of an aggregate value of £844; and the house-
hold slaves left by the first Frederick Philipse, in 1702, as shown
by an inventory of his estate, numbered forty. According to a
census of the year 1703, says a historian of New York City, there was
" hardly a family that did not have from half a dozen to a dozen
or more in their service." This custom of regarding negroes as

absolute property was, moreover, viewed
with entire and unquestioning approval
in the mother country at that period. In
a curious document drawn up by " the
Committee of the Council of Foreigne
Plantations," about 1683, " certaine prop-
ositions for the hotter accommodating
the Foreigne Plantations with servants "
are duly formulated. They are prefaced
with the statement that " it being uni-
versally agreed that people are the foun-
dations and improvement of all planta-
tions, and that people are encreased prin-
cipally by sending of servants thither, it
is necessary that a settled course be taken
for the furnishing them with servants.''
" Servants," it is next stated, " are either
blacks or whites," and the status of the former is defined as follows:
" Blacks are such as are brought by wave of trade and are sould at
about £20 a head one with another, and are the principall and most
useful 1 appurtenances of a plantation, and are such as are perpetuall
servants." It would be difficult to find in the literature of slavery
under English rule a more accurate and ingenuous definition of the
position of the negro as understood in olden times.

Lovelace, who succeeded Nicolls as governor in 1668, continued his
predecessor's liberal policy toward the Dutch population, and ad-
ministered affairs successfully and smoothly until suddenly forced
to resurrender the province to its original owners in 1673. During
his incumbency the settlers in our county rapidly increased. He

DUKE OF YORK'S SEAI

GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO 1700

195

took an active interest in improving the means of communication
between the outlying localities and New York City. He strongly
urged upon the people of Harlem village the necessity of building
a good wagon road to the fort, and at an early period of his govern-
ment the ferry service at Kingsbridge was inaugurated. From his
time dates the opening of the first regular route of travel to Con-
necticut, what was later improved into the Boston Post Road. " Once
a month, beginning with January 1, 1673, the postman, mounted upon
a goodly horse, which had to carry him as far as Hartford, collected
the accumulated mail into his saddlebags. At Hartford he took'
another horse, and wended his way as best he might through woods
and swamps, across rivers, and along Indian trails, if he was happy
enough to find such. On his return, the city coffee-house received
his precious burden, and upon a broad
table the various missives were displayed
and delivered when paid for." 1 The begin-
ning of these regular trips between New
York and the New England colonies was,
of course, an event of great importance to
all the settlers in the eastern part of West-
chester County, and the road was steadily
developed into a substantial thoroughfare
for vehicles.

Louis XIV. of France, having deter-
mined to crush the Dutch Republic for in-
terfering with some of his designs of state-
craft, induced Charles II. of England to
join him in that enterprise. The Nether-
lands, however, opposed a powerful and

eventually successful resistance to the allies, both on land and sea.
The dykes were opened, the Prince of Orange, who had been invested
with supreme authority, brilliantly defended his country against the
invader at every point, and the French armies were forced to retire.
The Dutch navy, triumphing over both the French and English
fleets, in a number of decisive engagements, soon entered upon a
course of aggression beyond the seas. A squadron under Admirals
Evertsen and Binckes, after making a successful descent in the West
Indies, proceeded to New York, anchoring off Sandy Hook on July
29, 1673. Governor Lovelace was away at the time, upon business
relating to our county, in connection with the new Boston Post Road.
Some resistance was offered, which was speedily overcome, the Eng-
lish garrison capitulated, and soon Dutch authority was restored full-

1 Van Pelt's Hist, of the Greater New York, !., 67.

GOVERNOR DOXGAN.

196 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

fledged throughout the Province of New York. The city was renamed
New Orange, in honor of the prince, and Captain Anthony Colve
was installed as governor. He immediately took measures to put
the city in a capital condition of defense. To that end, and for the
general purposes of his government, he caused the estates of the
citizens to be appraised, and taxed them accordingly. It was as
an incident of this proceeding that Frederick Philipse was ascer-
tained to be the wealthiest inhabitant, with a fortune of 80,000 guil-
ders. One of Colve's summary acts was his attempted confiscation
of the property of the infant Lewis Morris, which he was prevented
from accomplishing by the skillful address of Colonel Morris. The
governor very promptly notified the settlements of the existence of
the new regime, and demanded their obedient submission. One of
the first to receive his attention in this regard was Westchester, or
Oostdorp, whose recalcitrant behavior at the advent of the English
in 1664 will be recalled by the reader. To the citizens of that back-
slidden town Colve, on August 13, sent notification to appear before
him and his council without delay, " together with their constables'
staves and English flags, and they would, if circumstances permitted,
be furnished with the prince's colors in place of the British ensign."
Needless to say, this command was complied with, and the West-
chester men were warned that " in future they should demean them-
selves as loyal subjects." The government of the place was re-
organized on the Dutch plan, with a new set of magistrates and new
local regulations, among which was the requirement that the people
should be of the Reformed Christian religion in uniformity with the
Synod of Dort, or at least well-aftectioned thereunto. The village
of Fordham, also, was constrained to adapt its local affairs to the
new conditions. Colve caused its citizens to nominate to him six
of their number best qualified to act as magistrates, all of whom
should be of the Reformed Christian religion, and at least one-half
men of Dutch nationality. This action as to Fordham, however,
was in part the result of the initiative of the people of the place, who
desired a new status of village government. The secretary of the
province under Colve, it is worthy of mention, was Cornelius Steen-
wyck, who subsequently became the owner of the Manor of Fordham.
During the Dutch restoration, which lasted fifteen months, New
York province (or the Province of New Orange, as it was styled) did
not revert to the proprietorship of the Dutch West India Company,
but was subject direct and solely to the States-General of the Nether-
lands. The great commercial corporation which had settled it and
ruled it for forty-one years had fallen upon unprosperous times. The
affluent condition of the company during its early career was mainly

GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO 1700 197

due to its revenues from the prizes of war and from wealthy cap-
tured provinces in the West Indies and South America. These reve-
nues were cut off by the conclusion of peace with Spain, and its
affairs began to decline, until " finally its liabilities exceeded its as-
sets by more than five millions of florins. Various schemes were
proposed and tried to save it from bankruptcy or dissolution, but
none availed to ward off disaster. In 1673 it was practically extinct,
but it was not until 1671 that it was officially dissolved." Such was
the melancholy end of this magnificent organization, which came
to pass in the very year that Dutch authority, after a fitful period
of renewal, was terminated forever in New York.

Early in 1671, by the Treaty of Westminster, peace was restored
between England and Holland, each party agreeing to return to the
other whatever possessions had been conquered during the war. On
November 10 of that year New York was peacefully handed over to
the representative of the Duke of York, Edmund Andros, who as-
sumed its government. This new change was attended by no fur-
ther inconvenience to the citizens than the obligation to take the
oath of allegiance to England.

Nothing of importance in the general concerns of the province
after the resumption of English rule requires our notice until 1683.
In that year two events of great consequence occurred — first, the
division of New York into counties, and, second, the revision of the
New York and Connecticut boundary agreement of 1661.

On the 17th of October, 1683, the first legislative assembly in the
history of New York convened in New York City. It was summoned
by the new governor, Thomas Dongan, who " came with instructions
to allow the people in their various towns to elect representatives to
a general assembly, which was to constitute a sort of lower house,
with the governor's council as the upper house of legislation, the
governor acting as the sovereign to approve or veto the bills passed.
The assembly was to meet once in three years at least, and to num-
ber not more than eighteen members." This first New York assem-
bly consisted of fourteen representatives, of whom four were from
Westchester, as follows: Thomas Hunt, Sr., John Palmer, Richard
Ponton, and William Richardson.1 The assembly passed an act, ap-
proved by the governor on November 1, from which we quote the per-
tinent portion : " Having taken into consideracon the necessity of
divideing the province into respective countyes for the better govern-
ing and setleing Courts in the same, Bee It Enacted by the Gover-
nour, Councell and Representatives, and by authority of the same,
That the said Province bee divided into twelve Countyes, as fol-

1 " Civil History of Westchester County," by Rev. William J. dimming, Scharf, i., 647.

198 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

loweth : . . . The Countye of Westchester, to contain West and East
Chester, Bronx Land, Ffordham, Anne Hooks Neck [Pelham Neck],
Bichbell's [de Lancey's Neck], Miniford's Island [City Island], and
all the Land on the Maine to the Eastward of Manhattan's Island,
as farr as the Government Extends, and the Yonckers Land and
Northwards along Hudson's River as far as the High Lands." The
other eleven counties named and erected were New York, Richmond,
Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, and Albany, with
Duke's and Cornwall, the latter two embracing territory now belong-
ing to the States of Massachusetts and Maine,1 but at that time the
property of the Duke of York. It was also provided that there
should be a high sheriff in each county, and that courts should be
established, including town courts, county courts, a Court of Oyer
and Terminer, and a Court of Chancery, the Supreme Court of the
province consisting of the governor and council. Westchester was
appointed to be the shire town, or county seat, of the county. It
continued as such until after the burning of the courthouse (Febru-
ary 1, 1758), when White Plains was selected. By one of the acts
passed by the assembly of 1683, entitled tk An act for the more orderly
hearing and determining matters of controversy," courts of session
for Westchester County were directed to be held on the first Tues-
days of June and December, one at Westchester and the other at
Eastchester; and on the first >Vednesday of December a Court of
Oyer and Terminer and General Jail Delivery was to be held. The
County Court of Westchester County did not begin its existence
until 1688, when John Pell was appointed its first judge. The first
high sheriff of the county, Benjamin Collier, was, however, appointed
almost immediately (November 9, 1683), and in 1684 a county clerk,
John Rider, was appointed. From the beginning, all the principal
officers were appointive, and held their places during the pleasure
of the governor, excepting only representatives in the general as-
sembly, who were chosen by the people.

One of the chief enactments of the assembly of 1683 was a pro-
posed " Charter of Liberties and Priviledges, granted by his Royal
Highness to the Inhabitants of New York and its dependencies,"*
which, however, was disapproved when transmitted to England. In-
deed, before the time for the convening of the second general as-
sembly arrived, this representative body was abolished altogether,
the Duke of York having mounted the throne as James II. and having
come to the conclusion that it was not expedient for the people of
the province to participate in its government. It was not until 1691,

1 Duke's County embraced Nantucket, Mar- Man's Land; and Cornwall County comprised
tha's Vineyard, ' Elizabeth Island, and No Pemaquid and adjacent territory in Maine.

GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO 1700 199

after the accession of William and Mary, that the assembly again
came together, to continue as a permanent institution.

The basis of the New York and Connecticut boundary agreement
of October, 1664, as understood by Governor Mcolls and as uni-
formly insisted upon by the New York provincial government, was
a line starting at a point on the Sound twenty miles from the Hud-
son Eiver. It was represented to Nieolls by the Connecticut com-
missioners that this point was at the mouth of the Mamaroneck
Eiver — a very convenient place, moreover, from the Connecticut point
of view, for the line to begin, since it would just take in the Eye
settlement. So the starting point was fixed at the Maniaroneck's
mouth, whence the boundary was to run north-northwest until it
should intersect the southern line <>f Massachusetts. Here, again,
great injustice was done to New York; for this north-northwest line
would cut the Hudson below the Highlands, utterly dismembering
the Province of New York, and giving to Connecticut all of the river
above the Highlands, including the settlements at Albany and other
places along the stream. Of course such a division, when its true
nature became realized, could not bo submitted to. But there was
no immediate occasion for a different adjustment. New York at that
period was not at all disposed to claim Eye, which, from the be-
ginning, had belonged without question to the jurisdiction of Con-
necticut; and as for the interior, it mattered little for the time being
how far Connecticut's nominal boundary reached, as no settlements
had yet been begun there, and even private proprietary interests on
the pari of subjects of New York (excepting only Eichbell's patent)
had not yet come into being. The whole matter was left in abeyance
for nineteen years.

A new boundary, substantially the one now existing, was estab-
lished by articles concluded between Governor Dongan and council
of New York and the governor and delegates of Connecticut on the
21th day of November, L683. Important concessions were made on
both sides. New York demanded, as the fundamental thing, that
the original intention of a twenty-mile distance from the Hudson
should be adhered to; and, moreover, that the boundary should run
north and south, or parallel to the Hudson, instead of north-north-
west— a demand to which Connecticut yielded. On the other hand,
it was conceded to Connecticut that she should retain her older set-
tlements on the Sound, extending as far westward as the limits of
the Town of Greenwich, or the month of the Byram Eiver; but as
this arrangement would cut off from New York a considerable ter1-
ritory along tin1 Sound that rightfully belonged to her under the
twenty-mile agreement, tin1 deprivation thus suffered was to be com-

200

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

pensated for by assigning to New York an " equivalent tract " {%. e.,
a tract equal in area to the surrendered Sound lands) along the
whole extent of the fundamental north and south boundary.

The divisional line traced in conformity with these mutual con-
cessions is probably the most curious of American State boundaries,
and must be an inexplicable puzzle to all persons not familiar with
the historical facts which we have recited. It has no fewer than
five points of departure. After following the Byram River for a
short distance, it abruptly leaves that stream and runs in a straight
direction northwest; then, forming a right angle, goes northeast;

then returns again at a right angle to
northwest; and finally, at a very ob-
tuse angle, proceeds in a continuous
course to the Massachusetts boundary.
But however eccentric in appearance,
it was constructed with strict refer-
ence to a fair and regular division of
territory under the terms of the com-
promise and the peculiar conditions
of existing settlement which made
such a compromise necessary.

Beginning at the mouth of the
Byram River, the line, as thus decided
upon in 1683, ran up that stream as
far as the head of tidewater (about a
mile and a half), where was a " wad-
ing-place" crossed by a road, and
where stood a rock known as "The
Great Stone at the Wading-place."
From this point as a natural boundary
mark it went north-northwest to a dis-
tance eight miles from the Sound,
which was deemed to be a reasonable
northward limit for the Connecticut
Sound settlements. From here, making a right angle, the line paral-
leled the general course of the shore of the Sound for twelve miles.
Thus the strip on the Sound set off to Connecticut formed a parallelo-
gram eight by twelve miles. But as the eastern termination of the
twelve-mile line was beyond the twenty-mile distauce from the Hud-
son, another north-northwest line was drawn from that termination,
which, after running some eight miles, came to a point distant from
the Hudson the required twenty miles. Here began the straight
line to the Massachusetts border, pursuing a course parallel to the

NEW
JERSEY

LONG ISLAND

VARIOUS BOUNDARY LINES,

GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO 1700 201

general direction of the Hudson River. Along these latter two sec-
tions of the boundary, the so-called kk equivalent tract " or " Oblong,"
having an area of 61,440 acres, was, in recompense for the Sound set-
tlements which New York surrendered, taken from Connecticut and
given to New York; and as thus rectified the whole north and south
boundary line, beginning at the northeast corner of the Connecticut
parallelogram, was located some two miles to the eastward of the
basic twenty-mile distance originally agreed upon.

The settlements on the Sound which fell to Connecticut by this
determination of the boundary were five in number — Greenwich,
Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, and Norwalk. A sixth settlement,
Rye, which had previously belonged to Connecticut, was for the most
part transferred to New York, although a portion of its lands fell on
the Connecticut side of the line. It was in large measure owing to
the aggressiveness of the Rye settlers, and to the questions arising
out of the territorial claims made by the Town of Rye as the west-
ernmost locality of Connecticut, that the boundary matter was forced
to an issue in 1683. The Rye people, conceiving that the Connecticut
colony extended all the way to the Hudson River, complained to the
legislature of Connecticut about the purchases or pretensions of
New York citizens along the Hudson which came to their notice; and
the Connecticut governor brought the subject to the attention of the
governor of New York and urged a settlement. And now, under
the new boundary treaty of the two provinces, Rye itself was rudely
sundered from its parent colony and made a part of New York. This
was extremely repugnant to the settlers of Rye, who, indeed,
continued to deem themselves as belonging to Connecticut, and
ultimately, rather than submit to the government of New York, when
that government took certain steps distasteful to them, boldly re-
volted against its authority and organized the famous " Rye Rebel-
lion." Nor was Rye the only settlement founded by Connecticut
men and governed by Connecticut which, against its will, was incor-
porated in New York. The history of the Town of Bedford is almost
as interesting in this respect as that of Rye. Previously to 1683 the
Bedford settlement had been begun by Stamford men, and for years
after the boundary agreement of that year, Bedford, like Rye, was
much disaffected toward New York. It was an active party to
the " Rye Rebellion."

The boundary line fixed by interprovincial agreement on the 24th
of November, 1683, was approved by the legislature of Connecticut
on the 8th of May, 1684, and a surveyor was appointed to lay off the
line. This surveyor, with the co-operation of officers from New York,
traced the first sections of the boundary as far as the termination

202 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

of the agreed line parallel to the Sound. Thus the territory retained
by Connecticut on the Sound was formally marked off without de-
lay; but the "equivalent tract" or "Oblong" to which New York
was entitled was not apportioned upon that occasion, although its
approximate width was calculated and indicated by the surveyors.
The new boundary, while accepted by the two provinces, did not re-
ceive ratification in England, probably because no special attention
was paid to the matter; and the lack of such ratification enabled
Connecticut, after the revolt of Kye and Bedford, to contend that
the whole arrangement was without legal effect, and to insist that
it be passed upon by the king before it could be considered binding.
It was accordingly taken to King William for final decision, who in
March, 1700, confirmed it, ordering Eye and Bedford to return to
the jurisdiction of New York; and on the 10th of October follow-
ing the two towns were, by the legislature of Connecticut, absolved
from all allegiance to that colony.

So far as the political status of Eye and Bedford was concerned,
this forever ended all doubt on that point; but the exact location of
the boundary line along each of its various sections still continued
a subject of dispute, and, in fact, the controversy did not end until
the present generation. The history of this dispute of two hundred
years' standing may conveniently be completed in the present con-
nection. We quote from the excellent summary of it given in the
Eev. Mr. Baird's " History of Eye " :

After various failures to effect a settlement, New York and Connecticut selected com-
missioners, who met at Rye in April, 1725, and began the work of marking the boundary.
They started at " the Great Stone at the Wading-place," which had been designated as the
point of beginning forty-one years before. Their survey was extended as far as that of 1C8-L-,
to " the Duke's Trees," at the northwest angle of the Town of Greenwich, where three white
oaks had been marked as the termination of the former survey. Here the work was sus-
pended for want of funds, and it was not resumed until the spring of 1731. The survey was
then completed to the Massachusetts line; the "equivalent tract " or " Oblong" was meas-
ured and " set off to New York," and the line dividing the Province of New York from the
Colony of Connecticut was designated by monuments at intervals of two miles. "The Great
Rock at the Wading-place " may still be found at the northeastern end of the bridge crossing
the Byram River. Starting at this rock, the boundary line strikes across the King Street
and follows the course of that road for about two miles. At the distance of five miles from
the Wading-place it crosses Blind Brook near the head of that stream at an angle which
terminates the territory of Rye. The famous " Duke's Trees " are about two miles north of
this point.

The boundary line laid down in 1731 remained without disturbance until 1855, when the
question arose as to its existing definiteness. On some portions of the line the marks had
disappeared, and along the whole distance the greatest uncertainty existed. Residents near
the border refrained from voting in either State, while officers of justice and tax collectors
hesitated to exercise their authority up to any well-defined limit. These circumstances were
taken advantage of by those wishing to evade the payment of taxes or the enforcement of the
law. In May, 1855, the General Assembly of Connecticut took steps to have the true position
of the boundary line ascertained, by means of a new survey and the erection of new monu-
ments. In the following year the New York legislature took similar action, and the com-

GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO 1700 203

missioners appointed under the several acts employed an engineer to run the line. The
commissioners could not agree, however, as to the method of running the line, and nothing
was done. In August, 1859, new commissioners were appointed on the part of each State,
hut, owing to the tenacity with which Connecticut adhered to the claim that a straight line
should he run,1 regardless of existing monuments to indicate the original course, no agree-
ment could he reached.

The last step taken in the matter occurred in 1860. On the 3d of April in that year
the legislature of New York passed an act empowering the commissioners formerly appointed
" to survey and mark with suitable monuments " the " line between the two States, as fixed
by the survey of 1731." They were to give due notice of their purpose to the commissioners
of Connecticut, inviting them to join in the duties imposed upon them. But in case of their
refusal or neglect to do so, they were to proceed alone and perform the work assigned. The
commissioners of New York, acting under these instructions, held several conferences with
those of Connecticut, but the latter adhered inflexibly to the principle that the boundary to
be established must be a straight one. The commissioners from New York therefore pursued
the course enjoined upon them. They fixed and marked th« boundary line between the two
States, placing monuments along its course, at intervals of one mile, from the Massachusetts
line to the mouth of the Byram River. This work was undertaken on the 8th of June, I860,
and was completed in the autumn of that year. On December 5, 1879, this line was agreed
to by the legislatures of New York and Connecticut, and confirmed by congress during the
session of 1880-81.

The existence of New York as a proprietary province, belonging to
James, Duke of York, terminated in 1085, when, Charles II. having
died without leaving legitimate issue, James, his brother, succeeded
to the sovereignty. This was an event of considerable importance,
not alone for New York, but also for the colonies of New England
and New Jersey. New York at once lost its separate status as a
proprietary province, and became, like the New England and New
Jersey possessions of Great Britain, an ordinary province of the
crown. Governor Donga n, identified with so many conspicuous meas-
ures of change and progress in New York, now originated the
proposition for uniting the colonies of New Jersey, New York, and
New England under a single government. k* By reason of the dif-
ferent proprietorships of the various colonies, no uniform rule of
import or export duties prevailed. An article heavily taxed in New
York might be free in New Jersey or Connecticut. The customs
at New York suffered greatly, and trade was thrown into much con-
fusion by reason of vessels running over to the New Jersey shore of
the river and there unloading their goods. These were gradually
smuggled into Now York, and sold at a price below that of articles
which had honestly passed the custom-house. Dongan, therefore,
urged the expediency of consolidating all the king's colonies from the
Delaware to and including Connecticut and Massachusetts. " 2 De-
spite some local opposition this was done, and in 1688 Sir Edmund

1 The representatives of Connecticut contend- them. On the other hand, the commission-
ed for a straight line between the two extreme ers of New York considered their authority
points, fifty-three miles apart, because the old limited to "ascertaining" the boundary as
monuments and marks upon the line were gen- originally defined.— Scharf, i., 5.
erally removed, and the original line could not 2 Van Pelfs Hist, of the Greater New York,
be traced with any certainty by reference to i., SO.

20L HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Andros was appointed the first governor of the combined provinces,
with headquarters in Boston. A lieutenant-governor, Colonel Fran-
cis Nicholson, was deputized to take charge of the separate affairs
of the Province of New York. The old governor's council was re-
tained, although nothing was as vet done toward reviving the as-
sembly. Lieutenant-Governor Nicholson's councilors were Anthony
Brockholst, Frederick Philipse, Stephanus Van Cortlandt, and Nicho-
las Bayard. Dongan, before being superseded, granted to the City
of New York, in 1GSG, its first charter as a corporation, under the
style of " The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New
York," the city having two years previously been divided into wards
and made to include the whole of Manhattan Island. This advance
step taken by the city is fairly representative of the general develop-
ment which had fairly begun at that period — a development to which
Westchester County contributed its share.

The reign of James, the last of the Stuart monarchs, was brief.
Three years after he ascended the throne the people of England,
weary of the tyranny, corruption, and religious intolerance of his
dynasty, rose against him, and received with open arms the Prot-
estant William, Prince of Orange, who, as the husband of Mary, one
of the daughters of James, was eligible to rule over them. It was
a bloodless revolution. In February, 1689, William and Mary were
proclaimed king and queen. James, after making a stand in Ireland,
where he fought the disastrous battle of the Boyne, fled to Catholic
France.

The news of the landing of William stirred the American colonies
profoundly. Aside from their natural preference for a Protestant
king, they apprehended that the dethroned James would enlist in
his cause the power of France, and that they would soon have to
deal with a French invasion. James's officials were accordingly
treated without ceremony. In Boston Governor Andros was, in April,
1689, deposed and cast into prison. In New York Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Nicholson, having by unguarded behavior and unbecoming lan-
guage provoked popular resentment and distrust, found himself con-
fronted by the determined hostility of the captains of the training
bands, who, in June, compelled him to vacate his office and return
to England. The province was thus left without a head, and the
people were quite unwilling to intrust affairs to the council, com-
posed as it was of the old royal favorites. The training band cap-
tains, assuming temporary authority in the name of the people, called
a convention of delegates from all the counties, which assembled on
June 26, and appointed a committee of safety. By this committee
Jacob Leisler, one of the captains and a prominent member of the

GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO 1700 205

community, was placed in military command of the province, and
the citizens were called upon to come together and choose by popular
election a successor to Stephanus Van Cortlandt in the mayoralty
of the city, which they did accordingly. Finally, in December, by vir-
tue of a letter from their majesties, addressed to " Francis Nicholson,
Esq., Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief in our Province
of New York, and in his absence to such as for the time being take care for
preserving the peace and administering the laws" Leisler, at the direction
of the committee of safety, assumed the functions of lieutenant-gov-
ernor pro tempore, in addition to those of military commander. The
committee, consisting of eight members, now transformed itself, at
Leisler's request, into a gubernatorial council.

This unprecedented and peculiar regime lasted for a little more
than a year after Leisler's elevation to the executive office, or nearly
two 3^ears from the time of Nicholson's deposition. Born of a pop-
ular uprising, it was in its entire character, spirit, and conduct a
people's government. This was one of the principal charges brought
against it by the opposing aristocratic party, who, however, did not
vouchsafe it so reputable a name, but styled it an organization of
" the rabble." The leading members of Nicholson's council — Bay-
ard, Philipse, and Van Cortlandt — not only lent no countenance to
the training band captains, the committee of safety, or the popularly
chosen lieutenant-governor, but boldly opposed each step in the new
order of things. Bayard, the most active of the three, was arrested
by Leisler's order in January, 1690, tried, and condemned to death for
treason on the ground of his opposition to the king's representative;
but suing for pardon, he received a commutation of his sentence.
Philipse, at the beginning of the troubles, left the city, but returned,
and, conducting himself with tolerable prudence, was not molested.
Van Cortlandt, who was not only one of Nicholson's councilors, but
mayor of New York, at first remained at his post, and after the choice
of his successor by the elective process declined to recognize the act
as legal and refused to deliver up his books and seals. At the time
of Bayard's arrest, fearing a like fate, he saved himself by hasty
flight.' It is an interesting fact that Leisler was related by marriage
to both Van Cortlandt and Bayard; and Philipse also became of kin
to Leisler's family by marrying Van Cortlandt's sister. Yet so in-
tense were the passions of the times that these ties of relationship
counted for nothing, and Leisler's own kinsmen were the most bitter
and unrelenting of the enemies who resisted him during the days of
his authority and pursued him to ignominious death after his down-
fall.

Late in 1690 King William appointed Colonel Henry Sloughter as

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GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO 1700

207

his royal governor for New York, with Major Richard Ingoldsby as
lieutenant-governor. Ingoldsby was the first to arrive, and demanded
the transfer of the government to himself, a demand with which
Leisler refused to comply, because Ingoldsby was unable to show
proper credentials.

This misunderstanding was followed by an unfortunate attack
upon the royal troops by Leisler's followers, and, although he dis-
avowed responsibility for the manifestation, it was charged up to
him as one of his offenses. Upon the arrival of Governor Sloughter,
in March, 1691, he was imprisoned, and then, by swift proceedings,
sentenced to die the death of a traitor. On May 17, less than two
months after giving up the reins of government, he was hanged, to-
gether with his son-in-law, Jacob Milbourne. No appeal of his case
to England was permitted, a melancholy circumstance in view of
the action of Parliament four years later in formally reversing his
attainder of treason after a dispassionate review of all the facts.

The name of Jacob Leisler is conspicuously and honorably iden-
tified with the early history of West-
chester County through his purchase
and sale to the Huguenots, already no-
ticed, of about two-thirds of the old
Manor of Pelham, a tract of some six
thousand acres. There is no doubt
that in making this purchase and in
disposing of the lands to the French
religious refugees he was animated en-
tirely by unselfish and sympathetic
considerations. A German Protest-
ant by birth, and, moreover, the son of
a clergyman of the Reformed Church,
he became known in New York as a zealous supporter and promoter
of the Protestant religion. It was in consequence of the reputation
which he thus enjoyed that the Huguenots, before emigrating to New
York, applied to him to select ami secure a suitable locality for their
contemplated settlement. As a few individual Huguenots had al-
ready built homes on Pelham Manor, that quarter was already indi-
cated as the one to be chosen. In the original purchase from John
and Rachel Pell, September 20, 1689, "Jacob Leisler, of the City of
New York, merchant," was the sole person interested; and his con-
scientious spirit in the transaction is indicated by the significant
provision of the deed that, besides the six thousand acres conveyed
!o him, a parcel of one hundred acres should be set apart from Pell's
property as a free gift to the French church. Moreover, he gave for

I.KISLER S TOMB.

208 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the lands the large sum of " sixteen hundred and seventy-five shillings
sterling, current silver money of this province," paying the entire
amount on the day of purchase — a sum whose comparative magni-
tude will be appreciated when it is remembered that eight years
later Caleb Heathcote, in buying from Mrs. Eichbell her title to most
of the present Township of Mamaroneck and other lands (having an
aggregate area much larger than the New Eochelle tract), paid for
his acquisition only £600. Leisler rapidly transferred his whole pur-
chase to the Huguenots, and before his execution they were in full
possession of it.

Smith, in his " History of New York," gives the following inter-
esting item: " Leisler' s party was strengthened on the 3d of June,
16S9, by the addition of six captains and four hundred men in New
York, and a company of seventy men from Eastchester, who had
all subscribed on that day a solemn declaration to preserve the
Protestant religion and the Port of New York for the Prince of
Orange and the governor whom the prince might appoint as their
protector." The action of the seventy volunteers of our Town of
Eastchester in marching down to New York to give their support
to Leisler is highly significant. The men of Eastchester were dem-
ocrats of democrats in all their antecedents, but at the same time
were godly and sober citizens, who would not have lightly, or for
mere emotional or adventurous reasons, espoused a factional
cause. They evidently believed, most completely and ardently, in
the righteousness and also the sufficiency of the improvised govern-
ment. It is indeed impossible to question the sincere and virtuous
animus of Leisler1 s followers.

Leisler, raised to authority by the people, fully recognized the
people as the source of power. Notwithstanding the previous aboli-
tion of the provincial assembly, he promptly appealed to the repre-
sentatives of the people when a grave public emergency arose soon
after he became acting governor. In February, 1690, the settlement
of Schenectady was burned and its inhabitants were massacred by
the Indians at the instigation of the French. Leisler at once sum-
moned a general assembly for the purpose of providing means and
supplies for retributive measures. In that body Thomas Browne
was the delegate from Westchester County.

The influence of Leisler as a plain citizen, before by the stress of
events placed in the control of affairs, was uniformly on the side of
the public welfare, of intelligence, and progress; and the history of
his personal career is that of a vigorous, successful, and honest man,
who eminently deserved the position he won. He came to New
York in 1660, while the city was still known as New Amsterdam,

GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO 1700 209

being one of a company of fifteen soldiers for the re-enforcement of
the garrison. Afterward he traded with the Indians and acquired
considerable means. He served under Dongan as one of the com-
missioners of the Admiralty Court. In 1GGT he was one of the jurors
in a case of witchcraft tried at Brookhaven, Long Island, against
Ralph Hall and his Avife, which resulted in acquittal. As one of the
captains of the training bands he enjoyed the unusual confidence of
the citizen soldiers — a confidence which, because of his reputation
in the community, was shared by the public in general when the
necessities of the situation constrained them to assume the tempo-
rary direction of the government. He was, moreover, sustained
throughout his administration by some of the best and most substan-
tial citizens, notwithstanding the opposition and intrigues of the
former governing class; and the persistent continuance of a per-
fectly respectable u Leislerian party " for many years after his trag-
ical end is convincing tribute to the excellence of both his private
and civic character. His descendants at this day are very numer-
ous, and have representatives in many of the old and highly re-
spectable families of New York and Westchester County. Included
among them are those of the Grouverneur Morris and Wilkins
branches of the Morrises of Morrisania. For the pedigree of the
Westchester County descendants of Leisler, we refer our readers to
Bolton's " History of Westchester County," rev. ed., i., 585.

When at last, in March, 1691, the government of the province was
resumed by a direct appointee of the king, Colonel Henry Sloughter,
it was ordered that the provincial assembly should be re-established.
No time was lost by Governor Sloughter in bringing this to pass;
and on April 0, 1691, the second regularly constituted assembly of
New York came together, with John Pell, of the Manor of Pelham,
and Joseph Theale, of the Town of Rye, sitting as representatives
from Westchester County. The assembly "consisted of seventeen
members, but was afterwards increased to twenty-seven.
By the act of May 8, 1699, the representatives were elected by the
freeholders of £40 in value, who were residents of the electoral dis-
trict at least three months prior to the issue of the act. The elections
were held by the sheriff at one place in each county, and voting was
rira voce. The act of November 25, 1751, directed the sheriff to hold
his court of election near the Presbyterian meeting-house at White
Plains. Previously it had been held in the southern part of the
county, doubtless at Westchester. Catholics could neither vote nor
hold office, and at one time the Quakers and Moravians were also
virtually disqualified by their unwillingness to take the oath." 1

1 Scharf, i., 647.

THE

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TITLE-rACxE OF THE EARLIEST VOLUME OF NEW YORK STATUTES.

GENERAL HISTORICAL REVIEW TO 1700 211

Excepting- the representatives in the general assembly, only the
strictly local officers — supervisors, collectors, assessors, and consta-
bles— were elective. The most important of these, the supervisors,
date from an early period.

By the " Duke's Laws," promulgated in 1665, the Courts of Sessions levied the taxes
upon the towns. By an act of the general assembly, passed October 18, 1701 (13th William
III.), the justices of the peace, in special or general session, were directed to levy once a year
the necessary county and town charges and allowances for their representative in the general
assembly, to make provision for the poor, and to issue warrants for the election of two
assessors and one collector, and for the collection of taxes. These duties were transferred
to a board of supervisors by an act of general assembly passed June 19, 1703 (2d Anne),
entitled " An Act for the better explaining and more effectually putting into execution an act
of general assembly made in the third year of the reign of their late majesties, King William
and Queen Mary, entitled An Act for defraying the publick and necessary charges thro'out
this province, and for maintaining the poor and preventing vagabonds." The freeholders
and inhabitants of each town were authorized to choose once each year, on the first Tuesday
of April (unless otherwise directed), one supervisor, two assessors, and one collector. The
supervisors elected were directed to meet in the county town on the first Tuesday of October,
ascertain the contingent charges of the county and such sums as were imposed by the laws
of the colony, apportion to each town, manor, liberty, jurisdiction, and precinct their respective
quotas, and to transmit them to the assessors of the different towns, etc.. who should appor-
tion them among the inhabitants. The supervisors were authorized to choose annually a
treasurer. The court of sessions was thus relieved of that portion of its duties which was
legislative and not judicial. Supervisors had been chosen in several of the towns before the
passage of the act of 1703 (Eastchester, 1681!; Mamaroneck, 1697; New Rochelle, 1700);
but what their duties were it is impossible to state.1

During the ton years following The arrival of the first royal gov-
ernor under King William, and the definite erection of representative
government in the province, there was a steady expansion of popula-
tion, wealth, and enterprise. Sloughter died only two months after
Leisler's execution, and was succeeded as governor the next year by
Benjamin Fletcher, who was superseded in 1G98 by the Earl of Bello-
niont. one of the best and most conscientious of New York's early
colonial rulers. Philipse and Van Cortlandt, who had been sent
into retirement by Leisler, were recalled to the council by Sloughter,
and both of them thus resumed their old-time prominence. It has
already been recorded how Philipse, on account of the notoriety at-
taching to his connection with unlawful traffic, was finally forced to
resign from the council. This traffic, while vexatious to the gov-
ernment officials and increasingly demoralizing, was far from being-
regarded with general disapprobation by the commercial commu-
nity of New York. Too many were interested in its gains to admit
of such hostility, and, indeed, the large private interests concerned in
it were mainly responsible for the extensive proportions to which it
grew in the closing years of the seventeenth century. Ir was not
confined to the ordinary forms of smuggling — mere surreptitious im-
portations of taxable European goods. — but included relations of more

Seharf, 645.

212 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

or less intimacy with the pirates of the high seas. " The most ap-
proved course usually pursued was to load a ship with goods for
exchange and sale on the Island of Madagascar. Rum costing two
shillings per gallon in New York would fetch fifty to sixty shillings
in Madagascar. A pipe of Madeira wine costing nineteen pounds in
New York could be sold for three hundred pounds in that distant
island. Not that just so much specie would be given for these
articles there. But here was the rendezvous of the pirates, or buc-
caneers, of the Indian Ocean, and the goods they offered in exchange
were extremely costly." 1 Probably the principal reason of Governor
Fletcher's recall was his tolerance of such intercourse. Bellomont,
who followed him, was charged expressly to deal summarily with it;
and in consequence, Frederick Philipse found it expedient to termi-
nate his membership in the council, and so avoid disgraceful expul-
sion. It was as an incident of Bellomont's vigorous policy in this
line that Captain William Kidd, whose name and fame have become
immortal iu the legendary annals of piracy, was arrested, tried, and
hanged (May, 1701). Kidd originally appears in the virtuous and
nobfe character of a pirate hunter. A number of particularly re-
spectable and distinguished subscribers (among them King William
and Lord Bellomont at that time not yet governor), having at heart
the suppression of piracy, equipped a stanch vessel for Kidd, who
was known as a bold and experienced mariner, and sent him forth
to search for these evil men wheresoever they might ply their horrid
vocation, and scourge them from the seas. As the story runs, he ren-
dered valuable services for a. time in this chivalric cause, but later
fell into degenerate ways, and himself became a most desperate cor-
sair. His favorite haunts after returning from his cruises were the
inlets and islands of Long Island Sound, where he landed his precious
cargoes, and, according to tradition, buried his gold, silver, and jew-
els.^ It is said that when brought to trial he confided to the author-
ities the location of a treasure secreted on Gardiner's Island, and
that it was duly found and appropriated by them. From the authen-
ticated accounts of Captain Kidd's frequentings of the coast of the
Sound, it may safely be said that from time to time he must have
steered his bark into some of the numerous places of retreat along
The Westchester shore. This, however, is only a reasonable infer-
ence. There is nothing to show that he ever had a rendezvous within
our waters. In the course of time popular imagination, stimulated
by the fiction of his buried wealth, even ascribed to him expeditions
up the Hudson River as far as the Highlands. Bolton reproduces a
very entertaining account of an attempt during the present century

i Van TVlfs Hist, of the Greater New York, i., 9S.

COMPLETION OF EARLY LOCAL SETTLEMENT 213

to raise a sunken bark off Caldwell's Landing in the Highlands, sup-
posed to have been Captain Kidd's private ship. Some $20,000 was
spent in the enterprise.1 The pre-eminence which Captain Kidd has
always enjoyed in the popular imagination is much out of propor-
tion to his achievements. His formal piratical career was at all
events very brief. It was in October, 1G96, that he was dispatched
to hunt down pirates, and at that time he must have had a fairly
honest reputation. Less than five years later he met his doom on the
gallows. His exceptional popularity as a pirate hero is doubtless
due to the fanciful stories of his buried treasures, to which a certain
substantial foundation was supposed to have been given by the un-
earthing of one of them — in all probability the only one — by the au-
thorities.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century Manhattan Island had
attained a population of nearly six thousand souls, and about one
thousand houses had been erected upon it. Westchester County,
established upon practically the same boundary lines as exist to-day
(considering the county in its original integrity), had acquired the
elements of serious development in all its parts. Practically all its
land had been appropriated by purchase. Means of convenient com-
munication with New York had been secured, and a bridge across
the Spuyten Duyvil Creek built. All of the six manorial estates had
been granted by letters patent, and in part settled by tenants, with
here and there the foundations of villages laid. The old settlements
on the Sound had made steady advancement and new settlers had
generally begun to occupy the non-manorial lands in the interior.
The progress of the Sound settlements and of interior occupation
outside of the manors remains to be glanced at in order to complete
the history of the county to the period at which we have arrived.

The Lye settlement, which grew out of purchases made by citizens
of Greenwich, Conn., on the New York side of the Byram River, be-
ginning in 1G60, flourished from the start, and gradually expanded
over all the adjacent country. Included within the Colony of Con-
necticut by the boundary compact of 1664, there never existed any
question as to its political status until, under the new boundary ad-
justment of 1683, it was detached from Connecticut ami incorporated
in New York. Even during the aggressive Dutch restoration of
1673-74, although Mamaroneck was summoned to submit and readily
yielded, no attempt was made to subdue the people of Rye, who,
however, in anticipation of trouble, made preparation for a sturdy
resistance, and united with those of Stamford and Greenwich in pe-
titioning the general court for help. From the earliest period of

1 Bolton, rev. ed., i., 161.

214 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the Eye settlement, even before Rye itself had come into being, and
while the founders of the place were still living on Manussing
Island in a community known as Hastings, the town had rep-
resentation in the Connecticut general court at Hartford, and
received due attention and care from that body. It was probably
due to the privilege of direct representation thus enjoyed, quite as
much as to the circumstance of their Connecticut nativity, that the
Rye people so stoutly persisted, long after being legally annexed to
New York, in holding themselves allegiant to the mother colony, and
so bitterly resented the assumption of authority over them by an
alien aristocratic government which for a considerable term of years
conceded no representative rights whatever to its inhabitants, and
even after instituting a general assembly granted no immediate rep-
resentation to the individual towns.

In enumerating here the various additional purchases of the Rye
people, it is not necessary to go into minute particularization regard-
ing the several tracts. In 1002 they bought the territory of the
present Town of Harrison — a territory which was subsequently grant-
ed by the provincial government of New York to John Harrison and
others, and on that account became the bone of contention between
the Rye men and the New York authorities, leading to the celebrated
revolt. In 1080 and 1081 occurred what were known as kk Will 's
Purchases " from an Indian chief named Lame Will, or Limping Will,
extending into the present Town of North Castle. And finally, in
10S3, just before the new boundary articles were concluded, the Qua-
roppas, or White Plains, tract was bought, another purchase destined
to be a source of difficulty because of the claim to previous owner-
ship set up by John Richbell and later persevered in by his widow
and by her successor in the Richbell estate, Colonel Caleb Heathcote.
It has been mentioned in our account of the boundary revision of
1683 that the aggressive attitude of the Town of Rye in its territorial
pretensions as the frontier settlement of Connecticut was one of the
principal causes leading to that revision. tk May, 1082, John Ogden,
of Rye, presented himself before the general court and on behalf of
the people complained that sundry persons, and particularly Fred-
erick Philipse, had been making improvements of lands within their
bounds. Air. Philipse had been building mills near Hudson River,
encroaching thereby upon the town's territory, which was believed to
extend in a northwesterly direction from the mouth of Mamaroneck
River to the Hudson, and even beyond. The general court gave Mr.
Ogden a letter to the governor of New York, protesting against such
proceedings, and reminding him that by the agreement made in 1001
a line running northwest from the mouth of Mamaroneck River to

COMPLETION OF EARLY LOCAL SETTLEMENT 215

the Massachusetts line was to be the dividing line between Con-
necticut and New York." x On the 28th of November of the follow-
ing year, by the new boundary articles, Rye was ceded to New York,
and Governor Treat of Connecticut promptly notified the inhabitants
of this change. The town, while reluctant to accept the fate ap-
pointed for it, desisted from electing deputies to the general court
of Connecticut, and did not renew that practice until the " revolt "
in 1097. Nevertheless, attempts were made from time to time to
secure some sort of official recognition from Connecticut, represent-
atives being dispatched to deal with the governor and general court
as to various special matters. A summons from Governor Dongan
of New York, in 1(585, commanding the Kye settlers to appear before
him and prove their titles to the lands which they occupied, was
ignored. On the other hand, live had the honor of contributing one
of the two representatives from Westchester County to the earliest
sessions of the New York provincial assembly held after the organiza-
tion of that body on a permanent basis. Joseph Theale, one of the
leading men of Kye, was elected to the New York assembly for
the years 1691 to 1694, inclusive, and again for 1697. "For ten
years," says Dr. Baird, "disaffection smoldered, the authority of
the province was ignored, taxes were paid but irregularly to either
government, and whenever possible matters in controversy were car-
ried up to Hartford, and Hartford magistrates came down to per-
form their functions at Kye. . . . Fends and dissensions among
themselves added to the perplexity of the inhabitants. Some of them,
it would appear, sided with the province in the controversy, and hence,
doubtless, some of the actions for defamation and other proofs of
disturbance which we find on record about this time."

In 1695 a tract of land which for more than thirty years had be-
longed to the Kye settlers, "situated above Westchester Path, between
Blind Brook and Mamaroneck River, and extending as far north as
Kye Fond," was bought by a certain John Harrison from an Indian
who professed to be " the true owner and proprietor." After having
been surveyed by order of Governor Fletcher, of New York, this tract,
called "Harrison's Purchase," was patented (June 25, 1696) to Har-
rison and four associates— William Nicols, Ebenezer Wilson, David
Jamison, and Samuel Haight. In vain did the people of Kye protest
against so unrighteous a proceeding. The land was wholly unim-
proved and unsettled, its rightful prior ownership was claimed by
the Indian from whom Harrison bought if, and, moreover, the Rye
men, by having contemptuously neglected to avail themselves of
the opportunity extended to them by Dongan in 1685 to prove their

1 Baird's Hist, of Rye.

216

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

land titles, had incapacitated themselves from establishing a supe-
rior title by the records. The issuance of the Harrison patent was
followed, about the end of 1696, by a verdict adverse to Eye ren-
dered in the New York courts in a suit brought by Mrs. Ann Bich-
bell against the Eye people for intrusion on the White Plains lands.
These two events brought matters to a crisis. Eye seceded from New
York, applied to be received back into Connecticut, and, meeting
with encouragement, resumed formal connection with the latter gov-
ernment, until by order of
the king compelled to aban-
don it.

Eye's petition to the gen-
eral court of Connecticut, in
conjunction with a similar
one from Bedford, was sub-
mitted on January 19, 1697,
and was graciously re-
ceived. On the 8th of April
following an overt manifes-
tation against New York's
authority was made at Eye
by Major Sellick, of Stam-
ford, " with about fifty dra-
gones, whom he called his
life-guard, with their arms
presented." The major and
his " dragones " presumed to
interfere with an election
which was being conducted
there by Benjamin Collier,
high sheriff of Westchester
County, for representative
in the New York assembly.
Apparently no actual vio-
lence was done, but the show
of force excited strong feel-
ing in New York, and was
promptly characterized in
very severe terms by the pro-
vincial assembly. Governor
Fletcher issued a proclamation ordering Eye and Bedford to return
to their allegiance, and also entered into communication on the sub-
ject with the governor of Connecticut, from whom, however, he

RYE AND ASSOCIATED TRACTS.

COMPLETION OF EARLY LOCAL SETTLEMENT. 217

obtained no satisfaction. In addition, Fletcher tried conciliatory
measures, dispatching Colonel Caleb Heathcote, one of the members
of his council, to Eye, with instructions to do what he could by means
of his personal influence toward settling the troubles. Heathcote's
report gives a very clear idea of the merits of the controversy, show-
ing that the Rye settlers had only themselves to blame for the loss
of the Harrison lands. " I asked them/' says Heathcote, " why they
did not take out a patent when it was tendered them [by Dongan].
They said they never heard that they could have one. I told them
that their argument might pass with such as knew nothing of the
matter, but that I knew better; for that to my certain knowledge
they might have had a patent had they not rejected it, and that it
was so far from being done in haste or in the dark that there was
not a boy in the whole town, nor almost in the whole county, but
must have heard of it; and that I must always be a witness against
them, not only of the many messages they have had from the govern-
ment about it, but likewise from myself. ... I told them as
to the last purchase wherein I was concerned [that of the Eichbell
estates, including the White Plains tract], if that gave them any
dissatisfaction, that I would not only quit my claim but use my inilu-
ence in getting them any part of it they should desire. Their an-
swer was they valued not that; it was Harrison's patent that was
their ruin."

For three years, 1(507 to 1699, inclusive, Rye was represented in
the Connecticut general court by regularly elected delegates. Dur-
ing this period and for one year longer, the town was designated
officially by its inhabitants as being " in the County of Fairfield."
New York made no attempt at coercion, but referred the matters at
issue to the king; and in March, 1700, an order of the king in council
was issued, not only approving the boundary agreement of 16S3-81,
but directing the revolted towns "forever thereafter to be and re-
main under the government of the Province of New York." This
decision was, as a matter of course, accepted by all parties as final.
Rye never recovered the Harrison purchase, although some of her
inhabitants bought land there ami became influential in its affairs.
Moreover, " until the Revolution the inhabitants of the purchase
participated with those of Rye in the transaction of town business,
without any other distinction than that of having their own offi-
cers for the discharge of local functions"; and Harrison also formed
" one of the six precincts of the parish of Rye, under the semi-eccle-
siastical system that prevailed." Harrison was settled largely, how-
ever, by Quakers from Long Island. The White Plains dispute was
not determined adversely to Rye. Caleb Heathcote, while never in

218 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

legal form relinquishing his claim to " the White Plains,-' did not
attempt to enforce it, and, indeed, uniformly treated the Rye people
interested with generous fairness. He consented to the insertion
in the letters patent for his Manor of Scarsdale of a clause expressly
withholding from him any further title to the White Plains than
that which he already possessed. The Kye settlers of White Plains
always retained the lands which they acquired there, and at length,
in 1722, obtaiued a patent for the whole tract of 4,435 acres. " White
Plains/' says Dr. Baird, " drew largely on the strength of the com-
munity of Eye. . . . Some branches of nearly all the ancient
families established themselves there, and, indeed, those families
are now represented there more numerously than in the parent set-
tlement."

According to the " Lists of Persons and Estates " kept by the
general court of Connecticut, there were in Kye in 16G5 twenty-five
" persons," possessed of estates valued at £1,211; in 1683, forty-seven,
worth £2,339; and in 1G99, sixty, worth £3,306. By "persons" in
this connection are probably to be understood heads of families. The
population of Kye, including White Plains, in 1712, as shown by
an enumeration then taken, was 51G, the town being, next to West-
chester (which had 572 inhabitants), the most populous in the county.

A celebrated fact in connection with the history of Rye during the
first half of the eighteenth century is the establishment of the ferry
to Oyster Bay, Long Island. This was authorized by royal letters
patent, dated the 18th of July, 1739, to John Budd, Hachaliah Brown,
and Jonathan Brown. The fare fixed for " every person " using the
ferry was one shilling and six pence; and in addition rates of car-
riage for a great variety of articles were specified. For the privi-
lege thus conferred upon them, the patentees paid an annual quit-
rent of two shillings and six pence. The operation of this ferry was
very instrumental in contributing to the growth of population in
the towns of Rye and Harrison, and in the central portions of the
county.

The early history of White Plains has been so frequently referred
to in the course of our narrative that this subject may be dismissed
here with a brief summary. By virtue of the grants to John Rich-
boll, issued both by the Dutch government and the first English
governor, it was long claimed that White Plains (or "the White
Plains," as originally and for many years called) was included in the
Richbell lands running northward from the Mamaroneck River
" twenty miles into the woods." Indeed, for nearly forty years
after the first appearance there of settlers, or intending settlers, the
legal title to this region remained undetermined. On November 22,

COMPLETION OF EARLY LOCAL SETTLEMENT 219

1683, six days before the signing' of the new boundary articles be-
tween New York and Connecticut, the enterprising men of Rye pur-
chased the whole tract, known by the Indian name of Quaroppas,
from the native chiefs who at that time professed to own it. Thus
Rye came under the government of New York with a very plausible
title to the White Plains. Gradually Eye men began to occupy the
lands — a movement that attracted the attention of Mrs. Richbell,
who in 1696 brought an ejectment suit and obtained a favorable ver-
dict, which, however, was not enforced. During the lifetime of
Colonel Caleb Heathcote, successor to Mrs. Richbell's rights and
proprietor of Scarsdale Manor, nothing was done toward settling
the question of ownership. Heathcote died on the 28th of Febru-
ary, 1721, and soon afterward active measures were begun by the
White Plains settlers toward securing a patent from the govern-
ment. In this endeavor they were put to considerable vexation
and expense by the authorities. " Three times were they compelled
to make surveys of their goodly land, three times required to notify
the owners of adjoining lands that such surveys were about to be
made, and all to furnish pretexts lor oppressive charges by the
officers of the governor's council."1 The royal patent was finally
granted on the 13th of March, 1722, to Joseph Bucld and others. It
was for "All that said- tract or parcel of land, situate, lying, and
being in the County of Westchester, commonly known by the name
of the White Plains. " Among the names of the settlers at that
period mentioned in the official documents we find the following:
Daniel Brundage, Joseph Hunt. Joseph Budd, John lloit, Caleb Hy-
att, Humphrey Underbill, Joseph Purdy, George Lane, Daniel Lane,
Moses Knap]*', John Horton, David Horton, Jonathan Lynch, Peter
Hatfield, James Travis, Isaac ('overt, Benjamin Brown, John Turner,
David Ogden, and William Yeomans. This list is but a partial one,
being confined to the patentees. "At the time ibis patent was is-
sued," says the author of the chapter on White Plains in Scharfs
History, " Broadway, with its home-lots, had long been established."
After the procurement of the patent the population increased so rap-
idly that "in 172.% the inhabitants assumed an independent organ-
ization, elected officers, and proceeded to manage their own affairs.''
In the progress of this History, we have so far followed the move-
ments of settlement and development along closely connecting lines.
It has thus happened that the settlement of the Town of Bedford,
which, under a strictly chronological arrangement, should have re-
ceived notice among the comparatively early events, has not as yet
been traced, or even referred to, except in the merest incidental
manner.

i " History~of White Plains," by Josiah S. Mitchell, Scharf, i.( 721.

220

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Bedford, as one of the ancient towns of the county, presents unique
aspects. It is the only one of the first settlements having an inland
location, and the only one whose original history stands quite apart
from that of the remainder of the county, with no associations or
relations binding it to other Westchester settlements of early origin
and respectable importance. In common with Westchester, East-
chester, Pelham, and Rye, it was settled by Connecticut people; but,
unlike these communities, it was by its isolation in the northern cen-
tral portion of the county removed completely from New York en-
vironment and influence. Bedford, at least until within recent times,

MAP OF BEDFORD.

is to be regarded as a purely New England village accidentally ab-
sorbed by New York.

What is now the Township of Bedford was a portion of the pur-
chase made by Nathaniel Turner, for the New Haven colony, July 1,
1040, of a tract of land eight miles long on the Sound and extending
sixteen miles into the wilderness to the northwest. Upon that tract
the village of Stamford was begun in 1641; and in 1655 its interior
extension was repurchased from the Indians by the people of Stam-
ford. No attempt at settlement on the portion of the tract now
known as Bedford town was made until 1680. In that year the Town

COMPLETION OF EARLY LOCAL SETTLEMENT 221

of Stamford granted to twenty-two Stamford men1 the lands known
as the " Hop Grounds " lying " at the north end of Stamford bounds.''
Under this grant the beneficiaries, on the 23d of December, 1680,
bought from Katonah, Rockaway, and several other Indians, the
territory in question, 7,(573 acres, for the value of £16 16s. 6d. The
purchase thus made became known as " Bedford Three Miles Square."
The whole of the southeastern portion of the present township-
something more than one-third of the whole township in area— was
included in it. Subsequent purchases were added at various times,
the last being effected on the 23d of January, 1722, for a considera-
tion of £20. The various deeds of sale from the natives during the
eighty-two years from 1610 to 1722 were signed, altogether, by thirty-
five Indians.

According to Dr. Baird in his " History of the Bedford Church,"
the original settlers were nearly all the sons of English Puritans,
founders of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, and there is no author-
ity for the statement that they came from Bedfordshire, England,
and from that circumstance gave the town its name. The name
Bedford, says Dr. Baird, was probably bestowed by the general
court of Connecticut, in accordance with the principle adopted many
years before, intending, as they quaintly expressed it, "thereby to
keep and leave to posterity the memorial of several places of note
in our dear native country of England." In March, 1681, house-lots
were laid out, under a rule providing thai each man's lot be " pro-
portionable in quantity to what it lacks in quality." The other lands
were divided on the same principle. The house-lots adjoined one
another on the village street, it being deemed advisable for the set-
tlers to live close together as a precaution in case of Indian attack.
May 12 the general court at Hartford officially recognized the set-
tlement, and recommended that "there be a suitable loot laid out
for ye first minister of ye place, and a loot for ye ministry to be and
belong to ye ministry forever." This pious injunction was promptly
obeyed, and as early as December, 1681, the town took steps to pro-
cure a' minister. The general court, on May 16, 1682, issued an
order to the effect that " Upon the petition of the people of the Hop
Ground, this court doth grant them the priviledge of a plantation,
and doe order that the name of the towne shall henceforth be called
Bedford." Joseph Theale was appointed as the " chiefe military
officer for the training band," and Abram Ambler as magistrate.

i Richard Ambler, Abraham Ambler. Joseph iel Jones. Thomas Pannoyer, John Holmes Jr

Theale Daniel Weed. Eleazer Slawson, John Benjamin Stevens. John Green. Sr Dav d

Wes< '.I'. Jonathan Petit, John Cross, John Waterbnry, Samuel Weed, and Jonathan Kil-

Miller, Nicholas Webster, Richard Ayres, Will- born,
iam Clark, Jonas Seely, Joseph Stevens, Dan-

222 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

New proprietors wore gradually admitted upon paying forty shillings
each for shares in the undivided lands. About the end of the first
year Joshua Webb was received as an inhabitant upon the under-
standing that he would erect and operate a mill. This arrange-
ment was carried out, the mill being built on the Mianus River. All
the newcomers for very many years were New England people.

Notwithstanding the exclusion of Bedford from Connecticut by
the provisions of the boundary agreement of 1083-84, Bedford con-
tinued to recognize the sole authority of Connecticut. Her people,
like those of live, disregarded the summons of Governor Dongan of
Now York in 1085, to take out patents for their lands, although this
omission did not, as in the case of Bye, cause them any ultimate loss
of territory. Frequent applications were, however, made to the
Connecticut authorities for a town patent; and on May 21, 1607, after
Bedford and Bye had been taken under the protection of that colony,
these efforts were finally rewarded. The Connecticut patent for Bed-
ford issued on that date was to " John Miller, Senr., Daniel Simkins,
Zachariah Roberts, Cornelius Seely, Jeremiah Andrews, John West-
coate, John Miller, Junr., John Holmes, Junr., and the rest of the
present proprietors of Bedford," and in it the tract was described
as follows: "All those lands, boath meadows, swamps and uplands,
within these abuttments, viz.: Southerly on the bounds of the town-
ship of Stamford; Westerly on the wilderness; Northerly on the wil-
derness; and easterly on the wilderness, or land not yet laid out.
Every of which sides is six miles in length, to witt : from the east
side westerly, and from the south side northerly, and is a township
of six miles square, or six miles on every side, which said lands have
been by purchase or otherwise, lawfully obtained of the Indian na-
tive proprietors." April 8, 1704, this Connecticut patent was con-
firmed by New York, an annual quit-rent of £5 being provided for.

By reference to a map of the manors of Westchester County it will
be observed that the northern section of Bedford Patent overlaps
Cortlandt Manor, taking a quite considerable area from that manor.
On the other hand, Stephanas Van Cortlandt's manor grant, dated
June 17, 1007, called for a southern boundary beginning at the mouth
of the Croton River and running due east "twenty English miles "—
that is, in a continuous line from the Hudson River to Connecticut.
This interception of the southern boundary of Cortlandt Manor by
the Bedford Patent requires explanation.

At the time when the Cortlandt Manor grant was issued the Bed-
bud Patent for a tract six miles square based upon Stamford bounds
on the south, as conferred by the general court of Connecticut, was
already in existence, having', in fact, been obtained some six weeks

COMPLETION OF EARLY LOCAL SETTLEMENT 223

previously. Consequently, says a Bedford historian, " when Van
Oortlandt-s surveyor, working on his fc due east ' line, was .advancing
through Bedford, he Avas doubtless apprised by our settlers that he
was on Connecticut soil. No use to go farther; so he ran his line
around the north side of Bedford, leaving her out of the Van Cort-
landt Manor." 1 Indeed, Van Cortlandt or his heirs, fully accepting
the claims of the Bedford people regarding their northern limits,
built along those limits, to indicate the line of separation between
Bedford and the manor, a solid stone wall, much of which still re-
mains. This wall is to-day, says the writer from whom we have
just quoted, kk undoubtedly the most notable landmark in this part
of the county," and "for nearly two miles extends right across the
country, without regard to the lay of the ground, broken only by
two highways, and until lately with not even a barway through it."
By the census of 1712 Bedford was given a population of 172.
There are reasons, however, for supposing that this was an under-
enumeration. It is noteworthy that no slaves were then owned in
Bedford, " the people here being too poor at that early date to in-
dulge in such luxuries."

Early in the eighteenth century Jacobus Van Cortlandt, son of
Oloff Stevense Van Cortlandt, and younger brother of Stephanus
Van Cortlandt, of Cortlandt Manor, became one of the principal
landed proprietors of Bedford. This was the same Jacobus Van
Cortlandt who married Eva, adopted daughter of the first Frederick
Philipse, and founded the Van Cortlandt estate of the Little or
Lower Vonkers, above Kingsbridge. He purchased lands of the
Indians and settlers of Bedford as late as 1714, and his landed pos-
sessions in the town ultimately amounted to 5,115 acres, which he
bequeathed to his son Frederick Van Cortlandt, of the Lower Yon-
kers, and his three daughters, Margaret, wife of Abraham de Peyster;
Anne, wife of John Chambers, and Mary, wife of Peter Jay. The
whole of the original estate was partitioned in 1743. Frederick Van
Cortlandt receiving 1,424 acres, Abraham de Peyster 1,110 acres,
John Chambers 1,282 acres, and Peter Jay 1,209 acres. Upon the
death of Peter Jav (1782) his share was divided among his sons,
Peter, Frederick, and John (the chief justice). John Jay subsequently
became the solo proprietor of the Bedford estate, and after his re-
tirement from public life made it his home, dying in the old Jay man-
sion in 1829. Tie was succeeded in the proprietorship by his son, the
distinguished Judge William Jay, who in turn was succeeded by his
son, the Hon. John Jay.

The great "West, Middle, and East Patents" of central West-

_1 " History of Bedford," by Joseph Barrett, Scliarf, ii., 59G.

224 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Chester, which we have already described, secured by Caleb Heath-
cote and others from Lieutenant-Governor Nanfan in 1701, were
among the foundations upon which such portions of the county north
of the White Plains and Harrison tracts as were not included in the
Eye and Bedford Patents and the Philipseburgh and Cortlandt Manor
grants were settled. The West Patent, known as " Wampus's Land
Deed," or the "North Castle Indian Deed," based upon a purchase from
the Indians made by Heathcote in 1G9C>. but not patented until Febru-
ary 14, 1702, was bounded on the east by the Byram River and the
Bedford line, on the north by the Croton River, and at the west took
in all the wedge-shaped land between Philipseburgh and Cortlandt
Manors, forming an acute angle on the Hudson at the Croton's mouth.
Its northern boundary, however, was subsequently removed from the
Croton to the southern line of Cortlandt Manor, in order to conform
to the Cortlandt Manor grant. Out of the West Patent was erected
much of the Town of North Castle. The patentees, ten in number,
included men of prominence and influence in the province, whose
"interest was not that of settlers seeking a home, but merely that
of speculators." The lands began to be settled about 1718-20 by
Quaker farmers from Long Island, who came by way of Harrison's
purchase, and whose descendants to this day belong to the principal
families of that section of our county, among them the Haights,
Weekses, Carpenters, Buttons, Quimbys, Hunts, Birdsalls, Barneses,
and Havilands. In August, 1712, the settlers petitioned Governor
Burnett to incorporate their lands into a township, mentioning in
that document that their number comprised thirty men able to bear
arms. Letters patent were soon afterward issued for the Town of
North Castle. In addition to the lands represented by the West
Patent, North Castle originally embraced a portion of the Middle
Patent and also a separate grant made in 1700 to Ann Bridges, Roger
Mompesson, and seven others.1 It even encroached on the bounds
of the East Patent, covering a considerable part of the present Town
of Poundridge. The number of settlers increased rapidly, and we
are informed that at the time of its division by the setting off of
New Castle " it was the second town in the county in assessed valu-
ation, ranking next to Westchester in that respect, and the first in
population." 2 Inasmuch as North Castle lay entirely in the interior,
and quite remote from New York City, its exceptional prosperity is

i This grant lay between the West and Mid- Thomas Wenham, a member of the governor's

die Patents. Ann Bridges was the wife of council.

Chief Justice John Bridges. Roger Mompesson = " History of Now Castle," by Joseph Bar.

was chief justice of the province at the time. rett, Seharf, ii., 615.
One of their associates in the patent was

COMPLETION OF EARLY LOCAL SETTLEMENT llO

a striking proof of the fact that the wealth of our county had its
origin exclusively in the agricultural interest.

The old Town of Salem, now constituting the Towns of North Salem
and Lewisboro, also has an interesting early history, on account of
the inclusion in it of all of the lands of the " Oblong," or " Equiva-
lent Tract." It will be remembered that the Oblong was uot laid
off and monumented until 1731. In 1700 twenty-live citizens of
Connecticut (mostly residents of Norwalk) obtained from the gov-
ernment of that colony the grant of what is known as the Ridge-
field Patent, whose western boundary was the New York State line,
at that time supposed to be twenty miles from the Hudson. After
the measuring off of the Oblong, the Ridgefleld patentees, discov-
ering that a portion of their property lay in New York State, peti-
tioned the New York authorities for a patent for fifty thousand
acres within the Oblong bounds, which was duly granted, June 8,
1731. These patentees were headed by the Rev. Thomas Hawley,
and are described in the document as " inhabitants of ye town of
Ridgefleld." These Oblong acres subsequently became the eastern
portion of the original Town of Salem, whereof the western portion
was taken from Cortlandt Manor.

The Town of Poundridge was settled by farming people from Con-
necticut, who began to take up lands within its borders in the latter
part of the first half of the eighteenth century. The name comes
" from the ancient ' Indian pound,' which formerly stood at the foot
of a high ridge a little south of the present locality known as Pound-
ridge, where the Indians sot their traps tor wild game." The first set-
tler is supposed to have been Deacon John Fancher. He came in
1730. In 1711 Joseph Lockwood, James Brown, David Potts, Ebe-
nezer Scofield, and others from Stamford, made a settlement on the
sito of the present village. The Lockwood family was long the most
prominent one in the town. From an early period the settlers of
Poundridge united the handicraft of shoemaking to their rural pur-
suits. They " went to the ' shoe-shops ' in the adjoining towns, re-
ceived their work cut out, and took it home, each one making the
whole article, whether boot or shoe."1 The decline in the population
of the town since 1850 is largely due to the unprofitableness of this
ancient industry, consequent upon the use of machinery for the manu-
facture of shoes.

1 George Thateher'Smith, in*Scharf,",ii., 563.

CHAPTER XI

A GLANCE AT THE BOROUGH TOWN OF WESTCHESTER

LIE earliest enumeration of the inhabitants of the Province
of New York was made in 1698 " by the high sheriffs and
justices of the peace in each respective county," at the
direction of Governor Bellomont. It showed a total pop-
ulation of 18,067, including 2,170 negroes, of whom 1,063 (917 whites
and 146 negroes) were in Westchester County. At that date West-
chester was the fifth in rank among the ten counties embraced within
the present limits of New York State, being exceeded by New York,
Suffolk, Kings, Queens, and Albany. At the next census, taken in
1703, Westchester's population had increased to 1,946; in 1712, to
2,815; and in 1723, to 4,409. Thus in the first quarter of a century
alter the county as a whole had begun to display a general settled
condition the number of its inhabitants had increased threefold. In
1731 its people were 6,033; in 1737, 6,745; in 1746, 9,235; in 1749,
10,711:5; in 1756, 13.257; and in 1771 (the last of the colonial censuses),
21 .745.

The following details from the census of 1712 show the distribu-
tion of population throughout the various civil divisions then ex-
isting:

Westchester 572

Eastchester 300

Rye 516

New Roclielle 304

Yonkers 260

Philipse burgh 348

Mamaroneck 84

Morrisania 62

Pelham 62

Bedford 172

Cortlandt Manor 91

Ryke's Patent (Peekskill) 32

Scarsdale 12

2,815

The portions of the county styled Yonkers and Philipseburgh at
that period were, respectively, the lower and upper divisions of Phil-

THE BOROUGH TOWN OF WESTCHESTER

OOr

ipseburgh Manor, the former being presided over by Frederick Phil-
ipse, 2d, and the latter by Adolph Philipse, his uncle. After the
uncle's death, the whole manor was reunited under Frederick Phil-
ipse, 2d, and continued as a single political division until after the
Revolution. To the above-named civil divisions of 1712, the only
new ones added during the remaining sixty odd years of the colonial
era were White Plains, North Castle, Salem, and Poundridge.

Under this census the ancient Town of Westchester led all the
other localities of the county in population, with 572 inhabitants,
having, indeed, a very decided preponderance over every community
except Rye, which numbered 51 (5 souls. But it must be borne in
mind that in 1712 Rye as a political division included certainly the
White Plains and Harrison tracts; and probably not a few settlers
dispersed through the interior sections of the county not as yet com-
prehended in definitely named settlements were counted also in the
Rye enumeration.

We have referred in various connections to the peculiar privilege
bestowed upon the Town of Westchester by its erection in 169G into
a borough, a privilege enjoyed by only one other community of New
York Province (Schenectady) from the beginning to the end of the
colonial period. It was entirely fitting that Westchester should be
singled out for this distinction. It was the seat of the earliest or-
ganized and successful English settlement in the province north of
the Harlem River, dating back to 1654 (and probably earlier); it
gave its name to the great County of Westchester, and it had always
been a rural community of exceptional respectability and progres-
siveness. Detached from the jurisdiction of Manhattan Island by a
broad river, it occupied an isolated position, and its local affairs were
thus incapable of being connected with those of the island. More-
over, Westchester, with its attached locality of West Farms, was
peculiarly justified in appealing for special privileges, in view of the
exceptional functions that had been conferred upon the adjacent
manorial lands of Morrisania, Fordham, Philipseburgh, and Pelham.
These lands had been erected into "entire and enfranchised town-
ships, manors, and places by themselves," for the gratification of
wealthy individual proprietors. On the other hand, here was a
thriving democratic town, whose settlement antedated that of any
of the manorial estates, and which was more important than any of
them in the matter of population and development. It was reason-
able in such circumstances to demand for it some unusual political
advantages.

Westchester received its first town patent from Governor Nicolls
on the 15th of February, 1667. In that instrument " all ye rights and

228 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

privileges belonging to a town within this government" were be-
stowed upon the patentees. In 1686 it was deemed advisable by
the inhabitants to procure a second patent, which was accordingly
issued (January 6) by Governor Dongan. Under this second patent
twelve men1 were designated as the "Trustees of the Freeholders
and Commonalty of the Town of Westchester," these trustees being-
constituted as "one body corporate and politick." In order to dis-
pose forever of any possible hostile claims to lands within their
town limits on the ground of irregularities or defects in the original
purchases from the Indians, the trustees, on the 27th of May, 1692,
obtained a final deed of sale from four Indians— Maminepoe, Warn-
page (alias Ann Hook), Chrohamanthense, and Mamertekoh— by
which the latter, for the consideration of goods valued at £8 Is 6d,
released unconditionally to the tk county town of Westchester " what-
ever proprietary pretensions they had to its territory. Also steps
were taken by the trustees to mark off the northern bounds of the
town, where it adjoined " Mr. Pell's purchase." The records of the
town were kept with regularity from 1G5T. As early as 1678 a bridge
had been built joining Throgg's Neck to the mainland.2 The polit-
ical limits of the town were always understood and expressed as
extending from the westernmost part of Bronxland to " Mr. Pell's
purchase," and thus Cornell's Neck, West Farms, and Morrisania
Manor belonged to the political territory of the town. Indeed, the
proprietors of Cornell's Neck (the Willetts), as also the various fam-
ilies constituting the settlement of West Farms, were at all times
thoroughly identified with the local concerns of Westchester town.

In 1670 the good people of Westchester were somewhat exercised
by the appearance of a supposed witch amongst them. An order ap-
pears in the Assize Book, dated July 7, 1670, for the removal of one
" Katherine Harrison late of Wethersfield in his Maties Colony of Con-
necticott widdow." In this order it is related that " contrary to ye
consent & good liking of ye Towne she would settle amongst them &
she being reputed to be a person lyeing undr ye supposicion of Witch-
craft hath given some cause of apprehension to ye Inhabitants there."
Accordingly, the constable and overseers are directed to notify her
to remove out of the precincts " in some short tyme," and also to ad-
monish her to "returne to ye place of her former abode/' Subse-
quently, however, Katherine Harrison was fully exonerated.

i William Richardson, John Hunt. Edward "It is ordered that ye bridge betwixt Throgg's

Waters Robert Huestis, Richard Ponton, Will- Necke and the Town., be maintained and up-

iam B-irnes John Bugbie, John Bailey, John held by a rate to bo levied and assissed upon

Tudor' lol'm Ferris Joseph Palmer, and all persons and estates that are putt in the

Thomas Baxter county rate belonging to the Township of

*ln this connection the following entry from Westchester. East Chester excepted."
the town records, dated July 9, 1678, is of interest:

THE BOROUGH TOWN OF WESTCHESTER 2*21)

A fact of curious interest, illustrating in a striking way the active
enterprise which characterized the Town of Westchester and its
associated districts from the beginning, has been brought to the
attention of the present writer by the kindness of the Rev. Theodore
A. Leggett, D.D., of Staten Island, a descendant of one of the West
harms patentees. We have seen that Elizabeth Richardson, daugh-
ter of Thomas Richardson, co-patentee with Edward Jessup of West
Farms (1GGG), married Gabriel Leggett. Gabriel had a brother, John
Leggett, who also was a landed proprietor in the section embraced
in the political bounds of Westchester town. John Leggett was a
shipbuilder, and under date of November 30, 1676, he executed a
bill of sale reading as follows: " John Leggett of Westchester, within
the Province of X. Y., shipright, to Jacob Leysler of N. Y. City, mer-
chant, a good Puick, or ship, Susannah of New York, now laying in
this harbour, and by said Leggett built in Bronck's fiver near Westchester,
together with masts, Lay boat, and other materials." Thus the ship-
building industry was introduced at the mouth of the Bronx as
early as 1676 (probably earlier) — that is, seven years or more before
the organization of the County of Westchester. This John Leggett,
builder of the " Susannah," died in the West Indies in 1679. It
is interesting to note that he named as his executor the first Fred-
erick Philipse, with whom he seems to have sustained a business
partnership of some kind, and to whom ho bequeathed the sum of
thirty pounds sterling.

Upon the organization of our county, in 1683, Westchester was
appointed to be its shire-town, and in legislative acts passed shortly
after the regular institution of parliamentary government in the
province this community was the object of respectful attention. By
an act passed May 11, 16!>3, "a public and open market" was ap-
pointed to be held every Wednesday at Westchester; and it was
enacted that "there shall likewise be held and kept twice yearly
and every year a fair, to which fair it shall and may be likewise lawful
for all and every person to go and frequent, . . . the first to
be kept at the Town of Westchester in the said county on the second
Tuesday of May and to end on the Friday following, being in all
four days, inclusive, and no longer; and the second fair to be kept
at Rye in the said county on the second Tuesday in October yearly,
and to end the Friday following," etc.

From the foregoing survey of the progress of Westchester town
up to the time of its conversion into a borough, the reader will see
that it had well earned the right to that honor. The royal charter
constituting it a borough town is a very elaborate document, which
if reproduced entire would occupy some fifteen of our pages. It

230 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

bears date the 16th of April, 1696, and is signed by Governor Ben-
jamin Fletcher. After instancing the previous grants of patents to
the town and describing it with extreme and redundant particularity
(its bounds being specified as the westernmost part of tk Brunks land "
at the west and the westernmost line of " Mr. Pell's pattent " at the
east), the charter provides that the former Town of Westchester
shall in future be styled "the borrough and town of Westchester."
The requirement is made that the local authorities shall pay an-
nually to the governor of New York, on the 25th day of March, " the
sum of thirty shillings current money of N. York " as quit-rent. It
is directed that the freeholders shall elect annually twelve trustees,
whose duties shall be confined to disposing of any undivided lands
within the town. Next follows the provision that k> in the sfl town
corporate there shall be a body politick consisting of a mayor, six
aldermen, and six assistants, or common council, . . . to be
called and known by the name of the mayor, aldermen, and
commonalty of the borough and town of W. Chester." Colonel
Caleb Heathcote is appointed as the first mayor, with "William
Barns, Jno. Stuert, William Willett, Thos. Baxter, Josiah Stuert, and
Jno. Baily, gents.," as aldermen, and " Israel Honeywell, Robert Hus-
tis, Sam'l Ilustis, Sam'l Ferris, Daniel Turner, and Miles Oakley,
gents.," as assistants. But these offices, after the expiration of the
first year, are declared to be elective, and are to be filled annually by
a majority vote of the freeholders on the first Monday of May. Pro-
vision is made for the continuance of the weekly market, and two
yearly fairs (instead of one, as previously provided) are to be held
at Westchester, the first in May and the second in October. Retail
liquor sellers are to be licensed at the discretion of the mayor, the
annual license fee exacted being such sum of money as the licensee
" shall agree for, not exceeding the sum of 20s." Finally the " may-
or, aldermen, and common council*' are authorized "to return and
send one discreet burgess of the sd town and borough into every
general assembly hereafter to be summoned or holden within this
our province of N. York/'

Caleb Heathcote, as mayor, organized the government of the bor-
ough town on the (5th of June, 1096. In October of that year he pre-
sented the corporation with an official seal. The first representa-
tive in the assembly was Josiah Hunt, who served from 1702 to
1710. The subsequent representatives were Lewis Morris, Sr. (1710-
28), Gilbert Willett (1728-32), Lewis Morris, Jr. (1732-50), Peter de
Lancey (1750-68), Lewis Morris, 3d (1769), John de Lancey (1769-72),
and Isaac Wilkins (1772-75) — all men of distinction, force, and influ-
ential family connections. The official style of "the Borough and

NuqiB, 4;8

f HE

New-York Gazette

Front September 26. to Monday October $. 1726.

A Lift of the Names of the prefenf .Reprefentatives
■EUtledand chofen by the ftverdtCUtes and Counties
jn tkft Colony to jerve &Qimf0fj0Mlfa&

For the City *nd County of Ne%-York,

A Dolph Philtpfe, Efq; Speaker^ '
Stephen De Lanccy, Ef<#
Capt. Gerrit Van Horns,
Capt. Anthony, Rutgreft,

For the Ctty and Qounty of Albany,
Coll. Mjndert Schuyla ■, RyerGerrttJe, Efc.;
Capt. Jacob Glen,
Capt. Jeremiah Kanftaer,
Mr. Robert Livmgji on,. jun._

For the County of Ulftsr,
Coll. Abraham Gaasbeck. Chan bers, "
Mr. (Albert Pawling,

For Dutchcfs County,
Mf. Henry Bcekman,
Mr". Joha^ACi vanKlecb^

For the Burrbugh «f Weflchejl<r'k
Coll. Leuii Morris.

>fW -the- Comity of Wf*i»M '

Coll. miham mut> •;■•**•

Major Ft$dnck_ Philtpfe .

For Queens Count} *
Coll. JjSUc flJ«fe
Capt» Benjamin Hickt.

For Kmgs County,
Coll. £/VW^ Stillwell.
Capt. Samuel Gerrufe;

For S«//«j*. Cownr/,
Cipt. Epenetm Plat,
Mr. Samuel Hutchmfon*

For Richmond Ou*t)^
Mr. Richard Merrily
Mr. 3«5w Le Count.

For 0r4»gf Co**'/.
Capt Lancaster Syms,
Capt. Corhetitcs Hartng,

Which Reprefentatives being cohvened in
General Afsemblv, on the 17th of September his
Excellency the'Governour made the following
Speech to them, »«.-.

Qtnthmin ;

THE. Choice, which the People" of this
^novmce have fo lately made of you to
Keprefent them, givej Me a frefh Op-
portunity of knowing their Sentiments, and ln-
clinatiory/.fiji^lalways endeavouredtrt pi omotc
theu lnterctt ifctfce utmoft of iny Ability,, |nd

it will add to my Pleafure to do it in the manner4
which thevjhemfelves.defire.
*: AV hTn'you'enquire into the ftate of the pre-
fent Revenue, I believe you will find it ineffi-
cient to aniwer the ufualExpence for the Support
of the Government. And confidering the
Flounihing and Encreafing Condition of the
Colony, it would be toirsDifhonour, as well as.
Difadvantage, to leficn the Encouragement thar
has been given to the nccefiary Officers ot the
Government. ■ I depend on your Readinefs to
the bed of Kings, who has fhewn, during the
whole eourfe of His Reign, That theconjiam Em*
filoymem of Ms Thoughts, and the mofi tartieft Wishes of
His Heart, tend wholly to the Securing to His Subjetls
the'irjufi Rights and Advr.tc.ges. You need not
fear that any of His Servants will dare to abufe
the Confidence repofed in them, when they muft
expecV that their Neglect of Duty or Abufe of
Trufr, will draw upon them His juft Difplea*
fure.

You will find, that the Supply laft provided
fcrWtffftmg the new Apartments in the Fort,
has been iraployed with the utmoft Frugality ;
and I hope, that by the fame Management, the
Repairs of the Roof of the Chappel and the
Barracks, which arc in a Condition entirely
Ruinous, will require no very large Sum, tho'
it is plain, that the Charge of doing it willen-
creale confiderably, if it is delay'd any longer

; than the next Spring, which Obliges Me to Re-
commend it to your Care at prellnt,thatProvifion
may be made for fo prcfline and neceflarv a
Work. & J

I muft Remind you, that your Agent continues
his Diligence in watching over the Interefts of
the Province, tho' he has remain'd a long time
without any Allowance j fo generous a Condudr,
onhis part, will not fail of engaging you to take

5 care that his paft Services may not go unrewarded,
and that fo uieful a Perl on may be fixed in your
Service, and a iettled Provifion made for his
Encouragement.

I fhall lay before you my late Conferences
with the Six Nations, an which I flatter my felf,
that I hare contributed not a little to fix them in
their Duty to His Majefty, their Afteftion to
this Government, and their juft Apprehcnfions
of the Til Defigns of the People of Canada, in
Fortifyingfo near to them at ?agjra. \ have fent
a, fit Perion to refidc among the Sennit this
Winter, 'who ism t permitted to Trade, and will

\ thereby \fcaK tfc&inore weight and credit with.

thettfc

FROM AN EARLY NEWSPAPER, SHOWING MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY.

232 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Town of Westchester " was not abolished until 1785, when, by a leg-
islative act, it was changed to ki the Township of Westchester."

Westchester borough was the birthplace in our county of the in-
stitution of the Established Church of England. On this point Mr.
Fordham Morris, in his essay on tk The Borough Town of Westches-
ter," takes occasion to correct some mistaken popular impressions.

Some (lie says) have likened this ancient town to those of New England and Long
Island, while others, zealous members of the Episcopal Church, have tried to make themselves
and others believe that the town was a reproduction of an English parish of the eighteenth
century, such as we read of in the Spectator or the tales of Fielding and Smollett. They
fancy the squire in his high-backed pew, the parson in his wig, gown, and surplice, telling
the congregation its duty to their Maker, and also as to the tithes, the royal family, the
House of Hanover, and the Protestant succession. Neither is a correct similitude. The
officials, though elected, were subject to the governor's approval, and no rigid rule as to
church membership prevailed as in the New England towns. The town, not the church
wardens and vestry, attended to most of the temporalities, such as highways and bridges, and
though the vestry levied the church rates, the town built and paid for the church, and in
very late colonial times released its interest in the church property to the rector, church
wardens, and vestry. Though the church was supported partially by a tax, the schoolmaster
was supported by the borough, but until post-Revolutionary times the poor were a parish
charge. Though an act for settling orthodox ministers in the province was passed shortly
after the establishment of the English colonial system (for of course, the English was the
orthodox church in colonial times), those sons of Cromwellian soldiers, Quaker refugees, and
Independents did not at first take kindly to a State church, and good Parson Bartow . . .
did not even wear a surplice. Many of the people were gradually won over to mother church,
so far as a student can judge from reading the good minister's letters to the Society in
England, more by his own loving kindness and self-respect rather than any inherent love those
hard-working farmers had for the Church of England. Besides, the Quakers had established
their meeting-house in the town almost as early as the Church of England edifice was erected,
and its graveyard is still to be found, adjoining the Episcopal churchyard, though the meeting-
house and those who were moved by^the Spirit within it have long^since departed.

In a previous chapter, in connection with our account of the foun-
dation of the settlement of Westchester, we have reproduced from
the journal of one of the Dutch commissioners who visited the place
in 1050 a description of the forms of worship then in vogue there,
from which it appears that there was no officiating clergyman, and
that the exercises were conducted in homely fashion. Not until
1084 was any formal measure taken to procure a minister. It was
then voted in town meeting (April 2) " that the Justices and Vestry-
men of Westchester, Eastchester, and Yonckers do accept of Mr. War-
ham Mather as our minister for one whole year; and that he shall
have sixty pound, in country produce at money price, for his salary,
and that he shall be paid every quarter." Apparently the arrange-
ment was not effected, or at least did not endure for long; for in
1092 the town voted that " there shall be an orthodox minister, as
soon as possible may be," and requested Colonel Caleb Heathcote, " in
his travels in New England," to procure one.

September 21, 1093, the provincial assembly of New York passed
an ecclesiastical act, under which Westchester County was divided

THE BOROUGH TOWN OF WESTCHESTER 233

into two parishes, Westchester and Llye, the former to include the
Towns of Westchester, Eastchester, and Yonkers, and the Manor of
Pelham, and the latter the Towns of Eye, Mamaroneck, and Bedford.
Westchester was required to raise £50 yearly for the minister's sup-
port, and to elect on the second Tuesday of January ten vestrymen
and two church wardens. In 1695 the Rev. Warham Mather was
engaged as the Church of England clergyman at Westchester. He
was succeeded in 1702 by the Rev. John Bartow, a missionary of the
Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, newly arrived
from England, who continued to officiate until his death, in 1720. He
was a man of excellent learning and high character, and his letters
(of which numerous ones are reproduced by Bolton) are of much in-
terest to students of the early conditions in Westchester County.
The orthodox church at Westchester was formally chartered under
the name of Saint Peter's by Lieutenant-Governor Clarke in 1762.

Eastchester, incorporated in the parish of Westchester by the act
of 1693, was made a separate parish in 1700. From early times
Eastchester parish was known as Saint Paul's. To this day the
Westchester and Eastchester Episcopalian churches preserve their
original names of Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's, respectively. The
present Saint Peter's Church edifice in Westchester village is en-
tirely modern, but Saint Paul's in Eastchester dates from about 1761,
and is one of the most interesting of the old-time structures in our
county.

This is not the connection, however, in which to relate the church
history of Westchester County, or even to note with particularity
the local facts of church and religious concerns in the Town of West-
chester and its associated Localities, interesting though those facts
are. We are occupied with (he general story of Westchester County
on broad lines. It has been lilting to intercept our general narra-
tive for a glance at the borough Town of Westchester, whose creation
constitutes one of the essential phases of the general history of the
county. Having discharged this duty in as succinct a manner as
possible, we now proceed with the broader narrative.

The local history of Westchester County from the beginning of
the eighteenth century to the Revolution involves nothing remark-
able, aside from the aspects of the peculiar character from the first
assumed by the county which have been described in our account of
the origin and erection of the great manorial estates. Following
the lines of development naturally resulting from its selection as the
seat of wealthy and influential landed proprietors, Westchester
County very soon took a prominent position on this account, and,
through the powerful and distinguished men whose homes and in-

234 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

terests were within its borders, exerted an influence of the first im-
portance, both upon current public affairs and in the shaping of
issues and conditions which were to lead to grand events. The his-
tory of Westchester County, as a county, during this period, is one
of steady and reputable growth, but is not specially distinguishable
from that of other rural New York counties. No large towns were
built up, and aside from political contests nothing of exciting in-
terest or unusual significance transpired to attract general atten-
tion to the county or to become memorable in a large way. The
purely internal history of Westchester County for three-quarters of
a century following the comparative completion of its settlement
comprehends, indeed, nothing more than the ordinary chronicles of a
lew scattered communities and of a mixed land-owning and farming
population, living together in circumstances of good understanding
and of xneasing though quite uneventful prosperity and progress. It
is in the general historical associations attaching to the careers of
representative Westchester men that the broad interest of our coun-
ty's story up to the events antecedent to the Revolution is found.

CHAPTER XII

THE ELECTION ON THE GREEN AT EASTCHESTER, 1733

HE estate of Morrisania, established by Colonel Lewis Morris,
of the island of Barbadoes, upon the foundations of the old
Dutch Bronxland grant — an estate consisting of nearly two
thousand acres, — was inherited at the colonel's death, in
1691, by his nephew, Lewis, who at that time had just come of age.
Young Lewis Morris as a boy was of a vivacious and somewhat way-
ward disposition, and, tiring of the humdrum life in the home of his,
uncle, a stern old Covenanter and rigid Quaker, ran away and roamed
about in the world until his craving for a more animated existence
had been pretty well gratified. He first went to Virginia, and then
to Jamaica, trying to support himself as a copyist and in other ways,
and finally returned, tractable enough, to his uncle's roof. The old
gentleman not only granted him full pardon, but promptly took an
interest in procuring a suitable wife for him, with the result that, in
November, 1691, he received the hand of Isabella, daughter of James
Graham, Esq., attorney-general and one of the principal men of the
province. Being his uncle's sole heir, he inherited not only the Mor-
risania estate, but the large tract of land which Colonel Morris had
bought in Monmouth County, X. J. Turning his attention to the
interests of the latter property, he took up his residence on that
portion of it call Tintern. Here, it is said, was established the first
iron mill in this country. He at once took an active part in public
affairs in New Jersey. ' In 1(592 he was appointed a judge of the
Court of Common Right in East Jersey, and he also became a mem-
ber of the council of Governor Hamilton. He did not, however, neg-
lect his property in New York. Following the example of other large
land-owners, he had his Westchester County estate erected into the
lk Lordship or Manor of Morrisania." This was done by letters patent
granted to him on the 8th of May, 1697, by Governor Fletcher, where-
in authority was given him and his successors to hold a court leet
and court baron, to exercise jurisdiction over all waifs, estrays,
wrecks, deodands, goods, or felons happening and being within the

236 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

manor limits, and to enjoy the advowson and right of patronage over
all churches in the manor. It was a considerable time, however, be
fore the Manor of Morrisania became largely tenanted. At the census
of 1712 its population was only sixty-two. This was probably due in
part to the preference manifested by its young lord, during the first
years of his proprietorship, for residence and political activity in New
Jersey, and in part to his disinclination during that period to take
any particularly vigorous measures toward tenanting its lands. It
was not until 1710 that Lewis Morris was first elected to represent
Westchester Borough in the general assembly of New York.

A man of ardent temperament, fine talents, high ambitions, and
abundant wealth, and one of the new-fiedged manorial " lords " of
the province, it would not have been surprising if Morris had from
the beginning of his career associated himself with the ultra-aristo-
cratic party and had uniformly confined his sympathies and activities
to the aristocratic sphere. There were few encouragements in those
limes for the development of independent and lofty civic character.
All high positions were appointive, depending upon the favor of the
royal governor, who was as likely as not to be a man utterly cor-
rupt, mercenary, and unscrupulous. But from an early period of his
public life, Morris displayed a bold and aggressive spirit, and an espe-
cial contempt for consequences when, in his judgment, opposition to
the acts of the governors became a matter of duty. The son of a cap-
tain in Cromwell's arm}7, and reared from infancy by an uncle who
had fought with distinction on the same side and who was charac-
terized by particularly inflexible personal conscientiousness, his birth
and training gave him, moreover, instincts of vigorous hostility to
arrogant and selfish despotism. It can not be doubted that this latter
element of his character was the chief contributing influence which
led him, at the zenith of his career, to sacrifice his elevated position
and stake his entire reputation in the cause of righteous resistance
to official tyranny, an act which, as we shall presently see, was the
occasion of the first grand assertion of the principle of American
liberty.

After the appointment of Jeremiah Basse as governor of New Jer-
sey, in 1G98, Morris was one of the principal leaders of the party
which refused to acknowledge his authority. He was in consequence
expelled from the council and fined £50 for contempt. In 1700, when
Hamilton was again made governor of New Jersey, Morris was ap-
pointed president of the council. In this position he strongly advo-
cated the surrender of the proprietary government of New Jersey to
the crown, persuaded the New Jersey proprietors to lend their co-
operation to the project, and went to England to urge the reform

THE ELECTION OF 1733

237

upon the queen. His proposals were received with favor, and he was
nominated for the governorship of New Jersey under the new ar-
rangement; but as it was finally decided to appoint a single gov-
ernor for the two provinces of New York and New Jersey, Lord
Cornbury, a cousin of Queen Anne, being chosen for that post, Mor-
ris's appointment was not confirmed. He was, however, placed in
the council. This was in 1703. As one of Cornbury's councilors he
made an honorable record of uncompromising antagonism to that
most corrupt, tyrannical, and villainous of New York's colonial gov-
ernors. Smith, the Tory historian of New York— certainly not a
prejudiced authority in this particular connection, — says of Lord
Cornbury: " We never had a governor so universally detested, nor any
who so richly deserved the public
abhorrence. In spite of his noble de-
scent, his behavior was trifling,
mean, and extravagant. It was not
uncommon for him to dress in a
woman's habit, and then to patrol
the fort in which he lived. Such
freaks of low humor exposed him to
the universal contempt of the whole
people. Their indignation was kin-
dled by his despotic rule, savage big-
otry, insatiable avarice, and injus-
tice, not only to the public, but even
to his private' creditors." In brief,
he plundered the public treasury,
converted subscription funds to his
personal uses, and borrowed snms
right and left, which he coolly re-
pudiated. After his removal from

the office of governor he was arrested and imprisoned for debt in
New York; but by the death of his father, the Earl of Clarendon, he
became a member of the House of Lords, a dignity which carried
with it exemption from being held for debt, whereof he took advan-
tage to decamp without settling with his creditors. Morris, as a
member of the council, became at once a thorn in Cornbury's side.
The governor removed him in 1701. By order of Queen Anne he
was reinstated the next year, only to be again and permanently dis-
missed by Cornbury. He then, as a member of the New Jersey leg-
islature, put himself, with Gordon and Jennings, at the head of the
party that sought to drive Cornbury from office. To this end resolu-
tions were passed detailing the evils and infamies of his administra-

CORNBUKY IN WOMAN S ORES

238 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

tion, which were sent to England and resulted in Cornbury's recall
(1708). During the brief rule of Lord Lovelace, Morris again sat in
the council; but under Lovelace's successor, Ingoldsby, lie was once
more suspended because of personal unacceptability to the executive.

Finally, in 1710, a governor was senr over with whom Morris was
able to establish the most satisfactory relations, both official and
personal— the noted General Robert Hunter. His arrival is memora-
ble in New York provincial annals because of the great Palatinate
immigration of which it marked the beginning. Some three thou-
sand Palatinates — refugees from the Palatine or Pfalz provinces of
Germany, whom continual wars and religious persecutions had driven
from their homes — sailed with Governor Hunter from Plymouth, Eng-
land. The vessels bearing them were separated by terrible storms at
sea, and hundreds of the immigrants died before port was reached.
These Palatine immigrants and their countrymen who followed them
were distributed mainly among the central and upper Hudson River
counties—Orange, Ulster, and Dutchess — and throughout the Mo-
hawk Valley. But very many of them naturally remained in New
York City, and from there gradually made their way into the sur-
rounding country. Individual Palatine families sought homes from
time to time in Westchester County, but our county was not one of
the chosen places of colonization for these people, and no Palatinate
settlements were established here.

Hunter was an entirely different manner of man from the gover-
nors who preceded him. He boasted no dazzling ancestry. As a
lad he was apprenticed to an apothecary, but left that employment
to enter the army, as a private, without either money or influence.
Possessing marked natural abilities, he soon attracted the attention
of his superiors, and was steadily promoted until he attained the
rank of brigadier-general. He associated and corresponded on terms
of intimacy with the celebrated literary characters of that sparkling
age, ami, although not himself a man of great pretensions, had very
excellent parts,' especially "a pleasant wit, and was never more
happy in his sallies, as he wrote to his friend Dean Swift, than when
he was most annoyed." In Lewis Morris he found a congenial soul.
The two collaborated in the composition of a farce entitled " Andro-
borus," which hit off the peculiarities of some of their opponents in
a lively fashion. Morris was promptly installed by Hunter as presi-
dent of the council. It was in 1710, the year of Hunter's assumption
of the governorship, that he entered the Xew York assembly as a
delegate from the borough Town of Westchester, and in that body
he at once became a zealous supporter of the governor. In this
championship he strongly opposed the popular party, which resisted

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__Le^ <fl£/ft<m& £f?9^,

s^U>^

THE ELECTION OE 1733 239

the governor's desire for the granting of supplies in bulk and for a
number of years at once, and tb insisted upon granting supplies of
money only from year to year, and with applications specified, thus
fixing the salaries for governor and other officials only per annum and
by name, so that obnoxious persons were in danger of being left un-
paid." The issue was a radical one, and gave rise to strong feeling
on both sides. It is a curious fact that Lewis Morris, whose chief
claim to remembrance is his identification with the great popular
agitation of a later period, whereof, indeed, he was one of the heroes,
was, in this early controversy between the " Court party " and the
people, the mainstay of the former. Moreover, the warmth of his
advocacy of the governor's cause was such that, on account of violent
language in the course of debate, he was expelled from the assem-
bly. He was thereupon re-elected to his seat by his Westchester con-
stituents.

Morris was appointed to the office of chief justice of New York by
Governor Hunter on the 13th of March, 1715. He still continued to
sit for Westchester Borough in the assembly, and did not retire from
that body until 1728. His Westchester County colleagues in the
assembly during his eighteen years of service for the borough from
1710 to 1728 were Joseph Budd, Joseph Drake, John Hoite, Josiah
Hunt, Jonathan Odell, Edmund Ward, William Willet, Frederick
Philipse, 2d, and Adolph Philipse. As chief justice he served unin-
terruptedly until August 21, 1733, when, on account of his attitude
in the Van Dam case, he was removed by Governor Cosby, and James
de Lancey, the son-in-law of Caleb Heathcote, of Searsdale Manor,
was named in his stead.

The affairs of the Province of New York moved along smoothly
enough, excepting for the differences between the assembly and the
executive, from the time of Hunter's appointment as governor, in
1710, until the arrival of Cosby, in August, 1732. Hunter was suc-
ceeded by William Burnet, also a highly polished and amiable man,
with whom Morris sustained relations quite as friendly and agree-
able as with Hunter. Burnet was followed by Colonel John Mont-
gomerie, remembered as the grantor of the Montgomerie Charter of
New York City, who died suddenly on the 1st of July, 1731, a victim,
as is supposed, of a smallpox epidemic then raging.

At the head of Montgomery's council, occupying that position by
virtue of his Ion- service as a councilor, covering a period of twenty-
nine years, was an old and very respected New York merchant, Kip
Van Dam.' He was, as his name indicates, a thorough Dutchman,
and was a typical representative of the thrifty and solid Dutch
trading-class, who, notwithstanding the English conquest and the

240

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

changes brought about by it, had never ceased to enjoy the highest
standing in the community and to share in the government of the
city and province. A native American (having been born in Albany),
he was an entirely self-made man, modest, honest, and public spirited.
It also stood to his credit that he was the father of a family of fifteen
children.1 Pending the selection of a new governor by the appointive
power in England, Van Dam, in his capacity of president of the coun-
cil, became vested with the authority of acting chief magistrate.
None of the complicated circumstances attending the like eleva-
tion of the unfortunate Leisler forty years before existed at this time.
The regularity of his official succession was beyond question, no fac-
tional controversy of any sort resulted from it, and, indeed, the whole

public viewed with satisfaction the tem-
porary exercise of power by a native cit-
izen of so much respectability.

The citizen-governor continued to ad-
minister affairs for thirteen months, duly
turning over the office to his chosen suc-
cessor, William Cosby, in the month of
August, 1732. This Cosby was another
Cornbury — narrow, vain, avaricious, un-
principled, contemptible, and tyrannical.
He had previously been governor of the
Island of Minorca, using the opportuni-
ties of that position to promote his
private financial interests. After his
appointment as governor of New York,
while still in England, he had been paid
fees and perquisites amounting to sev-
eral thousand pounds as his due, al-
ii he had not vet begun to perform the functions of the place.
From Van Dam's accounts he found, to his great disgust, that the pro
tempore governor had drawn and pocketed the entire salary belong-
in- to the position during the thirteen months of his occupancy of
it. Such ridiculous conduct on the part of a mere acting governor,
who was only a plain, merchandizing citizen and Dutchman, could
not be submitted to by the sensitive Cosby. He demanded that Rip
Van Dam should deliver over to him one-half of the salary thus taken.
ATan Dam shrewd lv responded that he would cheerfully do so if Cosby
would, on his part, relinquish half the fees that had been paid him

York City,

RIP VAN DAM.

thou!

Xcw

'host

One of his sons. Rip Van Dam, Jr.. mar- iam Coekroft, of

i granddaughter of Steph- brother James was the ancestor of the present

This couple had a daugh- Coekroft family of Sing Sing.
Dam, who married Will-

ried Judith ISayard.
anus Van Cortlandt.
ter, Margaret Van

THE ELECTION OF 1733 241

for the same period. Cosby scornfully refused to listen to so impu-
dent a proposal, and Van Dam stubbornly declined to accept any
less equitable terms. This unseemly dispute over a paltry matter of
salary led to official proceedings of the most peculiar and arbitrary
nature, which aroused the people to strong resentment, and out of
which was developed a question of popular right as fundamental and
weighty as any that ever came up for decision in colonial times.

Governor Cosby, still determined to wring the money from the ob-
stinate Van Dam, was now compelled to resort to the forms of law
to compass that end. Not content to leave the case to the decision
of the ordinary courts of the province, he proceeded to erect a Court
of Chancery for its trial. Equity courts, of which the governor was
ex officio chancellor, had always been extremely distasteful to the
people, and being constituted by the exclusive act of the executive,
without the consent of the legislature, were, according to the best
legal opinion, tribunals of at least doubtful authority. The assump-
tion of the powers of chancellor by former governors had given rise
to intense popular discontent, and the more intelligent predecessors
of Cosby had shrunk from attempting to exercise them, except quite
sparingly. But Cosby recognized no such scruples of prudence. He
designated three of the Supreme Court judges — Chief Justice Morris,
Frederick Philipse, and James de Lancey — as equity judges to act iu
the Van Dam prosecution, stopping short only of the extreme meas-
ure of personally sitting at the head of the court as chancellor. Wan
Dam's counsel, William Smith ''the elder," and James Alexander,
when the cause came np, boldly denied the legality of the court,
maintaining that the governor and council were utterly without
power to organize such a body. To the great astonishment of Judges
Philipse and de Lancey, Chief Justice Morris at once held with
Smith and Alexander, ami, on the ground that the Equity Court was
a tribunal of irregular creation, delivered a decision in favor of Van
Dam. This, of course, brought matters to a crisis. Cosby, incensed
at the act of the chief justice, wrote to him in decidedly discourteous
terms, requesting a copy of his opinion. Morris, in transmitting the
document to him, accompanied it with a communication couched in
strong but dignified language. '"This, sir," he wrote, "is a copy of
the paper I read in court. I have no reason to expect that it or
anything that I can say will be at all grateful or have any weight
with your Excellency, after the answer I received to a message I
did myself the honor to send you, concerning an ordinance you were
about to make for establishing a Court of Equity in the Supreme
Court as being in my opinion contrary to law, which I begged might
be delaved till I could be heard on that head. I thought myself

242

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

well in the duty of my office in sending this message, and hope I
do not flatter myself in thinking I shall be justified in it by your
superiors, as well as mine. The answer your Excellency was pleased
to send me was, that 1 need not give myself any trouble about that
affair, that you would neither receive a visit nor any message from
me, that you would neither rely upon my integrity nor depend on
my judgment, that you thought me a person not at all fit to be trusted
with anv concerns relating to the king, that ever since your coming
to the o-overnment I had treated you both as to your person and as
the king's representative with slight, rudeness, and impertinence;
that you did not desire to hear or see anything further of me." De-
fending himself against the various charges and intimations made
bv the'oovernor, he reminds his excellency that " if judges can be so

intimidated as not to dare to give
any opinion but what is pleasing
to a governor and agreeable to
his private views," the people of
the province must suffer in for-
tune or even life. In relation to
the accusation of inattention or
want of politeness, and other
personal matters, he adds these
pointed words: " If a bow awk-
wardly made, or anything of that
kind, or some defect in ceremo-
nial in addressing yon, has occa-
sioned that remark, I beg it may
, be attributed to want of courtly
: education, or to anything else
rather than to want of respect to
his Majesty's representative. As
to my integrity, I have given you
no occasion to call it in question.
I have been in office almost
twenty years. My hands were
never soiled with a bribe, nor am I conscious to myself that power
or poverty hath been able to induce me to be partial in favor of
either of them; and as I have no reason to expect any favor from
you so I am neither afraid nor ashamed to stand the test of the
strictest inquiry you can make concerning my conduct. I have served
the public faithfully and honestly, according to the best of my knowl-
edge ;uld T dare and do appeal to it for my justification. Cosby,
without ceremony, now deprived Morris of his office by handing to

THE ELECTION OF 1733 243

the young James de Lancey a notice of his appointment as chief
justice.

Morris was removed from the chief justiceship on the 21st of Au-
gust, 1733. Five years previously he had terminated his long service
in the New York assembly. Thus, after more than forty years of
connection with public affairs, interrupted only by brief suspen-
sions from office during his early career, he was now retired to pri-
vate life. From the beginning of Cosby's arbitrary proceedings in
the Van Dam matter, the indignation of the people had been power-
fully stirred. Always opposed to the institution of the Court of Chan-
cery, the extemporization of that tribunal by Cosby for the special
purpose of procuring a judgment in his own favor was an outrage
deeply offensive to their sense of decency and right; and the rude
expulsion of Chief Justice Morris from the bench, because of his un-
willingness to be a party to such a flagrant transaction, was, in
their eyes, a deliberate and insolent attempt at despotic power. Mor-
ris was universally regarded as a victim of official tyranny, and the
people were not slow to find in his personality a rallying point for
the effective expression of their feeling. He was urged to stand as
a candidate for the assembly at the coming election, a demand to
which he willingly acceded, offering himself for the suffrages of the
electors of Westchester County, William Willet, one of the members
for the county, having retired in his favor. The other representa-
tive of the county at that time was Frederick Philipse. Lewis Morris,
Jr., son of the chief justice, had been elected the preceding year to
sit for the Borough of Westchester.

The resulting eiection, held on the 29th of October, on " the Green "
at the Town of Eastchester, was probably the most notable one in
the whole colonial history of Westchester County. The elaborate and
graphic description of it, published in the first number of the famous
New York Weekh/ Journal, November 5, 1733, is undoubtedly familiar
to many of our readers, having been frequently reproduced. This
description gives, however, so interesting a picture of the political
customs of the times, and, in its entirety, is so pertinent to our nar-
rative, that we copv it here without abridgment:

October 29, 1733.
On this day, Lewis Morris, Esq., late Chief J"Stice of this Province, was by a majority
of voices elected a Representative from the Comity of Westchester. It was an Election of
great Expectation; the Court and the County's interest rwas exerted"(as is said) to the
utmost. I shall give my readers a particular account of it. Nicholas Cooper, Esq., High
Sheriff of the said County, having by papers affixed to the Church of Eastchester and other
public places, given notice of the Day and Place of Election, without mentioning any time of
Day when it was to be done, which made the Electors on the side of the late Judge very
suspicious that some Fraud was intended— to prevent which about fifty of them kept watch
upon and about the'Green at»Eastchester (the Place ofElection) from 12 o'clock the night
before till the Morning of the Day. The other Electors, beginning to move on Sunday

244 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

afternoon and evening, so as to be at New Rochelle by Midnight, their way lay through

•s !s P •■ ha ef the Inhabitants of which provided for their Entertainment as hey

passed each house in their way, having a table plentifully covered for that Purpose About

pa^tu eat n i William Le Court at New Rochelle, whose house not

;::;;:;t "i^h'^^rtat a ^a^. *. r "^^w

1 eh the, sat till daylight, at which time they began to move They were 3omed on the
U ,t tie East e„d o the Town by about seventy horse of the Electors o the lower part of
he Connty and then proceeded toward the place of Election in the following order, vu:
Fi-st r le tw o trumpeters and three violins; next, four of the principal Freeholders, one of
v nVl ca rhHl a banner, on one side of which was affixed in gold capitals « king George and
n the other in golden' capitals "Liberty and Law"; next ™°^^£trtto££
Morris, Esq., then two Colours; and at sun rising they entered upon the Gu 'en at La ^ ;
followed by above three hundred horse of the principle Freeholders of he County, a greater
number than had ever appeared for one man since the settlement of that County.

blaster appoint 1, the Society fee Propagate of the W^ lately made by

lXSthffiXh^=ie SLirMtSSf :

Provtaee of New York, and the Honourable Frederick Phillipse Esq Second Judge of he

Sd Province and Baron of the Exchequer, attended by about a hundred and seventy horse

(the beholders and friends of the said Forster and the two *$£»%*"* "'"

hat wine the to Judge returned in the same manner, some of the late Judge s party crying
out' No Excise" nn<l one of them was heard to say (though not by the Judge), "No
Pretender "upon which Forster, the Candidate, replied, « I will take notice of you. Tin
aftotatreS to the house of Mr. Baker, which was prepared to receive and entertain

1 .. Abou "an hlr after, the High Sheriff came to town, finely mount *«£*£■£
„,i,l holster cans being scarlet, richly laced with silver. Upon Ins approach, the Elect Orson

1.1, v em i, the Green, where they were to elect, and, after having read Ins Majesty s
to b the 1 te "proceed to a choice, which they did, and a great majority appeared tor
Mr. Morris the late Judge; upon which a pell was demanded, hut by whom is not known to
"* SoS SrtSEtfiMS tMe teXrSl side the majority

S^tplSs±d=C^^^

alleged on that side; and, notwithstanding that he was told by the late , Cluef IS^

eSttThis Cooper now High Sheriff of the said County, is said not only to be a granger in
that Cu^, but not having a foot of land or other visible estate ™**%r°*™*
granted, and it is believed he had not wherewithal to purchase any. The polling had not
Ton- been continued before Mr. Edward Stephens, a man of a very considerable estate

THE ELECTION OF 1733 245

said Comity, did openly, in the hearing of all the Freeholders there assembled, charge William
Forster, Esq., the Candidate on the other side, with being- a Jacobite, and in the interest of
the Pretender, and that he should say to Mr. William Willet (a person of good estate and
known integrity, who was at that time present and ready to make oath to the truth of
what was said) that true it was that he had not taken the oaths to his Majesty King George,
and enjoyed a place in the Government under him which gave him his bread; yet notwith-
standing that, should King James come into England he should think himself obliged to go
there and fight for him. This was loudly and strongly urged to Forster's face, who denied
it to be true; and no more was said of it at that time.

About 11 o'clock that night the poll was closed, and it stood thus:

For the Late Chief Justice 231

The Quakers 38

269

For William Forster, Esq 151

The Difference 11S

Total 269

So that the late Chief Justice carried it by a great majority without the Quakers. Upon
closing the poll the other candidate, Forster, and the Sheriff, wished the late Chief Justice
much joy. Forster said he hoped the late Judge would not think the worse of him for
setting up against him, to which the Judge replied \w believed he was put upon it against his
inclinations, but that he was highly blamable, and who did or should know better for
putting the Sheriff, who was a stranger and ignorant upon such matters, upon making so
violent an attempt upon the liberty of the people, which would expose him to ruin if he were
worth £10,000, if the people aggrieved should commence suit against him. The people made
a loud huzza, which the late Chief Judge blamed very much, as what he thought not right.
Forster replied he took no notice of what the common people did, since Mr. Morns did not
put them upon the doing of it. The indentures being sealed, the whole body of Electors
waited on their new Representative to his lodgings with trumpets sounding and violins
playing, and in a little time took their leave of him, and thus ended the Election to the general
satisfaction.

The rallying cries of the two parties, "No Land Tax" and "No
Excise," related to a current political issue of some importance. Phil-
ipse had opposed the levying of quit-rents on his manor, which his
partisans termed a "land tax," and instead of it had advocated the
raising of revenue by excise duties. This issue, however, was only
an incidental one in the great contest of 1733. Quit-rents had always
been exceedingly objectionable to the rural population, and excise
duties were almost equally unpopular. As the Philipse and de Lan-
cey party chose to take their stand against the so-called land tax,
the Morrisites met them by raising the counter issue of no excise.
But in reality it was a contest on the sole question of the governor's
outrageous abuse of authority, and as such it became a perfect test
of the disposition and readiness of the people to shake off the fetters
of an odious government ami to array themselves for free institu-
tions. There was no mistaking the true nature of the emergency,
and the minds of the people were not to be confused by the pre-
tense that it was an ordinary struggle over the opposing doctrines

246

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER 0O1 NTY

of " land tax " and " excise." All the government influence was ar-
rayed againsl Morris, and with a f..m.alii.v ami .ht.T.ninaiion most
conspicuous. The Morris party, on the other hand, stood just as un-
mistakably and resolutely for the principle of popular defiance of op
pressive government. The electors of the county were conscious thai
the verdict which they were called upon to render would have the
greatesl moral weight, and would be taken as n crucial test oi the
atate of public opinion In these cinu instances, emphatic as was
the majority i<>r Morris, the character and composition of his fol
lowing were even more significant than the mere proportions of his
vote. We are told that his supporters from the lower pari of the
county " numbered onlj aboul seventy horse." 'I he remainder came

from far ami wide, run I nl.ii I .-.| hv ,-vrrv p.,rli..n -,f Hi" (Oimty excepl

i tie borough Town of Westchester, which was a constituency by itself,
,,,,1 the Manor of Philipscbu . L- 1. , whirl,, under the influence of its
imi for his antagonii t. I rom L'elhara and New
,r i lie Manor of I lort landl I he word
,i i iastchester earlj on the
• I-. Kven the Quakers, the
strictest oi Sabbath observers, joined in the throng which began to

m,,vr thitlnr .,n Mi.nlay riiin;/ and a f temOOIJ. 11 WBS H Sponta

MlI1,, ,,,■ ,!,,. f)(H)pie to rogh ter their votes in a -real cause.

|,,. government , amlnlalr r.>m ma mini prart ira 1 1 V

thai w hich wa

.lh.nl Philipsc

ipporl was in the
hen measured against th
e county it w us u 1 1 erly overbi >rno.
i the Morris party, " No Pretender! " and the altercation

| .|:,r.,l,ii.- prim i|. !•■.>•. "I I "iv.l-T al'lunl a-hl^l illus

proprietor, waj
Uochelle to th(
had gone forth to gather on the Un

niMinni;. mI M. mm lav, tl..- L".Hli «>f 0<

parti

neons ass

< m the other li

no support,
of the powe
ri> Lancoj

lions, but w

people ol ill

The cry <»

nboiil I he si

•fill

'I hi,

irectly subordinate to the will
I the influence of I foief Justice
acro-regale of a" mean propor

i1"

u-.it ion of i he fundau

tin- I'xilcl Stuarts \v

the throne of Knglam

tal character of the contest At thai period
. :.nii scheming to make their way back to

In ||,,. nun. I-, ..I (In- (.lain p.-.,p|.-, particularly

the d<

in i he \ merica n i olonies, I he associa I ions (»i

wore entirely ' hose of oppressive rule, licenl ioi

religious intolerance. So severer political re]

an American subjecl (especially if he son

suspii ion of being n Jacobite or support

Hem e th.- ala.rn \ v, ith w hii h that reproach w

men1 candidate by the democratic Morrisites. With such an accu

miilation of aristocratic sins upon him, it was in.lv an inconvenienl

position in which I'orstor stood when he faced the Westchester yeo

graded dynasty

corrupt ion, and

could attach to

elective office) than the

,r the Stuart Pretender.

ii" ni i he govern

Ml I , 1,1,1 .'II'

u WA'A

'.I,

Tin- U( ipnpi I i< [kii 'I fif (he <-l< - (inn reprndin i il rt.hn i fis i il
|,.n |,v .i [H in t< r Ik. 1. 1 New Vnf'k, MM <lnhn I'elei /ellgel I'" hil.«l

,.,,i,, |.o l,.i ill III ■!' I l«. \\ il tl'*MM I I" I I "•■"I' •""l flotlfll l< ! I lflt.4 ii. I. '!

!,i , | fij .,1 1 1 I., i il,. ml limn "I 1 1 ' ' Wrrkii/ (fa rMr.%

;,i i (ml i im. 1 1.. ..hi fn i ipnp< r in I In |n •■ Im i ' In hl ■■' ""l"1" i
,,i ii,,- (jn , it, .i|.|.i .u.'l ..i. I " Infn i Mi I i ' .. iimli i 1 1" 'ii" i Hon of
\\ iiii.ii,, Hi ,i.ii., i-l v ho fi i "i i"in,'i i fi [irinh r In IMiilndi Ipliln, [nil
,M), ,. \{\%\ h,..l [mm ii ••'• ' i mi" nl |H Inlci In U ■ "i I rm fi mini
,,l j in |„ i fiiifiiifn .. - r find Film i v linl I" tnigfil enrn nl his i rtiti
The </(/ '//' , n.ii in .ill' .i ■■•• . i in,,, ni <.i -.in i i.i 'i i in ■.'!•• 1 1 ..ui i In- Vnu
|,,lln mritrnvci i , In en " i Hpnloii il i Fin I ill In pi i"1 rml hlnji "''J' '

lUttmUU' i" il' I|"1" f«nd Id [phi I i mn i Find '/• nj ■ i i il rongl

j,,.. Morr! i reporl nf Hie We ih l.« iter
( ,,uni ■ .•!<•» i ion - ., 1 1,, i ■ I'.k .|iii i. H n
...l.ij.i. <l for in wi i Inn in II It in mid
II,. 1 1 '/< I,-. •!■, before r < I u r n i k • • tn
\ .,i I itio .-.I In i in,, im ■< i ipl f.o fi lend
mi' Iim-imI, u I..., n-fi I I m- f.o the (Jiml
, i ,,i. uiid 1 1 imI in ' 'i ;• Ii i ■' " fl

Hurl ;, , opie I /\l Fill < .cfil I, lie Fil nm <■

f00| I. p , fo l..-:-in I Im |. ill. In Fl.l lofl "I Fl

rivnl new KpH per ; ■< ml n weel Intel I he

In I i | ,r .,) i I,. Ve V '» Ofl ii r«A/// •/""<

n«/ fM.ni( from i In [rl i I he ele< linn

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fliMMH.nl led- •"...' ] " '-1 ■ ■' ■"-''"

,. M , ||. (■' .1 I '

- , .<

248 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Zenger's attendance as a self-constituted reporter at the election
at Eastchester, and his resulting establishment of the New York
Weekly Journal, led to a train of remarkable consequences. Like
Leisler, Zenger was a German by birth — a typical representative of
the early class of alien immigrants who came to America to better
their condition, and readily adapted themselves to the institutions
which they found here. He came over as a lad in the Palatinate
immigration of 1710, served as an apprentice at the printing trade
with William Bradford for eight years, and later opened a printing-
office of his own, which was located on intone Street, near the corner
of Whitehall. Zealously devoted to the principles of the anti-Cosby
party, he embarked boldly in his opposition newspaper publishing
venture without weighing and doubtless without caring for the con-
siderations of caution which naturally should have suggested them-
selves to a person assuming such a responsibility in those times of
very limited license for the press. He was immediately supported
and encouraged by the foremost leaders of the popular party— men
like Van Dam, Morris, and the two most eminent New York lawyers
of the period, James Alexander and William Smith, both of whom
had been present in Morris's behalf at the Westchester County elec-
tion. These and others furnished him, for his paper, numerous able
and aggressive articles upon topics germane to the absorbing ques-
tion of popular rights, which were printed over noms de plume. The
tone of the Wecldy Journal gradually became more direct, personal-
ities were indulged in, and unsparing poetical effusions, of very man-
ifestly personarapplication to the governor and his creatures, were
provided from time to time for a smiling public. Governor Cosby
endured these wicked polemics and exacerbating satires, though not
without much misery of soul, for the space of about a year. Then,
unable longer to restrain his rage, he resolved to crush the atrocious
sheet forever and to visit condign punishment upon its owner.

In this undertaking the governor had the cordial assistance of
Chief Justice de Lancey, who applied to the grand jury to find an
indictment against Zenger. But that body, made up from the ranks
of the people, ignored the demand. Next, Cosby caused his council
to send to the general assembly a message on the subject of the
scurrilous publications. The assembly, no more complaisant than
the grand jury, calmly laid the matter on the table. Finally, in con-
sequence of some new and particularly flagitious publications, de
Lancey procured from the grand jury a presentment against the spe-
cial numbers of the paper containing them, which were accordingly
burned by the hangman. But what was most desired, the indictment
of Zenger, was still refused. lie was nevertheless arrested on an in-

THE ELECTION OF 1 < 33

249

formation for libel, and, after languishing in prison several months,
was brought to trial on a charge of printing matter that was " false,
scandalous, and seditious." His counsel, Alexander and Smith, cour-
ageously took the ground that the whole proceedings before de Lan-
cey were illegal, inasmuch as the new chief justice had been ap-
pointed by the mere executive act of the governor, without the con-
sent of the council. De Lancey met this contention by summarily
disbarring the two lawyers. With their exit from the scene the
entire defense seemed doomed to fall to the ground, as there was no
other sufficiently able lawyer in New York to take it up. In this
emergency Andrew Hamilton, of Philadelphia, an advocate of con-
summate intellectual qualities
and fascinating eloquence, and
the Nestor of the whole colo-
nial bar, was persuaded to
come to New York and assume
the defense of the unfortunate
printer. Hamilton admitted
the publication of the matters
complained of, but demanded
that witnesses be summoned
to prove them libelous. This
was not to the taste of the chief
justice, and was denied on the
principle that "the greater
the truth, the greater the
libel." Thereupon, accepting
with good grace the ruling
of the court, Hamilton pro-
ceeded to address a power-
ful plea to the jury as judges
both of the law and the facts.

He urged them, as patriots and freemen, to dismiss all prejudice
from their minds and determine from the facts whether the ac-
cused had not really published the truth, or what represented legiti-
mate public opinion, which he had the right to do and which
there was need of doing under a free government. " I make no
doubt," said he, in prophetic words, "but your upright conduct this
day will not only entitle you to the love and esteem of your fellow-
citizens, but every man who prefers freedom to a life of slavery will
bless and honor you as men who have baffled the attempts of tyranny,
and, by an impartial and incorrupt verdict, have laid a noble founda-
tion for securing to ourselves, our posterity, and our neighbors that

ANDREW HAMILTON

250 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

to which nature and the laws of our country have given us a right —
the liberty of both exposing and opposing arbitrary power in these
parts of the world, at least by speaking and writing truth.1' To this
unanswerable argument the jury responded by an almost immedi-
ate verdict of acquittal. Hamilton was hailed by the people with
acclaims even more enthusiastic and flattering than those which had
greeted Morris. He was presented by the common council with the
freedom of the city in a gold box, and upon his departure for Phila-
delphia a salute was fired in his honor. It was in the month of Au-
gust, 1735, that this crowning victory of the people over their tyran-
nous governor was won — just two years after the humiliation of
Chief Justice Morris.

The Zenger verdict established forever the principle of the liberty
of the press in America. During the long controversy and agitation
which preceded it, the people had familiarized themselves with the
doctrine of resistance to tyrants. " If all governors are to be rever-
enced," said one of the writers in Zenger's Journal, " why not the
Turk and old Muley, or Nero?" It became decidedly the fashion to
exalt the people above their rulers, and to make pungent retorts to
those who urged the old ideas of obedience to authority. In the spirit
of political independence nurtured and matured during that period,
reflective historical writers have recognized one of the earliest foun-
dations of the American Revolution. That spirit, as an active force,
underwent a suspension after the realization of its immediate ob-
ject, only to be revived, however, with increased energy, wiien the
issues antecedent to the Revolution began to take shape. From that
October day, when the people of Westchester County gathered in
front of the old Eastchester church to rebuke the presumption of
the royal governor, the ultimate attitude of New York concerning
any question of popular right never could have been in doubt. The
sentiment so emphatically expressed by Westchester County wras
most heartily sustained by the people of New York City whenever
the citizens of that municipality had opportunity to make their at-
titude felt. The public bodies of the city were uniformly opposed
to Cosby's attempts. In September, 1731, when the agitation arising
out of the Van Dam matter, Morris's dismissal, and the course of
the Weekly Journal was at its height, an election for aldermen and
assistants was held, at which only one of the government candi-
dates was successful. As we have seen, the grand jury from first
to last refused to indict Zenger; and the common council was equally
refractory when demands were made upon it by the governor, and at
the happy termination of the Zenger prosecution celebrated the
grand popular victory by awarding the highest public honors to

THE

New -York Weekly JOURNAL

Containing the fnjbejl Advices, Foreign, md Domfiick.

M UN DAT Novembc

ri2, 1733.

Mr. Zenger.

Ncert the following in your next
and you'll oblige your Friend,

CATO.

Mira temporum felicitas ubt-pntiri qua
vein, & qua feutras dicer e licit.

Tacit.

THE Liberty of the Prefs
is a Subject of the great-
eft Importance, and in
which every Individual
is as much concern'd as
lie is in any other Part of Liberty :
Therefore it will not be improper to
communicate to the Publick the Senti-
ments of a late excellent Writer upon
this Poinr. fuch is the Elegance and
Pcrfpicuity of his Writings, fuch the
inimitable Fo'cc of his Reafjning, that
it will be difficult to fay any Thins
new that he has not faid, or not to
fey that much woife which he has
faid.

There are two Sorts of Monarchies,
an abfolute and a limited one. In the
firft, the Liberty of the Profs can never
be maintained, it is inconfiflent with
it •, for what abfolute Monarch would
fuffeT any Subject to animadvert
on his Actions, when it is in his Pow-
er to declare the Crime, and to nomi-
nate the Punifhmcnt > This would
make it very dangerous to exercifefuch
a Liberty Bcfidcs the Object againft
which thole Pen3 muft be directed, is

their Sovereign, the fole fupream Ma-
Iht - ti for ^hcrc beingno-Law fa
thole Monarchies, but the Will of the
In nee, n makes it nccertary for his
Mimftcrs to confult his Plcafure be-
fore any Thing can be undShfflftti :
He is therefore properly chargeable
with the Grievances of his Subjects,
and what the Minifter there acts bdir.g
in Obedience to the Prince, he ought
not to incur the Hatred of the People •
for it would be hard to impute that l0
him for a Crime, ^which is theFruitof
his Allegiance, and for refilling which
he might incurthe Penalties of Trea-
fon. Befides, in an abfolute Monar-
chy, the Will of the Prince being the
Law,a Liberty of the Prefs to complain
of Grievances would be complaining
againft the Law, and the Conftitution,
to which they have fubrnitted, or have
been obliged to fubmit:, and therefore
in one Senfe, may be fai'd to deferve
Punifhment, So that under an abfo
lute Monarchy, I fay, fuch a Liberty
is inconfiftent with the Conftitution,
having no proper Subject in Politics'
on which it might beexercis'd, and if
exercis'd Would incur a certain Penalty
But in a limited Monarchy, as Fvg
land is, our Laws are known, fixed
and efhblifhed. They are the flreigh
Rule and fureGuide to direct theKing,
the Minifters, and other his Subjects :
And therefore an Offence againft the
Laws_ is fuch an Offence againft the
Conftitution as ought to receive a pro
per adequate Punifhment j the levexis.
Cbflftft

PAGE FROM ZFNGEK S JOURNAL.

252 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Zenger's lawyer. No other attitude was to have been expected, how-
ever, of New York City, with its largely preponderant element of
tradespeople and other plain citizens, who were substantially united
in opposition to offensive manifestations of power. But in West-
chester County, dominated to so great an extent by conservative
landlords, the case was widely different. In this county the real
battle was fought and won, determining unmistakably the exist-
ence of a decisive majority against royal oppression among the peo-
ple of the province at large. Nothing is more interesting in con-
nection with the Westchester electoral contest of 1733 than the fact
that the lines of local division upon which it was fought were pre-
cisely the ones that divided the rival Whig and Loyalist factions of
the county when they came to make their trial of strength forty
years later on the issue of co-operation or non-co-operation with the
general cause of the American colonies. At the historic meeting of
the freeholders of Westchester County held at White Plains on the
11th of April, 1775, the contending parties were again led by the
heads of the Morris and Philipse families — Lewis Morris, 3d, grand-
son of the chief justice, and Frederick Philipse, 3d, son of the Judge
Philipse of Cosby's Court of Chancery. And the result was the same
as on the first occasion— a complete triumph for the Morris party,
representing, as before, the principle of non-obedience to objection-
able government.

Lewis Morris, the deposed chief justice, upon re-entering the as-
sembly became at once the leader of the popular forces in that body.
It being decided to send a representative to England to inform the
home government of Cosby's bad acts, and if possible get him re-
called, Morris was selected to go on that errand. He made the
journey in 1731, duly laid the grievances of the colonists before the
privy council, and procured a. decision pronouncing the grounds of
his own removal from the chief justiceship inadequate, but received
no further satisfaction. Soon afterward, in 1736, Cosby died. Morris,
upon his return to America, was very warmly greeted by the people.
Notwithstanding his prominent connection with the events whose
history we have traced, and in spite of the comparative failure ol
his mission to England, he retained the friendship and appreciation
of influential men at the British court, and was, in 1738, appointed
colonial governor of New Jersey, a position which he continued to
hold until his death, May 21, 171(3. He left his Morrisania property
jointly to his son Lewis and his widow, directing that the whole
should go to the former upon the latter' s death. His New Jersey
property he bequeathed to another son, Robert Hunter Morris, who
held, at the time of the father's death, the distinguished office of

THE ELECTION OP 1733

253

chief justice of that province. Lewis Morris, Sr., represented the
County of Westchester in the provincial assembly until his appoint-
ment as governor of New Jersey, when he resigned, retiring perma-
nently from public life in New York.

Chief Justice Morris gave his Manor of Morrisania to his eldest
son, Lewis, third of the name, who was known by his contempora-
ries, and is referred to in all historical works, as Lewis Morris, Jr.
He was the father of Colonel Lewis Morris, the signer of the Declara-
tion of Independence; of the still more noted statesman, Gouverneur
Morris; of Judge Richard Morris, successor to John Jay as chief
justice of the Supreme Court of New York State; and of General
Staats Long Morris, of the British army.

Lewis Morris, Jr., third proprietor and second lord of the Morris
estates in Westchester County, was
born September 23, 1698. Most of his
political career was contemporaneous
with that of his father, which it closely
resembled in its general characteris-
tics. Tie was a deputy for Westchester
Borough in the general assembly from
1732 to 1750, serving as speaker
in 1737. Previously to entering the
assembly he had been a member of
the governor's council for some years,
but had been removed from that
body in 1730 because of his deter-
mined opposition to the policies of
Governor Montgomerie. He was, in-
deed, quite as heartily disliked by
Montgomerie as his father was by

Cosby, and apparently for quite similar reasons. In justification
of li is course in the council lie wrote a very able letter to the
English government, which is a luminous presentation of the par-
tisan differences of the time. When the great popular issue arose
in 1733 on the Van Dam salary question he was a zealous supporter
of his father's cause. Cosby, in his denunciatory communications to
the Lords of Trade respecting the attitude of Chief Justice Morris,
speaks with savage resentment of the son also, who, he says, having
"got himself elected an assemblyman for a borough, gave all the
opposition he could to the measures the house took to make the gov-
ernment easy." With this wanton behavior of the junior Morris,
Cosby continues, the father was well pleased, " wherein without

>ETER FANEUIL.

254 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

doubt he had an eye on the Boston assembly,1 whose spirit begins to
diffuse itself too much amongst the other provinces." During the
absence of the deposed chief justice in England (1734-36) the son
took his place here in public leadership. After Cosby's death, early
in 1730, an animated controversy sprang up concerning the legality
of the accession of Clarke, at that time president of the council, to
the position of lieutenant-governor, the popular faction declaring his
assumption of power to be irregular. This was the occasion of nu-
merous official letters of complaint by the unhappy lieutenant-gov-
ernor. He related how Morris and his son, Van Dam, Smith, and
Alexander had by their long-continued acts " wrought the people to
a pitch of rebellion." " These are the men," he said, " who declaim
against the king's prerogative, who poison the minds of the people,
who libel the governor and all in authority in weekly printed papers,
and who have endeavored to distress the governor in his just ad-
ministration." He went so far as to recommend, as a drastic remedy,
that the younger Morris and others be sent to England for sedition,
a thing which he regretted he could not venture to do without orders,
because " forbidden by His Majesty's instructions to send any pris-
oners to England without sufficient proof of their crimes to be trans-
mitted with them." They were a worrisome set, these Morrises, to
royal governors having a fancy for arbitrary power and a strong dis-
taste for popular interference with their executive ease.

The younger Morris was also a judge of the Court of Admiralty,
and at one time a judge of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. He was
twice married, his first wife being Catherine Staats, and his second
Sarah Gouverneur. Like his father, he possessed a positive tempera-
ment, an unbending will, and a rather domineering manner. His
uncompromising disposition in all matters of opinion and feeling-
is well illustrated by the celebrated direction given in his will re-
garding the education of his son Gouverneur. " It is my wish," he
says, " that my son Gouverneur shall have the best education that
can be furnished him in England or America, but my express will and
directions are that under no circumstances shall he be sent to the
Colony of Connecticut for that purpose, lest in his youth he should
imbibe that low craft and cunning so incident to the people of that
country, and which are so interwoven in their constitution that they
ean not conceal it from the world, though many of them, under the
sanctified garb of religion, have attempted to impose themselves
upon the world as honest men."

1 It was during the period of the events re- and Peter obtained employment with him and

corded in this chapter that Faneuil Hall. inherited his fortune. In 1740 the people of

identified so conspicuously with the subsequent Bogt(m were rtivi(led in opinion llpon the ques-

a citation for American libertv. was built in ,. . ., ,, . „. . , ,, , .

T, , _ , ^ .. . . .. lion of the erection of a new Central Market

P.oston. Peter Faneuil. for whom it was

named, was a native of our Town of New Hal1' and mneh bltter fee,mg was aroused.

Rochelle, whence he went to Boston in the Thereupon, Peter Faneuil, actuated by public

year 1720, at the age of eighteen. His uncle spirit, erected Faneuil Hall, and presented it

Andrew was a wealthy merchant of that city, to the city.

CHAPTER XIII

THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES AND THEIR INFLUENCES

HE great Manor of Philipseburgh at the death of its founder,
the first Frederick Philipse, November 6, 1702, was divided
between two heirs, his son, Adolphus or Adolph, and his
grandson, Frederick. Adolph took the northern portion,
extending on the south to the present Dobbs Ferry and bounded on
the west by the Hudson River, on the north by a line running from
the mouth of the Croton to the sources of the Bronx, and on the
east by the Bronx River. Frederick's share, also reaching from the
Hudson to the Bronx, had for its southern limits Spuyten Duyvil
Creek and the line of Fordham Manor. In this divided condition the
manor remained until the death of Adolph in 1740, when, as no issue
survived him, it was consolidated under the sole ownership of Fred-
erick. By him the whole manor was transmitted at his death in
1751 to his eldest son, the third Frederick, who continued in pos-
session of it until the Revolution.

When tin- first Frederick Philipse died, the manor had been in ex-
istence only nine years. But he had previously devoted many years
to the purchase of the estate and its gradual preparation for aristo-
cratic pretensions, had built two mansions, one on the Nepperhan
and one on the Pocantico, had established well-equipped mills, and
had encouraged the coining of tenants by giving them land on the
most liberal terms. After the erection of the manor he was active
in various ways in improving the property and promoting its avail-
ability for permanent settlement. He built across the Spuyten
Duyvil Creek, in 1694, the first bridge connecting the mainland witii
Manhattan Island, which has been known from that day to this as
the King's Bridge. Having established his permanent country resi-
dence at Castle Philipse, on the present site of Tarrytown, he built
near there the first church in the western section of the county — the
far-famed Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow.1 In a communication from

1 See p. 163. While the present History lias every personal and local name, of its four great

boen going through the press, there has been registers of members, consistorymen, baptisms,

published a little book entitled, " First Record an(J marriageSi from its organization to the

Cook of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hoi- eighteenth century. Translated and
low, Organized in 1697, and now the First Re-

formed Church of Tarrytown. N. Y. An orig- copied from the original, and carefully proof-

islation of its brief historical matter.

d. by Rev. David Cole, D.D.. Yonkers,

id a reproduction, faithful to the letter of X. Y.

25(5 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Governor Bellomont to the Lords of Trade, written in 1698, it is
stated that at that time there were not more than twenty " poor
families " in the whole Manor of Philipseburgh ; but there are strong
reasons for regarding this as an utterly unreliable estimate. Bello-
mont was a governor of reform tendencies, and was particularly un-
sparing in his denunciations of the enormous land grants of his
predecessors. He naturally wished to make these grants appear in
as bad a light as possible, and so, in writing upon the subject to
his superiors, represented that practically nothing had been done
by the grantees toward populating their lands. It is unquestion-
able that the first lord of the manor laid substantial foundations for
its development and transmitted it to his successors in a condition
of reasonably good preparedness for rapid progress. At the census

of 1712, only ten years after his death, the
population of Philipseburgh Manor was
60S— more than one-fifth of the whole
population of the county.

All of the first Frederick's children
were the offspring of his first wife, Mar-
garet Hardenbrook De Vries. His sec-
ond wife, Catherina, a sister of Stephanas
Van Cortlandt and widow of John Der-
vall, survived him many years, dying in
V 1730. She lived witli her stepson, Adolph,
\a at Castle Phiiipse, and was universally
beloved for her gentle and pious char-
acter. In the records of the Sleepy Hol-

GOVEHNOR BELLOMONT. lOW CllUTCh SllC is Spokoll of aS " tilt'

Bight Honorable, Godfearing, very wise
and prudent Lady Catherine Phiiipse." By her will she left to the
congregation of that church a chalice bearing her name, a baptismal
bowl, and a damask cloth.

Both Adolph and Frederick, the surviving male heirs of the first
lord, were men of mark and influence, not only as Westchester County
landlords, but in the general concerns of the province. Adolph was
his second son and Frederick his grandson — the only child of his
eldest son, Philip, who died on the Island of Barbadoes in 1700.

Adolph Phiiipse was born in New York City, November 15, 1065.
He was reared to mercantile pursuits, and according to all accounts
was, like his father, a shrewd and successful man of affairs. From
old official documents it appears that he was his father's trusted and
active lieutenant in the conduct of delicate transactions with the
piratical skippers of the Indian Ocean. Notorious as were the rela

>f«f

THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES 257

tions which Philipse and others sustained with the pirates, it was
of course not safe for the pirate ships to attempt to deliver their
cargoes at New York, or even to rendezvous within too close prox-
imity to that port. It was the custom to dispatch from New York
vessels to meet them at more or less distant points along- the coast,
which vessels, after receiving their valuable merchandise, would
either return to the vicinity of New York and await opportunity to
smuggle the stuff in, or sail to Europe and dispose of it there. Adolph
was the discreet representative of the house of Philipse in the man-
agement of these important details. In a memorable report of the
British Board of Trade, October 19, 1698, on the connections sub-
sisting between the New York merchants and the pirates, the opera-
tions of the clever Adolph in one instance are explicitly described. A
ship or sloop called the " Frederick," belonging to Frederick Philipse,
at that time " one of his Majesty's Council of New York," was, " upon
expectation of a vessel from Madagascar," sent out under the con-
duct of Adolph Philipse. This was " upon pretence of a voyage to
Virginia, but really to cruize at sea, in order to meet the said vessel
from Madagascar. Upon meeting of that vessel great parcells of East
India goods wore by direction of the said Adolphus Philipse taken
out of her, and put aboard the said sloop ' Frederick,' with which, by
his order, she sayled to Delaware Bay and lay there privately. He
in ye meanwhile returned in the Madagascar ship (having then only
negroes on board) to New York, and after some days came again to
the ' Frederick ' sloop in Delaware Bay. There the said sloop deliv-
ered some small part of East India cargo, and from thence, by his
direction, sayled with the rest (North about Scotland) to Hamburgh,
where some seizure5 having been made by Sir Paul Ricaut (His Maj-
esty's Resident there), and the men sent hither (London), they have
each of them severally made depositions relating to that matter be-
fore Sir Charles Hedges, Judge of the Admirality. We observe that
Cornelius Jacobs (the master) appears to be the same Capn. Jacobs
who is named to have traded with the Pirates." Relations with the
pirates on the part of Frederick and Adolph Philipse being thus
established to the satisfaction of the authorities in England, both
father and son fell under the disfavor of the government. Frederick
Philipse was forced to give up the seat in the council which he had
held for a score of years; and Adolph, who had been nominated for
membership in that body a short time previously by Governor Bello-
niont, was pronounced unworthy of such an honor, and his name
was withdrawn. But the disgrace was only a passing cloud. No
judicial proceedings were taken against either of the Philipses. The

258

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

father died soon after, and the son was graciously forgiven in due
time.

Adolph Philipse in the year before this episode of the wt Frederick "
had become on his own account one of the principal land owners of
the province. On the 17th of June, 1697, Governor Fletcher granted
to him a patent (known historically as "The Great Highland Patent")
for the territory immediately above Westchester County, running
from the Hudson to the Connecticut line, a distance of some twenty
miles, and extending northward about twelve miles. Out of the
patent thus conferred Putnam Comity (then a portion of Dutchess
County) has since been erected. The sole consideration charged for
the grant was a " Yearly Rent of twenty Shillings Currant money of

our said Province," payable upon the
feast day of the Annunciation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Adolph Philipse,
at his deatii, left the Highland Patent,
with all his other landed possessions, to
his nephew, the second Frederick, who
divided it equally among his three chil-
dren— Frederick (3d), Mary, wife of Roger
Morris, a colonel in the British army, and
Susannah, wife of Colonel Beverly Robin-
son, also a noted Tory. The whole patent
Mas partitioned off into three parts and
nine lots, each child receiving one-third
part and three lots. The lots acquired by
Colonel Robinson and Major Morris, says
Blake in his " History of Putnam Coun-
ty," were confiscated by the legisla-
ture, but the reversionary interest was not affected by this action,
and that interest was purchased of the heirs for $100,000 by the
first John Jacob Astor, who ten years afterward received for it from
the State of New York $500,000 in State stock at six per cent.

After the death of his father, Adolph became the head of the
family, a position which he divided with his nephew. Frederick, when
the latter came of age. On the 7th of February, 1705, he was ap-
pointed a member of the governor's council, and in 1718 he was made
one of the commissioners for running the boundary line between
New York and Connecticut. He was removed from the council in
1721, on the representation of Governor Burnet, for opposing the con-
tinuance of the assembly after His Fxcellency's arrival. In 1722 he
was elected a member of the assembly from Westchester Comity,
of which body he was chosen speaker in 172r>. He sat for West-

GOVERNOR BURNET.

THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES 259

Chester County until the election of 1726, being then returned as
one of the four members from New York City. He occupied the
speaker's chair until 1737, when he lost his seat; but at an election
held soon afterward to till a vacancy from the city he was once
more returned, although, it was charged, only by means of the "most
barefaced villany " practiced in his behalf by the sheriff. He was
again chosen speaker in 1739, and remained as such until 1745, when,
at the age of eighty, his legislative career was terminated. He died
in 1740. He was never married.

It is thus seen that Adolph Philipse was one of the most important
public characters of his times, being speaker of the assembly for
eighteen years. His retirement as a member for Westchester County
was in the interest of his nephew, Frederick, who promptly took
the seat that he vacated, retaining it without any interruption for
twenty-four years.

In the memories of the people of Westchester County the name of
Philipse is, from the political point of view, identified exclusivelv
with the idea of ultra devotion to royal authority in the person of
the king's constituted representative. It is hence an extremely curi-
ous fact that, six years before the removal of Lewis Morris from the
chief justiceship, Adolph Philipse, the senior member of this family,
gave his voice and exercised his official power in exactly the same
cause as that to which Morris became a martyr— the cause of oppo-
sition to the Court of Chancery as an extra-constitutional organiza-
tion, none the less (indeed, all the morel illegal and odious because
finding its sole warrant for existence in the governor's prerogative.
In 1727 we find Governor Burnet bitterly complaining to the Lords
of Trade about some " extraordinary resolves " concerning the Court
of Chancery, "which," he says, "was all done at the suggestion of
their speaker, who had lately lost a cause in chancery." Philipse,
he continues, had "the least reason of any man to disown the Court
of Chancery, for he himself was a member of council when that court
was established by the council and when the Lords of Trade ap-
proved that establishment, and he himself three years ago being cast
in a suit at common law brought it into chancery and obtained some
relief from it." Burnet intimates that the conduct of Speaker Phil-
ipse in this matter was not occasioned by any high sense of principle,
but was merely personal; and certainly Philipse had no cause in this
connection, or regarding any other question of policy, to make him-
self specially complaisant toward Governor Burnet, who had pro-
cured his dismissal from the council. On the other hand, antago-
nism to the Court of Chancery was emphatically a popular cause,
only less so in degree (because of the less emergent circumstances)

260

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

in Burnet's time than in Cosby- s; and whatever personal motives
may have influenced Philipse's course, that course could not be sepa-
rated from association with the popular feeling. Adolph Philipse,
moreover, was never an intense partisan; and his long-continued
service as speaker of the assembly is sufficient testimony to the
general fairness and acceptability of his political disposition. He
always adhered to the simple religious faith in which he had been
brought up, that of the Dutch Reformed Church, although the
Church of England increasingly claimed the attachment of the rich,
powerful, and ambitious; and it occasioned grievous regret to the
Episcopalians that a man of his prominence should be so conspicu-

\INT JOHNS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, YONKERS.

ously unidentified with "the" Church. His public character has been
summed up in words of unqualified approval by the eminent patriot
and statesman, John Jay. " He was," says Jay, " a man of superior
talents, well educated, sedate, highly respected, and popular. Except
that he was penurious, I have heard nothing to his disadvantage."

Frederick Philipse, 2d, co-heir with his uncle Adolph under the
will of the first lord of the manor, was born on the Island of Bar-
badoes in 1G95. His parents were Philip, eldest son of Frederick and
Margaret Philipse, and Maria, daughter of Governor Sparks, of Bar-
badoes. Philip Philipse, born in New York City in 1663, went to

THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES 261

Barbadoes to reside on an estate of his father's called Spring Head.
Frederick was the only child, and was left an orphan at the age of
five. His grandfather, who was still living, thereupon sold the Bar-
badoes property, and the boy was sent to England to be reared by
his mother's people. There he remained until his early manhood, en-
joying every educational and social advantage which wealth and dis-
tinguished connections could give. Although from these associa-
tions he derived marked aristocratic predilections, which, in turn,
were inbred in his children, and became the cause of their undoing
in the evil days of the Revolution, his character, as thus formed, was
that of an accomplished and amiable gentleman, quite free from
corrupt and arrogant traits. By his tenants and the public he was
always known as "Lord" Philipse, and his personality well corres-
ponded to his title. " He was/' says Mrs. Lamb, " polished in his
manners, hospitable, generous, cordial, manly. His cultivated Euro-
pean tastes were soon distinguishable in his improvements. The
manor house swelled into thrice its former size, and was beautiful
in innumerable ways. The two entrances on the new eastern
front were ornamented with eight columns and corresponding
pilasters. A broad, velvety lawn appeared skirted by garden ter-
races, horse chestnuts, and the old Albany and New York Post
Load, above which rose Locust Hill. To the right and left were
laid out gardens and grounds, in which flourished valuable trees and
choice shrubs and flowers, and through which, in all directions,
stretched graveled walks, bordered with box. To the west the green-
sward sloped gradually toward the river, dotted with fine specimens
of ornamental trees, and was emparked and stocked with deer. The
roof of the manor house was surmounted by a heavy line of balus-
trade, forming a terrace, which commanded an extensive view. The
interior of the new part was elaborately finished. The walls were
wainscoted, and the ceilings highly ornamented in arabesque work.
The marble mantels were imported from England, and were curious
specimens of ancient art in the way of carving. The main halls of
the entrance were about fourteen feet wide, and the superb stair-
cases, with their mahogany handrails and balusters, were propor-
tionately broad. The city establishment of the family was, in its
interior arrangements, quite as pretentious as the manor house, and
it was where the courtly aristocracy of the province were wont to
meet in gay and joyous throng." " It was he," says Allison in his
" History of Yonkers," " who enlarged the Manor House on the Nep-
perhan in 1745, by extending it to the north, changing its front to
the east, and giving it its imposing array of windows, its too por-

262 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

ticoes as now seen, and its surrounding balustrade, from which views
of the river and the Palisades are commanded."

About the time of his return to America to claim his inheritance,
young Frederick was married to Joanna, daughter of Lieutenant-
Governor Anthony Brockholst, who also had been tenderly reared in
England. During the first few years of his residence on his estate he
took no part in public life. But from the time of his first election to
the assembly, in 1726, until his death, in 1751, he was constantly in
official position. His career in the assembly was not specially note-
worthy. Despite the rivalry of the Morrises, who stood for political
views radically opposed to his own, his seat in the assembly seems
never to have been imperiled. It was an understood thing in West-
chester County for more than half a century that one of the county
members should always be a Philipse. He was appointed by Gover-
nor Montgomerie ou June 24, 1731, third judge of the Supreme Court
of the province, and on August 21, 1733, by the removal of Morris
from the chief justiceship and the elevation of de Lancey to that
office, he became second judge, continuing as such until his death,
lie was also, from 1735 until his death, judge of the Court of Com-
mon Pleas of Westchester County.

In opposing Chief Justice Morris and siding with de Lancey upon
the question of the legality of the Court of Chancery appointed to
try the Van Dam case, Frederick Philipse followed the natural bent
of his sympathies. It is related in Governor Cosby 's official letter to
the home government concerning Morris's famous decision that Jus-
tice Philipse, in common with Justice de Lancey, heard k' with aston-
ishment " the abrupt declaration by the chief justice that the Court
of Chancery was not a legal tribunal; and this no doubt was a quite
faithful representation of his mental attitude on that trying occa-
sion. Whatever may be thought of the conduct of the ambitious de
Lancey, Philipse's action was unmistakably ingenuous. It probably
never occurred to him to doubt the perfect regularity and sufficiency
of a court which had been set over the people at the discretion of
the king's governor and his advisers. Philipse's career on the bench,
excepting in this single case, was uneventful and wholly acceptable.
After the Van Dam decision the Supreme Court was dominated by
the individuality of de Lancey, as it had previously been by that of
Morris, and the function of a second judge was not an onerous one.
Judge Philipse is described in an official communication from the
council to the English government as " a very worthy gentleman of
plentiful fortune and good education."

On his manor — or rather his section of the manor, for it was only
during the last two years of his life, after the death of his uncle

THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES 263

Adolph, that he enjoyed possession of the whole property — he ruled
with much appreciation of his proprietary dignity and corresponding-
observance of ceremony, but to the uniform satisfaction of his ten-
ants, lie displayed none of the puffed-up characteristics of the par-
venue lord, but was kind, approachable, moderate, and good to the
poor. He presided in person over the manorial court. The inhab-
itants of the estate, except his immediate household, continued to
be tenant farmers. He is said to have had fifty family Servants, of
whom thirty were whites and twenty were negro slaves. He was a
devoted member of the Church of England, and was The founder of
Saint John's Episcopal < murch of Yonkers. But it was not until after
his death that that church had its beginning; during his life he was
content at such times of the year as he resided in the Manor House
to worship at the family altar, his tenants being under the mis-
sionary care of the Parish of Westchester. The first Church of Eng-
land minister established ai Westchester whose duties included visi-
tations of the Yonkers portion of Philipseburgh Manor was the Rev.
Mr. Bartow. He died in 1726. "As often as he could," says a con-
temporaneous church writer, "he visited Yonkers. A large congre-
gation, chiefly of Dutch people, came to hear him. There was no
church built here, so they assembled for divine worship at the house
of Mr. Joseph Bebits, and sometimes in a barn when empty." That
this unsatisfactory condition of things was permitted by the second
lord to continue throughout his lifetime, although meanwhile he
made the most elaborate expenditures upon his manorial mansion
and grounds, must be set down positively to his discredit. When,
finally, by his will he directed his executors to expend £4(10 for the
erection of a church, he took care to specify that the money should
come out of the rentals from tin- tenants, lie donated,, however, a
farm, with residence and outbuildings, lying east of the Sawmill
River, as a glebe for the minister. The church was promptly built
(1752-53) by his heir.

He died in 1751. He had ten children, of whom only four — Fred-
erick, Philip, Susanna, ami Mary — grew to maturity. Frederick was
the third and last lord of the manor; Philip died in 1768, leaving
three children; and Susanna and Mary, as already noted, married,
respectively. Colonel Beverly Robinson and Major Roger Morris.
This Mary was the celebrated Mary Philipse for whom George Wash-
ington, according to some of his biographers, formed in his youth a
romantic attachment.

The Manor of Scarsdale, patented to Colonel Caleb Heathcote in
1701, had only a nominal continuance after his death (1721). He left
no male heir to take a personal interest in the development of the

264 HISTORY OF westchestp:r county

property as one of the great family estates of Westchester County,
and thus Scarsdale never ranked with the other manors. It was pre-
served intact, however, under the joint proprietorship of Heath-
cote's two daughters, until just before the Revolution, when its lands
were disposed of to various persons by partition sale. Its progress
in population, although wry slow at first, was ultimately about the
same as that of the ordinary rural sections of the county. The vil-
lage of Mamaroneck, lying within its borders, but not belonging to
the manorial estate, enjoyed steady but slow growth as one of the old
com in unities on the Sound.

Heathcote's daughters, Ann and Martha, married, respectively,
James de Lancey, of New York City, and Dr. Lewis Johnston, of
Perth Amboy, N. J. Of these two men, the latter
requires no special notice in our pages; but de Lan-
eey has more than ordinary claims upon our at-
tention. This remarkable man. besides being the
son-in-law of Heathcote, was a grandson of Stepha-
nas Van Cortlandt, the founder of Van Cortlandt
Manor, and therefore may be regarded as one of
Westchester's sons. As the husband of Ann Heath-
t>e lancey arms. cote he became a large Westchester County land
owner. The de Lancey family of the county, de-
scended in part from him and in part from his brother Peter, is one
to which uncommon historical interest attaches.

His father, Stephen de Lancey, a descendant in the Huguenot
bianch of an ancient and noble French house, fled from France after
the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and in 16SG arrived in New
York with a capital of £300. Embarking in mercantile pursuits, he
soon amassed wealth and gained a very influential position, not only
in the commercial community of New York, but in the government.
He was a member of the general assembly for many years, was a
vestryman of Trinity Church in New York, and was noted for his
public-spirited interest in the concerns of the city. He was a warm
friend of the Huguenots of New Rochelle. In 1700 he married Ann,
second daughter of Stephanus Van Cortlandt. James de Lancey,
the future chief justice and governor, was their eldest son, born in
New York City, November 27, 1703.

James was educated at the University of Cambridge, England. In
1729 he was appointed a member of the governor's council, succeed-
ing John Barberie, who was his uncle by marriage. In 1731 he was
made an associate justice of the Supreme Court, and in 1733, at the
ago of thirty, was promoted to the chief justiceship. Whatever may
have been the determining reasons for his support of Governor Cosby

THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES 265

and antagonism of Chief Justice Morris in the Van Dam ease, he
unhesitatingly followed to its logical conclusion the course that he
adopted upon that occasion. Of a very proud nature, he deeply re-
sented the assumption by the other side of superior virtue and superior
regard for liberty and law. Morris was a man of positive traits, and
by the exercise of unquestioned judicial authority had grown dicta-
torial in his old age. Incensed at the attitude of his young associate
justices, both of whom were still in their thirties, he did not hesitate
to make known his personal views of their conduct. " On the day
after the Van Dam decision," writes Governor Cosby to the Duke of
Newcastle, " the chief justice, coming to court, told those two judges,
openly and publicly upon the bench before a numerous audience, that
their reasons for their opinion were mean, weak, and futile; that they
were only his assistants, giving them to understand that their opin-
ions, or rather judgments, were of no signification." One can imagine
how the haughty spirit of de Lancey must have chafed under such lan-
guage. Although the quarrel resulted in the dismissal of Morris
and his own appointment to the vacated office, he had to suffer for
two years the humiliation of extreme unpopularity and of utter
failure to compel acceptation for his official orders and rulings in
the further developments of the controversy. The grand jury, de-
spite his strenuous and repeated application, refused to indict Zenger,
and on the final trial of that arch-libeler the jury in the case con-
temptuously scorned the urgent instructions given them by the chief
justice to find against the accused, and instantly rendered a verdict
of not guilty amid the rapturous applause of the assembled populace.
But after the subsidence of the passions of that exciting period, the
real worth of de Lancey's character became by degrees appreciated.
Strong-willed and ambitious, he was yet a man of perfect honesty and
openness, free from all meanness and low craft and servility to the
great. To the manliest of personal qualities he added brilliant abil-
ities, an extraordinary capacity for public affairs, and an affability
and grace of manner which made him an object of general admira-
tion and affection. During the administration of the royal Governor-
Clinton, father of Sir Henry Clinton, he severed his connections with
the "court party" and was consequently regarded with scant favor
by the executive and his adherents. He was appointed to the office
of lieutenant-governor by the proper authority in England, but Clin-
ton revengefully withheld the commission for six years, delivering it
to him only upon the eve of his own permanent retirement. This
happened in October, 1753, when the newly appointed governor. Sir
Danvers Osboru, arrived. A very few days later Osborn committed
suicide, and de Lancey thus became acting governor. He held the po-

266

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

sition until 1755, serving- so acceptably that when another vacancy
occurred in 1757 the home government permitted him to practically
succeed to the full dignity of governor, having decided to make no
new appointment to the place during his lifetime. Thus de Lancey
was the first native American to serve regularly as governor of the
Province of New York, as his grandfather, Stephanas Van Cortlandt,
was the first to hold the office of mayor of New York City. He died
on the 30th of July, 1700, being at that time both governor and chief
justice of New York.

Governor de Lancey had three sons who grew up — James, Stephen,
and John Peter. James was prominent politically after his father's
death until the devolution, and then became a Tory; he married a
daughter of Chief Justice William Allen, of Pennsylvania; two of his
sons were officers in the British military and naval service. Stephen
received from his father as a gift what is now the Town of North
Salem in this county (which came to the elder de Lancey as his
share in the Manor of Cortlandt). It was under his land sales that
that toAvn was settled. He built a large double dwelling, later con-
verted into the North Salem Academy, where many distinguished
men (including Governor Daniel D. Tompkins and Chancellor Kent)
have been educated. John Peter was the ancestor of the Mamaroneck
de Lanceys. He received a military education in England, and fought
on the British side in the Revolution, but after the war retired from
the army and returned to America, taking up his residence on the
Ueathcote estates on Scarsdale Manor, which he inherited from his
mother, and where he built the dwelling still known as Heathcote
Hill. He married Elizabeth Floyd, daughter of Colonel Richard
Floyd, of Long Island, and among his children were Bishop William
Heathcote de Lancey, of AYestern New York, and Susan Augusta de
Lancey, who married James Fenimore Cooper.

A young brother of Governor de Lancey, Peter, was politically
prominent in Westchester County, and left a numerous family, sev-
eral of whom became noted or made advantageous marital alliances.
He lived at West Farms and was known as " Peter of the Mills." He
represented the borough Town of Westchester in the assembly from
1750 to 1708. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Governor Cadwalla-
der Colden. Among his children were John, who sat in the assembly
for Westchester Borough from 1708 to 1775, and Avas high sheriff of
the county in 1709-70; James, high sheriff from 1770 to 1777, the
famous colonel of the Westchester Light Horse (British), who after
the Revolution lived and died a refugee in Nova Scotia; and Oliver, of
West Farms, a lieutenant in the British navy, who resigned his com-

R I

in America.

By the Honourable
J A MRS DE LANCET, Efq;

His Majeftfs Lh titenant-Governor and Commana >r in Chief, in and
over the Proving of New-York, and the Territor, es depending thereon

A! Proclamation.

the faid Government can 1'
ment, the faid Perfons, not conti
Defigns into Execution, by :nde
fiicceeded, that feveral Perfons, <
keep Poffeffion of the Lands
Bay, and the aforementioned Ind
bsen obftrucled, the Lives of fe
Whereas Thirty One of fuch evi
and riotoufly aflemblcd themfelve
Eighteen Miles from Hudfon's Rivi
Vangtlder, and his Brother, faid tj
riotoufly affembled, were command
Jcftkes of the Peace, two Cor.ftabll
and difperfe the Rioters ; four only
were Loop Ho!ec; fired through the
an Hour tWeaJv'r, and another fon

HEREASjt appears, That certain Perfons refiding on oSnear the Eaftern Borders of

this Provirffc, have entered into a Combination to difpoffefs Robert l&ngjhn, jun. Efq; Proprietor of the
Alamr of LuingJIcn, within this Province, and the Tenants holding fader him, of the Lands comprifed
within the aid Manor, under Pr-tence of Title from the Oovewimenf of the Alajad>ujetl> Bay, as alfo of
an Indian Pirchafe lately made by the faid Perfons jaltho' tis moS riotous that the &id Manor hath, 'til
"7 !i*^ t>ee'1 peaceably heW -sni enjc

le-Ciaa

fdjnd their Claim. Notwithfta
th their former Intrufio

nmyed-by the laid R-soerf Livmgyon, ar.d'fcs 4lK«fturs, for Seventy
<) i. ..wiin.^vif ui" ik'"J>*!i'»ltiifafi*'g,^r?|ignSv^icn' only 'iX: corrcewtl

nding which clear and nianif

: on His Majefty's Lands w th<

Buring to corrupt and turn Mr. Livingjhris own Tcnan

ithin a few Years held Lands as Tenants under,

Dclance of, and fet up a pretended Right againft him, under

iPurchafe; by which illegal Proceedings, fupportcd with

'il of his Majefty's Subjetfs loft, and private Property i

inded Perfons, in order to profecute their unjuft Defigns

iTackbanick, at the Houfe uf Jonathan Barbie, which flan

, among whom were the faid 'Jonathan Darbie, alio Job

be Andriet Vangeldtr, Samuel Taylor, Ebentzer Taylor, M. Andriei J.Reej'e, and being
d to difperfe by the Deputy Sheriff of the County, in the ffefence ot one of His Majefty's
i, and other Perfons who came thither with the' laid Roh fhivmgjhn, to fupprefs the R'
if whom went off, the others (hutting themfelves up in the I W Darby's Houfe, in which .th
kme, and before they difperfed, feveral were wounded on bo i Sides, one of whom died
B Time after, of the Wounds they then received. IN Ord< ^therefore to put a Stop as much
cay be to P'ocs«ding», the Confcdfcnces whereof have already been fatal to fome, and winch if not timely prevented, may ft ill
be produi?nve of the worfi Evd3 to *>Jep ; and to efhblifh and keep up Peace and a good Und (landing among the Borderefs, till
unhappy Cor.troverfy ihall be ft,|ed in a legal Courfc : I HAVE thought fit, with the A. -jce of His Majefty's Conned, to

Right, on the Part of this Govorn-
he fame, firft begin to carry their
againft him, in which they fo far
ind paid their Rents to him, now
e Government of the Majfachufetts
Orce, the Courfe of Juilice hath,
ringeu and greatly injured. And
m the 7th Day ui May laft, armed
d 6t the Diftance of not more than
Reefe, lltndrick .

jUJe this Proclamation, Hereby in
bear r.nd refrain from fi:ch violent anjj
of the Law. And thst th; Offend
and all other Officers therein, are he
Bmfie, Jofeph Vangeldtr, Samuel Tt\
appear to nave been aiding or alettii
committed, in fife Cufody, in that
fceep in fafe Cuftody all and every .
Ar.d all His Majefty's Subjects
rafr>echve Counties, who are hereby]
putting the Premifes iri Execution.

> maieity siNsme, nrictly enjoining

unjuft Proceedings, as every Inftance of that Nature will

rulie, 'Jcfefb
rid beintr fo

all His Majefty's goo' Subjects in this Province, to fot-
: of thatNature will ipuniftied with the utmoft Rigouf
before named may be brought to Juftice, the Sheriffs of t i Counties of Albany and Dulchefi
ly commanded andrequhed to apprehend the faid Jonathai Darbie, Johannes Reefe, Hendr-c,
Ebenezer Taylor, and Andriei J. Reel, and all and cv y of their Affociates, who fliali
the faid Offenders in the Riot aforefaid ; and them and i
iWnty Goal, until delivered by due Courfe of Law : And

rerfon and Perfons who (hall hereafter be guilty i
faid Counties of Albany and Duhbefs, are to give due Ailiil
ipowered and required, ifneceffary, to fummon the Poft'e

f of them to keep, or caufe to be
' ke Manner, to apprehend and
th riotous and illegal Practices.
Ke to the faid Sheriffs within their
It whole Power of the County, for

GIVEN under my Uan\and Seal at Arms, at Fort-George, in the City of
June, One Tbcufand SEen Hundred and Fifty Seven, in the Thirtieth Tear
Lord GEORGE the fyond, ty the Grate of GOD, of Great-Britain, Franc
of the Faith, and fo ft

Lj His Honour's Command,

Gw. Banyar, Dtp. Secj

fw- York, the Eighth Day af
the Reign of our Sever eign
d Ireland, King, Defender

JAMES DELANCEY.

GOD Save the KliNG.

PROCLAMATION SIGNED BY DE LANCEY.

%6S HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

mission rather than fight against his native land, and, returning to
this country, spent the remainder of his life at Westchester.

Another brother of Governor de Lancey, Oliver, was a conspicuous
figure in public life until the end of the colonial regime, although
never connected with Westchester County. In the Revolution he was
the British commander of the Department of Long Island, and raised
three regiments, known as " De Laneey's Battalion;' of which he
was brigadier-general. His descendants contracted brilliant mar-
riages with English families.

Governor de Lancey had two sisters— Susan, who married Admiral
Sir Peter Warren, and Anne, who became the wife of John Watts,
Sr., whose son became county judge of Westchester County.

The de Lancey family, as a whole, was emphatically pro-British
in the American struggle for independence, and contributed many
brave officers to the armies of the king. In this latter respect the
de Lanceys contrast with the Philipses, who, while Tory to the heart's
core, were not fighters, and kept themselves at a safe distance from
the scenes of carnage. Yet an element of the de Lanceys belonged
to the patriot side, and leading members of the family who took up
arms for Great Britain became reconciled to the situation after the
recognition of independence, and made themselves acceptable citi-
zens of the republic. The family has always since been honorably
connected with Westchester County.

The Manor of Cortlandt, devised by Stephanus Van Cortlandt at
his death, in 1700, to his eleven surviving children in equal shares
(except that his eldest son, Johannes, received, in addition to his
equal portion, what is now Verplanck's Point on the Hudson, a tract
of some twenty-five hundred acres), remained undivided for many
years. The family was a very united one. The widow of Stephanus,
Gertrude Schuyler, outlived her husband twenty-three years, and it
was tacitly agreed that during her lifetime nothing should be done
toward splitting up the estate. Meanwhile one of the eleven heirs,
Oliver, died childless, willing his interest to his brothers and sisters.
The manor thenceforth, until its final dismemberment, comprised ten
proprietary interests. Although after the death of Stephanus there
was always a recognized ''head" of the Van Cortlandt family, there
was never a second "lord" of the manor.

Johannes, the eldest son of Stephanus, died at a comparatively
early age, leaving one child, Gertrude, who married Philip Ver-
planck, a descendant of one of the early Dutch settlers of New Am-
sterdam1 and a man of varied abilities. Among his accomplishments

1 Abraham Isaac-sen Verplanck, or Planck. He planck, who has descendants still living in this

was one of the instigators of the Dutch war county. The Verplancks of Fishkill-on-the-

of retaliation against the Indians (1643-1645). Hudson belong to another branch of the family.
Verplanck's Point was named for Philip Ver-

THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES 269

was an expert knowledge of surveying-. By articles of agreement en-
tered into by the Van Cortlandt heirs in November, 1730, Philip
Verplanck was appointed to survey and lay out the manor into thirty
lots. This commission was duly executed, although Verplanck's sur-
vey was confined to the portion of the manor north of the Croton
River. The lots were soon afterward conveyed to the several parties
in interest by partition deeds, appraisals of value having been made
by Daniel and Samuel Purdy, who were specially selected for that
purpose. The following table shows the number of acres and their
estimated value at this time (1733) apportioned for each share:

NAMES. ACRES. VALUES IN NEW YORK

MONEY.

Philip Verplanck1 6,831 £973

Margaret Bayard2 7,398 948

Stephen de Lancey3 7,377 999

Philip Van Cortlandt 0,(348 975

Stephen Van Cortlandt 6,894 972

John Miln4 7,714 988

Gertrude Beekman5 8,062 912

William Skinner6 8,163 951

Andrew Johnston" 9,023 889

John Schuyler, Jr. * 7,364 1,018

75,474 £9,625

1 Grandson of Johannes Van Cortlandt. 5 Husband of Gertrude Van Cortlandt.

2 Margaret Van Cortlandt, wife of Colonel " Husband of Elizabeth Van Cortlandt.
Samuel Bayard. 7 Husband of Catherine Van Cortlandt.

3 Husband of Ann Van Cortlandt. 8 Husband of Cornelia Van Cortlandt.

4 Second husband of Maria Van Cortlandt.

Thus in 1733 all of Westchester County north of the Croton River,
and between that stream and the Connecticut line, having an aggre-
gate area of over seventy-five thousand acres, was appraised for the
paltry sum of $48,000. This territory now includes the Towns of
Cortlandt, Yorktown, Sinners, North Salem, Lewisboro, and a portion
of Pouudridge, whose combined taxable value amounts to not a few
millions.

In 1753 the manor lands south of the Croton River were divided.
The heirs-at-law, entering into enjoyment of their individual proper-
ties as partitioned to them, gradually leased the lands to settlers or
sold them in fee. The subsequent history of the whole great Van
Cortlandt estate, from the proprietary point of view, is well repre-
sented by that of the share which fell to young Stephen de Lancey,
the son of the chief justice — a share, as already mentioned, embracing
nearly all of the present Town of North Salem. We quote from Mr.
Edward Floyd de Lancey's ki History of the Manors":

Chief Justice de Lancey in 1744 conveyed them (his Cortlandt Manor lots), as a gift, to
his second son, Stephen. Stephen a few years later began their settlement, and brought in

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THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES 271

many farmers and some mechanics. The whole tract was laid out into farms, rectangular in
shape, of two hundred acres each as a rule. These were leased for lung terms of years at
low rents, the highest not being more than £10 and the lowest about £2 or £3. The rent
rolls and map showed the farms, which were all numbered, the tenants' names, and the rent
payable by each. It was always understood that the tenants might buy " the soil right," as
the fee was termed, at any time the parties could agree upon price. In practice, however,
the tenants did not begin to apply for the fee till about the time of the Revolution, and then
but rarely. After that event more were sold to applicants, but many farms continued in the
families of the tenants till late in this century. The last, which had descended to himself
and the widow of a deceased brother, the writer sold in 1ST"), after the expiration of a lease
for ninety-nine years. The same system of leasing out their lots in farms was carried out by
all the other owners of the manor lands. Some sold the fee of their lands at an early day to
relatives, who thus increased their holdings. Others retained them.

Notwithstanding the complete partition of the estate, the " Lord-
ship and Mannour " of Cortlandt, as erected by letters patent front
Governor Fletcher in 1697, did not in any respect lose iis original
identity or the peculiar privileges bestowed upon it by the terms of
that grant. It continued to be a distinct political division, and, in-
deed, was separated front the remainder of Westchester County in
an even more formal way than any of the other manors, since it en-
joyed The exceptional right of sending its own exclusive representa-
tive to the provincial assembly. Ii was not until 1788, under the
regime of the State of New York, when Westchester County was
divided into townships, that Cortlandt Manor ceased to exist.

The apportionment to this manor of a separate assembly repre-
sentative was conditioned upon the proviso thai no such repre-
sentative should be chosen until the year 1717. In point of fact, the
manor did not elect its tirsi delegate to the assembly until 17o4.
Philip Yerplanck was then chosen. Early in his career in that body
he brought in a bill directing that ••one supervisor, one treasurer,
two assessors, and one collector" should be elected annually by the
people of the manor, which was passed. In 1750, on account of in-
creasing population, the election of two constables was authorized —
one for the portion of the manor near the Hudson River and the
other for the interior sections. In L708 the number of constables
was increased to three. Ryck's Patent (Peekskill) acquired in 1770
the privilege of choosing its own local officers independently of the
manor, although the inhabitants of this settlemenl still joined with
the people of the manor in electing the member of assembly. Yer-
planck represented Cortlandt Manor for the remarkable period of
thirty-four years, his successor being Pierre Yan Cortlandt, who
served during the remainder of the colonial era.

After the death of Johannes and Oliver, the first and second sons
of Stephanus Yan Cortlandt, Philip Yan Cortlandt, the third son,
became the head of the family. He was born in 1683. He was
a merchant in New York, and has been described as " a man

272 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

of clear head, of good abilities, and possessed of great deci-
sion of character." From 1730 until his death (1746) he was a
member of the gubernatorial council. His eldest son, Stephen, died
young, leaving a son, Philip, who succeeded as the next head of the
family. But this second Philip, preferring a military life, entered the
British army, in which he had a long career, fighting against Amer-
ican freedom in the Revolution.1 His uncle Pierre (youngest son of the
first Philip and grandson of Stephanas) ultimately became the lead-
ing member of the Van Cortlandt family resident on the manor.

Pierre Van Cortlandt's is one of the great names of Westchester
County, second, indeed, to none in all the illustrious and noble ar-
ray. This is not the place for a particular account of his career,
which, in its more distinctive features, is connected with the events
of the Revolutionary and subsequent periods. When those events
come to be treated we shall see that in the almost balanced condition
of sentiment in this country at the time of the Revolution, his was
probably the determining influence. Others led the political hosts
for independence, but Van Cortlandt's support, calmly and unpre-
tendingly given, though with all resoluteness and conviction, was
a factor that counted for quite as much as the activities of the agita-
tors. Not an old man, ami yet arrived at an age of gravity; not a
politician in the common sense, but well experienced in public af-
fairs and having a reputation for great judiciousness and virtuous
love of truth and right; the head of a family as reputable and as
highly and widely connected as any in the province, his example
was of inestimable moral value to a cause which, in this county
at least, had little need for vehement and aggressive advocates, but
much for courageous upholders from among the dignified and con-
servative classes of society. His services to the patriot movement
began in the colonial assembly, of which he was a member, and
from that time until after the organization of the government of the
United States he was one of the most earnest, useful, and prominent
promoters of political independence and stable republican institu-
tions. His private life was identified almost exclusively with West-
chester County. Born on the 10th of January, 1712, he lived on the
manor from boyhood, taking an active part at an early age in the
family interests. His father, Philip, bequeathed to him " all that

1 He was the ancestor of the English branch ters marrying into the best English and Scotch
of the Van Cortlandts— the " eldest " branch. families. The present Lord Elphinstone, one
At the termination of the war, he went to of the Queen's lords in waiting, is a great-
England to reside, and died at Hailsham, in grandson of Colonel Van Cortlandt. Of the
1S14. He had twenty-three children, twelve of English branch no male descendant of the
whom reached maturity, the sons all attaining name is living.— The Van Cortlandt Family, by
high rank in the British army and the daugh- Mrs. Pierre E. Van Cortlandt, Scharf, ii., 428.

THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES 273

my house and farm or lott of land, — being the east town lott from
Teller's Point extending all along Croton River, together with the
Ferry House and ferry thereunto belonging." He married Joanna,
daughter of Gilbert Livingston and granddaughter of Robert, the
first lord of Livingston Manor; and in September, 1741), he made the
manor house his permanent place of abode. There were born all of his
children, four sons and three daughters, of whom Philip, the distin-
guished General Philip Van Cortlandt of the Revolutionary army,
was the eldest. Those were palmy days for the old manor house. Cad-
wallader Golden, writing to his wife in 1753, said: "'I have had a
very pleasant ride from Pishkill to Van Cortlandt, where I lodged,
passing easily through the mountains. Young Pierre ami his charm-
ing wife keep up the hospitality of the house equal to his late father.''
His time was largely devoted to caring for the interests of the numer-
ous Van Cortlandt heirs in connection with the manor lands — a very
responsible business, involving many delicate matters. He died in the
manor house on the 1st of May, 1S14, being aged more than ninety-
three years. He lies buried in the cemetery of the Van Cortlandts.
The following is the inscription on his tomb:

" Mark the perfect man and behold the upright ; for the end of that man is peace."

In memory of the Honorable Pierre Van Cortlandt, late Lieutenant-Governor of the
State of New York, and President of the Convention that formed the Constitution thereof
during the Revolutionary war with (heat Britain. He departed this life on the first day of
May, 1814, in the ninety-fourth year of his age.

lie was a patriot of the first order, zealous to the last for the Liberties of his Country.

A man of exemplary Virtues ; kind as a neighbor, fond and indulgent as a Parent— An
honest man, ever the friend id" the Poor.

Respected and beloved, the simplicity of his private life was that of an ancient Patriarch.
He died a bright witness of that perfect Love which casts out the fear of Death, putting his
trust in the Living God, and witli full assurance of Salvation in the redeeming love of Jesus
Christ, retaining his recollection to the last and calling upon his Saviour to take him to
himself.

The " Yonkers branch " of the Van Cortlandts, founded by the New
York merchant, Jacobus Van Cortlandt (a younger son of Oloff Stev-
ense Van Cortlandt), who married Eva, stepdaughter of the first Fred-
erick Philipse, was throughout the colonial era a nourishing race.
Jacobus purchased from his father-in-law, Philipse, in 1G99, fifty acres,
to which he later added several hundred acres more. He promptly
began to improve his estate. About 1700 he dammed Tippet's
Brook, thus creating the present Van Cortlandt Lake; and probably
not long afterward he erected below the dam the Van Cortlandt mill,
which until as recent a date as 1889 (when it came into the posses-
sion of the City of Xew York) continued to grind corn for the neighbor-
ing farmers. Jacobus in his will bequeathed to his only son, Fred-
erick Van Cortlandt, his farm, " situate, lying, and being in a place

274 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER county

commonly called and known by the name of Little or Lower Yonck-
ers." Frederick (bora in 1698) married Francina, daughter of Au-
gustus and Anna Maria (Bayard) .Jay, whereby his descendants be-
came of kin to Chief Justice John Jay. It was under Frederick's pro-
prietorship thai the Van Cortlandt mansion now in the custody of the
Colonial Dames — a dwelling winch rivals the Philipse Manor house
at Yonkers as a specimen of high-class colonial architecture, and,
like the latter, is still in a state of perfect preservation — was con-
structed.

The Van Cortlandt Mansion ( we quote from the interesting descriptive pamphlet pub-
lished by its present custodians) is built of rubble stone, with brick trimmings about the
windows. It is unpretentious in appearance, yet possessing- a stateliness all its own, which
grows upon the visitor. It was erected in 1748 by Frederick Van Cortlandt — a stone on the
southwest corner bears the date — and possesses within and without many peculiarities of the
last century. . . . The style of architecture of the house is essentially Dutch. The old
Dutch builders were thorough masters of their trade, and put up a structure which is as
strong to-day as when New York was a colony. All the windows on the front are surmounted
by curious corbels, with faces grave or gay, satyrs or humans, but each different from the
other. Felix Oldboy innocently asked if they were portraits of the Van Cortlandts, and the
owner replied, " Yes, and that the particularly solemn one was taken after he had spent a
night with the boys." The window sills are wide and solidly built into the thick stone walls,
as was the fashion of the time, and vary somewhat in form in the second story. The side
hall and the dining-room, with the rooms above, belong to an addition built a year or two
later than the main house, and the "lean-to" is an addition of this century.

Frederick Van Cortlandl and his wife, Francina, had six children,
of whom Jacobus, (he eldest (born March 3, 1727), became the pro-
prietor of the " Little Yonkers" estate after the father's death, in
1750. This Jacobus (third proprietor) anglicized his name to James;
he was the highly respected and prominent Colonel James Van Cort-
landl of the Revolution. Though an undoubted patriot, and resi-
dent within the British lines, ho was not disturbed by the enemy
in his possessions, and, indeed, so great was the respect in which his
character was hold, was able frequently to exercise powerful influ-
ence with the British authorities in New York in behalf of his dis-
tressed countrymen. lie died in 1800 without issue, whereupon the
"•Little Yonkers" estate passed to his brother, Augustus; and after
the death of flu1 latter the principal portion of it (including the man-
sion) was held, until its purchase by the City of New York, in the
family of his daughter Anna, who married Henry White, the White
heirs of Augustus assuming the name of Van Cortlandt agreeably
to a requirement of his will.

The Manor of Pelham, having been reduced to one-third its original
dimensions in consequence of the sale in 1GS9 by John Pell (second
lord) of six thousand acres to the Huguenots of New Rochelle, never
subsequently to that time enjoyed very conspicuous rank among the
great original landed estates of Westchester County. Moreover, the

THE ARISTOCRATIC FAMILIES

275

successors of John Pell in its kk lordship " did not compare in influ-
ence or public activity with the descendants of the founders of Mor-
risania, Philipseburgh, Van Cortlandt, and Scarsdale Manors; and
the roll of members of the colonial assembly from Westchester
County during the eighteenth century does not contain the name of
a single Pell. However, the manor was preserved as such until the
death of the last " lord," Joseph Pell, in 1776; and the Pells in their
various branches were always a numerous and respectable family,
contracting advantageous marital alliances in both the male and
female lines. The principal person of the Pell name in later colonial
and Revolutionary times was Philip Pell, a conscientious, able, and
prominent patriot, who represented the State of New York in the con-
tinental congress of 1788, served as judge-advocate of the American
army, and after the war was sheriff of the county, his son, Philip
Pell, Jr., serving for many years as surrogate.

A family of very notable importance in political activity and rep-
resentative character for many years — rival-
ing, indeed, the Morrises, Philipses, de Lan-
ceys, and Van Cortlandts — was the ancient
Willett family of Cornell's Neck on the Sound.
The plantation of Cornell's Neck, identical
with the present (Mason's Point, was granted
to Thomas Cornell, a former colonist of Rhode
Island and Massachusetts, by the Dutch di-
rector, Kieft, in 1040. This was the third
recorded land grant in point of time with-
in the borders of what subsequently be-
came Westchester Comity, being antedated only by the grants to
Jonas Bronck of Bronxland and to John Throckmorton and asso-
ciates of Throgg's Neck. From Thomas Cornell the estate passed
successively to his widow, to his two daughters, Sarah ami Re-
becca, aiid to his grandson, William Willett, son of his eldest
daughter, Sarah, by her first husband, Thomas Willett. William
Willett (born 1644) ir, 1667 obtained from the first English governor,
Nicolls, a new patent to Cornell's Neck. He made his abode there,
apparently, soon afterward, ami lived in quid enjoyment of his hand-
some property until his death, in 1701. He was one of the first alder-
men of the borough Town of West Chester. Having no descendants — in
fact, he never married — he left Cornell's Neck to his younger brother,
the noted Colonel Thomas Willett, of Flushing. The latter at once
(March 28, 1701) conveyed it to his eldest son, William, expressing
among his reasons for that act his desire for "the advancement and
preferment of ye " said son. The kk advancement and preferment " of

tttttt

ttiit

PELL ARMS.

276

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the second William Willett transpired immediately; for in the same
year he was elected a delegate from Westchester County to the
provincial assembly, in which capacity lie served almost contin-
uous^ until his death (1733). This is a circumstance of peculiar
consequence when it is remembered that Cornell's Neck was com-
prised within the limits of the borough Town of Westchester, which
regularlv elected a deputy of its own to the assembly. William
Willett must have been a particularly forceful character to have
commanded the suffrages of the county for a generation, notwith-
standing his residence in the exceptionally favored borough town.
He was thoroughly identified with the popular party. We have seen

in a previous chapter
that when the great
issue of the abuse of
the governor's prerog-
ative arose, and a test
of popular sentiment
was instituted by
causing the deposed
Chief Justice Morris
to stand for the as-
sembly, William Wil-
lett resigned his seat
in that body to afford
opportunity for the
desired test; and also
that he was one of the
most zealous of Mor-
ris's partisans at the
famous electoral con-
t e s t on the East-
chester Green. In addition to his distinguished career in the as-
sembly, he was the successor of Caleb Heathcote (1721) as county
judge of Westchester County and colonel of the AVestchester County
militia. His eldest son, William Willett, 3d, also sat in the as-
sembly for the county (173S), and was appointed colonel of the
militia. This third William's brother, Gilbert Willett, was sheriff
of the county from 1723 to 1727, and represented Westchester Bor-
ough in the assembly from 1728 to his death, in 1732. The two
brothers were joint proprietors of Cornell's Neck, which in the next
generation became the exclusive property of Gilbert's son, Isaac Wil-
lett, after whose death it was owned by his widow, finally being dis-
tributed amongst various heirs.

OLD DUTCH CHCKCII, FOKOIIAM.

CHAPTEK XIV

FROM THE STAMP ACT TO THE LAST SESSION OF THE COLONIAL ASSEMBLY

jpB^SfHE theory and practice of colonial self-government were of
•%|M*i no sudden development in the Province of New York. Still
Jtg^jl;, iess were they the result of mere observation and imitation
' of bold examples set by the people of other British colonies

in America. In the earliest days of English rule, the people of New
York were not only ready for any measure of self-government that
might be granted to them, but were eager and aggressive in demand-
ing the privileges of free men. Under the proprietary rule of that
despotic prince, James, Duke of York, after nearly twenty years of
exclusively personal administration through his gubernatorial rep-
resentative, the province was, in 1683, conceded a certain share in
the government by the erection of a legislative assembly. The very
first act passed by that body was a proposed "Charter of Liberties
and Privileges granted by his Royal Highness to the Inhabitants of
New York and its dependencies," which was entirely in the line of
popular participation in the direction of affairs and popular limita-
tion of the functions of the executive. The Duke of York considered
the manifestations of the assembly of 1683 so inconsistent with his
notions of essentially prerogative government for the province that
the New York legislature was never again convened while he re-
tained authority, either during the remainder of the proprietary pe-
riod or during his reign as king of England. The liberty-desiring
people of the province harbored no kindly feeling for James as pro-
prietor or James as sovereign, and when the news arrived of the
Revolution of 1688 and the accession under liberal auspices of Will-
iam, Prince of Orange, they hailed it with joy, treated James's lieu-
tenant-governor, Nicholson, with scant courtesy, and finally expelled
him from his post and organized a temporary government of their
own which had all the character and effect of a purely repub-
lican regime, although without the slightest taint or suspicion
of anarchy. And this popular government of 1689-91, while originat-
ing in force, was in no sense a military institution. The chiefs of
the training-bands, who were responsible for it in the first instance,
immediately summoned a popular assembly, which appointed a strict-
ly civil council of safety. By the will of the general governing body

278

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

''<2^>dg&z/&.

established with so much courage yet decorum, Jacob Leisler took
the principal charge of affairs. The whole policy of Leisler aud his
associates was that of conscientious republican riders, who, it is
true, held the government in trust for the new king of England, but
held it as constituted representatives of the people, whose will, pend-
ing the definite expression of the will of the lawful sovereign, they
deemed paramount. In a vital public emergency, with which they
were quite competent to deal if they had chosen, they preferred to
leave the matter to the people, and accordingly called a new legis-
lative assembly. Regarding the existing government of the City of
New York as unadapted to the changed order of things, they did not,
however, presume to reorganize it by the use of appointive powers,
but ordeal a popular election for the choice of a new mayor and
aldermen. The spirit and transactions of the Leisler period afford

convincing evidence of
the very early pre-
paredness of the peo-
ple of New York for
political independence,
and also of their per-
fect capacity for its
orderly and creditable
exercise. There is no letter established fact than this in American
colonial history.

After the restitution of the provincial assembly as a permanent
parliament by William 1 1 1, in 1091, the people ardently availed them-
selves of the resources provided by {hat body for defending such
rights as they possessed against royal invasion, for harassing arbi-
trary or objectionable governors, and for gradually asserting the
broad principle of American liberty. Tie- government of the province
was modeled upon that of England, with important differences. The
assembly corresponded to the house of commons, to which, as a
representative elective body of the people a1 large, it bore a perfect
similitude. The council took the place of both the house of lords
and the ministerial cabinet, being in theory partly a higher chamber
and partly a body of executive advisers. It was in practice wholly
subservient to the governor, since its members were appointable and
removable by the home government in England, subject singly to his
recommendation. By the entire absence of a ki government of the
day," executive power was concentrated in the hands of the governor,
who, unless a man of exceptionally virtuous and moderate character
(which seldom happened), was therefore under strong temptation to
regard himself as a ruler to whom uncommon individual authority

EVENTS FROM 1765 TO 1 ( 75 279

belonged in the natural order of things. But this condition operated
powerfully to make of the assembly not merely a counterpoise in
the government, but an irreconcilable antagonistic force. As there
was no established ministry responsible to the assembly and capable
of reversal by it on the merits of administrative acts and policies,
the assembly was not a highly organized and nicely related depart-
ment in a carefully adjusted scheme of government, but stood with
great formality on an independent footing. The result was that, in-
stead of being a co-operative factor in the business of managing the
province, it held itself in an attitude of confirmed reserve toward
the executive It was a substantial repetition of the feud between
the parliament and the king, with the difference that, while that un-
happy feud in the mother country endured for only a brief compara-
tive period, its simulacrum in New York covered the entire time of
the existence of the province.

To the New York assembly, as to the British house of commons,
was reserved the exclusive right to originate money bills, which,
moreover, were1 unamendable by the council. This power was early
appreciated by the people as their great safeguard against effectual
tyranny, and in the case of every governor of unacceptable behavior
they enforced it with unsparing rigidity. Holding the purse-strings,
they could exceedingly embarrass the haughtiest governor, and, in
fact, there was a perpetual irritation between the executive and the
legislature on the subject of grants of supplies. Governor after gov-
ernor was sent over from England with express instructions to cor-
rect these exasperating practices, but dismal failure resulted in every
instance. To such a pitch had the resolute spirit of the colonists
readied after sixty years of representative government, that upon the
arrival of the royal Governor Osborn, in 1753, he was greeted by the
city corporation with an address in which was expressed the signifi-
cant expectation that lie would be as "averse from countenancing
as we from brooking any infringements of our inestimable liberties.''
It happened that Osborn had been particularly directed by the British
government to curb the aggressive tendencies of the colonists. He
was a man of peculiarly sensitive soul, and the use of such terms in
an official address of welcome from the capital of the province over
which he was to rule greatly disturbed him. Inquiring of some of
the principal men about the general political conditions, he was
told of the extreme obstinacy of the assembly, notably in the mat-
ter of voting supplies — an obstinacy from which it would never re-
cede one step, however commanded, wheedled, or threatened. It was
well established at the time that Governor Osborn's sensational sui-
cide was due to despondency over the gloomy prospect thus held

280 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

before him. A tragical episode of another kind, the " battle of
Golden Hill," New York City (January 19 and 20, 1770), resulting in
the shedding of the hrst blood of the Revolution, is directly trace-
able to the grim policy of the New York provincial assembly in re-
lation to money grants. The assembly had persistently refused to
provide certain articles, such as beer and cider, for the use of the
British garrison quartered in New York City, and this conduct had
greatly incensed the soldiery, who had borne themselves toward the
populace of the city with a particularly swaggering demeanor, be-
sides committing overt acts of serious offensiveness. Hence arose
extreme bad feeling, terminating in the Golden Hill affair. It was
also as a consequence of the assembly's course iu the controversy
about supplies for the troops that the extraordinary act of parlia-
ment suspending the business of the New York assembly on the
ground of insubordination was passed (October, 1767). This act was
" for restraining and prohibiting the governor, council, aud house
of representatives of the Province of New York, until provision shall
have been made for furnishing the king's troops with all the neces-
saries required by law, from passing or assenting to any act of as-
sembly, vote, or resolution for any other purpose."

Compared, however, with the general disposition of the masses of
the people, the course of the assembly toward the crown ami its offi-
cial representatives was eminently respectful and amiable. The pro-
vincial assembly of New York was always entirely loyal to the king
in its professions, and also in its true spirit; and even to the last
days of its last session, when the clouds of war were about to spread
over the land, was averse from being otherwise regarded. It was a
relatively small legislative body, never having more than thirty mem-
bers; and it uniformly contained a large proportionate element of
gentlemen of wealth, culture, and select social connections, who,
while differing on public questions, and especially on the great ques-
tion of colonial rights, had an abiding respect for the forms of attach-
ment to the crown so long as those forms were not abrogated. In-
deed, despite the characteristic stubbornness of the assembly toward
the governors, it was not wholly unamenable to executive1 persua-
sion, even upon critical occasions of popular feeling. Concerning the
binning issue of supplies for the troops, which was coincident with
the Stamp Act agitation, it hrst assumed a, position of uncompro-
mising resistance, refusing to furnish not only beer and cider, but
such absolutely necessary articles as fuel, lights, bedding, cooking
utensils, and salt as well. Yet from this radical stand it gradually
receded, granting first one item and then another. The measure of
parliament practically extinguishing the New York assembly —

EVENTS FROM 1TG5 TO 1"

281

which was an act of diabolical tyranny if ever there was one — was
met not with scornful defiance, but with submission! It is true that
the assembly continued to give sufficient trouble to the governor,
but it caused quite as much dissatisfaction to the revolutionary
spirits among the citizens, who could not brook the thought that
the representative body of the people should be in the least sub-
servient to their assumed masters. In the vacillating record of the
assembly i> certainly to be found the explanation of the general
impression which has always existed and probably never will be
quite removed, that New York was comparatively a conservative and
reluctant factor in the movement of the thirteen colonies for inde-
pendence— an impression which is
most unjust, not to be encouraged for
a moment by any historical student
who impartially examines the evi-
dences of the true disposition of the
people of New York Province through-
out colonial times.

The several conspicuous examples of
this characteristic popular disposition
which have been noted in the progress
of our narrative need not be multi-
plied here. A few words respecting its
more important special relations are,
however, necessary to a proper under-
standing of general conditions before
resuming the thread of the story.

Lieutenant - Governor Cadwallader
Golden, who occupied the chief magistracy of the province for
most of the time from de Lancey's death until the Revolution — an
able and well-intentioned man, but an extremist in the assertion of
the prerogatives of the crown, — very instructively summed tip the par-
tisan situation in one of his official reports to the British ministry.
Writing on the 21st of February, 1770, soon after the Golden Hill con-
flict, he said: ,( The persons who appear on these occasions are of in-
ferior rank, but it is not doubted that they are directed by some per-
sons of distinction in this place. It is likewise thought they are en-
couraged by some persons of note1 in England. They consist chiefly of
dissenters, who are very numerous, especially in the country, and
have a great influence over the country members of the assembly.
The most active among them are independents from New England,
or educated there, and of republican principles." On the other hand,
said Governor ('olden, " the friends of government are of the Church

CADWALLADER COLDEN.

282 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

of England, the Lutherans, and the old Dutch congregation, with
several Presbyterians." From this classification the great prepon-
derance of aggressive sentiment in the province is a very manifest
fact. The "dissenters" were, indeed, overwhelmingly in the major-
ity. Even in our County of Westchester, where powerful influences
were arrayed on the side of the Church of England, its adherents did
not compare in numbers with those of other denominations. Accord-
ing to a list compiled by the Rev. W. S. Coffey, of Mount Vernon, of
the church edifices erected in this comity previously to the Revolu-
tion, only seven of those structures belonged to the Church of Eng-
land, while nineteen were built by other congregations, including
"Independents," Friends, Presbyterians, Huguenots, Reformed Dutch,
and Reformed Protestant. Governor Colden's enumeration of the
Lutherans, the old Dutch, and "several Presbyterians" among the
"friends of government" is merely a recognition that Toryism did
not wholly depend for support upon the aristocratic church. The
Lutherans, or Germans, and the "old Dutch," belonging to an alien
race, deliberate, slow, easily satisfied with moderately free institu-
tions, accustomed by all their traditions to live under authority with-
out very jealously scrutinizing its nature or limiting its bounds, had
ways of thinking quite foreign to those of the restless propagandists
of American liberty, whom, indeed, they neither understood nor de-
sired to understand. It was not a quarrel of these German and
Dutch aliens; as a rule, they felt only a languid interest in it, and
held aloof from it until forced to choose sides, when, as a rule, fol-
lowing the conservative instincts of their natures, they preferred the
side of established order to that of revolutionary convulsion. They
really constituted a passive element, and were loyalists mainly in
the sense that they were not disturbers of the prevailing conditions.
As for the "several Presbyterians" claimed by Governor Colden as
belonging to the anti-revolutionary party, his application of that
diminutive numerical to them was well chosen. In earlier times the
name "Presbyterians" was generic for all who were not of the
"Court" party— that is, for all who arrayed themselves politically
against the " Episcopalian," or arrogant ruling, class— the Church
of England having been the institution of those who cherished pe-
culiarly their British breeding and antecedents, holding themselves
as a superior society amid a mixed citizenship of colonials, ami, con-
sistently with such pretensions, forming an always reliable prop for
the crown and the crown's officers. To be a " Presbyterian " in the
political meaning of the word in New York at that early period
was to be identified with the factious populace, the populace of
Smith and Alexander, Chief Justice Morris and Peter Zenger, al-

EVENTS FROM 1765 TO 1775

283

though that populace was far too respectably led for the designa-
tion ever to have been one of derision. Later, the part}* names Whig
and Tory came into vogue. At the time when Governor Golden
made the above quoted analysis of popular sentiment in the province
the Presbyterian religious sect, like every other non-conformist Eng-
lish-speaking denomination, was almost solidly against British op-
pression, with only here and there an influential opponent of the
popular cause.

Nor did the defenders of the crown at all hazards make up in

relative influence and ability
numbers. With all their
boasts of superiority, the
Tories of New York have left
few names remarkable for
anything more meritorious
than proud faithfulness to
the British monarchy, which
faithfulness, moreover — as,
for example, in the lamenta-
ble case of our Frederick
Philipse, — was p r o m p t e d
quite as often by miscal-
culating conceptions of the
chances of the war as by
nervous scorn for sordid self-
interest. On the other hand,
the contributions made by
X«-w York to the roll of Rev-
olutionary patriots of the
more eminent order are im-
pressively numerous. From
whatever aspect the state of
political society in New
York on the eve of the Revoli
the friends of freedom.

The immediate causes of t
parliament for taxing the c<
villi which these measures

what thev lacked so distressing! v in

it ion is viewed, the advantage was with

he Revolution were the enactments of
denies, the unromproiiiising resistance
were met in America, and the conse-
quent resentment of Great Britain, leading to new manifestations of
various kinds. The triumphant conclusion of the French and In-
dian War, by which Canada was wrested from France and made a
pari of the colonial empire of England, was an unmixed blessing for
the people of the thirteen colonies. It put an end forever to a con-

L\S4

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

dition which had been a standing menace to their peace and pros-
perity—the existence of a hostile neighbor at the north. The col-
onists had cheerfully borne their part in the great achievement, and,
if properly appealed to, would have discharged as cheerfully their
share of the resulting indebtedness. But the British government
had grown weary of submitting to the caprices of the colonial as-
semblies in the matter of money grants, and, in looking to America
after the close of the war for financial assistance on a substantial
scale, resolved to make that necessity the occasion of some decided
changes in the former order of things. The changes determined upon
were, in their essential details, startling innovations. The assem-
blies were required to abandon their old practice of limiting, in
amount or as to time, the supplies demanded by the governors, and
to obediently vote them without discussion. They were to vote the
civil list first of all and without question, which meant that all the
royal officers were to be made independent of any disfavor con-
ceived toward them by the popular assemblies; and, as a logical sequel
to this, tenure of office was to be in future at the royal pleasure,
without reference to "good behavior." In order that the operation
of these and other plans might not be interfered with by possibly
conflicting provisions in existing colonial charters, all such charters
were put to an end. The drastic navigation laws, which had always
been a crying grievance, were to be rigidly enforced. Finally, the
colonies were to be taxed directly by parliament, through the me-
dium of stamped paper, whose use was to be obligatory in all mer-
cantile transactions, and even for marriage licenses. And as a
means for compelling acquiescence in the new regulations a stand-
ing army of ten thousand men Avas to be sent over and quartered
on the Americans, who were required to pay toward its maintenance
some £100,000 annually, or one-third of the entire cost. There
was a pretense that the purpose of the troops was to afford protec-
tion to the colonists, but no one was deceived by it.

Early in the year 1765 the Stamp Act was introduced in parlia-
ment, and on the 22d of March it received the signature of the king.
The time appointed for its taking effect was the 1st of November.
As soon as the news of its passage reached America, measures were
set on foot for offering as effective an opposition as possible to its
enforcement. Communications on the subject were exchanged by
the various colonial assemblies; ami it was decided to hold a gen-
eral congress of the colonies to discuss the matter and to take steps
for united action. This body came together on October 7 in the
assembly chamber of the city hall in New York, twenty-eight dele-
gates being in attendance, representing nine of the thirteen colonies.

EVENTS FROM 1765 TO 1775 285

The delegates from New York were John Cruger, Robert E. Living-
ston, Philip Livingston, William Bayard, and Leonard Lispenard.
Strong resolutions were adopted, as well as petitions to the king,
the house of lords, and the house of commons, for the repeal of
the act. On October 23 the ship bearing New York's consignment
of the stamped paper arrived in the harbor. This was the signal for
aggressive popular demonstrations, which wore so formidable and
were attended by such significant evidences of the determination
of the people to prevent the enforcement of the act and of the gen-
eral co-operation of the merchants in that purpose, that the govern-
ment did not dare attempt its execution. Indeed, the first packages
of stamped paper were, at the request of the citizens, turned over
to the city corporation for " safe keeping," and upon the arrival of a
second shipment from England the vessel bringing it was boarded by
a deputation of the people and the packages were taken ashore and
burned. But the most powerful weapon used by the inhabitants of
New York against the Stamp Act was the celebrated "Non-Importa-
tion Agreement." This was adopted on the evening of October 31,
17C>.>, by some two hundred New York merchants, at a meeting held
in Burns's coffee house. They pledged themselves to import no goods
from England until the Stamp Act should be repealed. The merchants
of Philadelphia adopted a like agreement on November 7, and those
of Boston on December 1. The consequences were immediately felt
by the shipping public in England, and were so disastrous that pres-
sure was brought to bear upon parliament, which resulted in the
repeal of the act on February 22, 17(i('», less than a year after its pro-
mulgation. The (went caused great rejoicing in the City of New
York. The king's birthday, the 4th of June, was made the occasion
of a grand celebration, one of whose incidents was the erection of a
liberty pole under the auspices of the Sons of Liberty. This organ-
ization was a secret confraternity of the more radical element of
the people, with ramifications throughout the colonies. It appears
to have been full Hedged at the time of the taking effect of the
Stamp Act, since the thoroughly organized resistance to the act which
was offered by the people at large was uniformly traceable to its
members. The Sons of Liberty were the mainstay of the whole pop-
ular agitation against British oppression and in favor of American
independence from the time of the passage of the Stamp Act until
the championship of their cause became the business of armies in
the field.

The Stamp Act repeal was followed by a year of quiet. But in
May, 1767, another parliamentary scheme for taxing the colonies
was instituted, which imposed port duties on many articles of com-

286

HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

mon use, including glass, paper, lead, painters' colors, and tea. Al-
though intense feeling was excited throughout the colonies by the
new law, two years passed by before a systematic policy of effective
opposition was entered upon. Then, in the spring of 17(59. the mer-
chants of New York again met and formulated a second Non-Impor-
tation Agreement, under which no English goods, with but few ex-
ceptions, were to be purchased so long as the duties should remain
in force. The mercantile communities of Philadelphia and Boston
were somewhat tardy in assenting to this instrument, but by the
fall they gave in their adhesion. Again the British ministry, ap-
palled at the falling off in American trade, was forced to yield, and

in 1770 all the duties objected to, ex-
cept that on tea, were annulled.
Meantime New York, while observ-
ing to the letter the obligations of
t h e Non-Importation Agreement,
had great cause of complaint against
Boston and Philadelphia, where it
was secretly violated on a large scale
by the merchants. Exasperated at
this lack of faith, the New Yorkers,
after the abrogation of all the taxes
except on tea, retired from the agree-
ment, which thereafter fell to the
ground in the other cities as well.
It was, however, generally under-
stood that no tea should be imported
whilst the tax endured — an under-
standing which, despite the greater
historic fame in that connection en-
joyed by Boston on account of her
so-called " Tea Party," was executed
with equal determination and success in New York. For some
three years practically all the ten bought in America was from
England's European commercial rivals. Finally, in 1773, the Brit-
ish cabinet attempted a master stroke. They rescinded the large
export duty taxed on tea leaving British ports, retaining, however,
the small import duty of three pence per pound on American impor-
tations of the article. The Boston Tea Party occurred on the 16th
of December, 1773. Up to that date no tea had arrived at New
York, but more than a month previously careful arrangements had
been made by the Sons of Liberty and others to prevent the landing

WILLIAM PITT.

EVENTS FROM 17G5 TO 1775 287

of any and all the packages that should be brought there. Two
tea ships, the " Nancy " an<l the " London,*' came into port the next
April. One of them was obliged to return to England without de-
livering her cargo, and the other was boarded by the Sons of Lib-
erty, who, breaking open the chests, threw the tea into the East
River.

The rejection of the tea by Boston had already made it manifest
to the king and his ministers that no plan for taxing the colonies by
direct action of parliament could succeed through the operation of
the ordinary forms of law, and that the time had come to resort to
extremities. Early in 1774 an act known as the Boston Tort Bill was
passed — a punitive measure, designed to coerce the city by closing
her port. News of the proceedings reached New York on the 12th
of May. It was instantly recognized that a like fate was undoubtedly
in store for New York, and accordingly a great meeting was held,
under the joint auspices of the Sons of Liberty and the more dig-
nified classes of the community, presided over by Isaac Low, a prom-
inent merchant, a leading member of the Church of England, and,
although a sympathizer with the cause of liberty, well known for
his comparatively moderate principles. Out of this meeting re-
sulted the formation of the Xew York ••Committee of Correspond-
ence," consisting of fifty-one members, which assumed the direction
of the popular movement thron ghoul the province, and whence the
measures taken for organizing the country districts in behalf of
American liberties emanated. From the creation of the committee
of correspondence dales the beginning of the tirst established means
for bringing the patriotic sentiment of Westchester County into ac-
tive co-operation with that of tin- American people at large.

In that truly astonishing production, the late Henry B. Dawson's
•• Westchester County During the American Revolution," ] a labored
attempt is made to establish the reasonableness of the author's fa-
vorite dogma that the Revolution was a grievous offense to the good
and loyal people of our county, and found little or no favor among
them, at least in the formative state of things. Mr. Dawson regards
it as scandalously improbable that the honest, discreef, humble, and
virtuous inhabitants of this strictly rural county, fearing Cod ami
loving their lawful king, could have had anything in common with
the greedy, smuggling merchants and unblushing political deina-

1 Although this performance of Dawson's is that work. Notwithstanding the enormous

very elaborate, ii is really Inn a fragment, labor manifestly expended upon it. it possesses

terminating with tin- battle of White Plains. little interest for the general reader, being

It was undertaken by its anther as a contribu- prodigiously formal in its style and burdened

tien to Scharfs History, and occupies two with excessive redundancies. It is pre-eminent-

hundred and eighty pages of theflrst volume of ly one of the curiosities of historical literature.

288 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

gogues of New York City, who stirred up the naughty rebellion and
prepared woe and havoc for the poor, loyal countryman. "Such a
community as that which constituted the County of Westchester,"
says lie, "a community of well-situated, intelligent, and well-to-do
farmers, diligently and discreetly attending to its own affairs, with-
out the disturbing influences of any village or county coterie, has
generally been distinguished for its rigid conservatism in all its
relations; and such a community has always been more inclined to
maintain those various long-continued, well-settled, and generally
satisfactory relations with more than ordinary tenacity, preferring
very often to continue an existing inconvenience or an intangible
wrong, to which it had become accustomed, rather than to accept,
in its sterol, the possibility of an advantage, indefinitely promised,
in an untried and uncertain change." This curious theory he sup-
ports in his application of it to Westchester County by the single
tangible statement that "there is not any known evidence of the
existence, at any time, of any material excitement among these farm-
ers, on any subject." It is of course unprofitable to discuss either
the general proposition of Mr. Dawson concerning the uniform nat-
ural conservatism of intelligent rural communities, or his claim that
this county had always before the Revolution been exempt from po-
litical excitement. In view, however, of Mr. Dawson's reputation
as a minute and entirely well-meaning historical writer — a reputa-
tion appreciated especially by his many surviving friends in West-
chester County, — his study of our Revolutionary period can not, in
a work on the general history of the county, escape the passing criti-
cism which its spirit merits, as, on the other hand, the abundant his-
torical data that we owe to his researches can not escape grateful
recognition. It is greatly to be regretted that to an essay prepared
with so much painstaking he should, on grounds not only the most
unjustified but the most trivial, have given a general tendency of
such extreme unaccept ability to American readers. We have char-
acterized his performance as astonishing, and we know of no other
fitting term to be applied to a cynically pro-Tory account by an
American historian, more than a century after the Revolutionary
War, of the course of that struggle in a county distinguished for
prompt acceptance and unfaltering and self-sacrificing support of the
issue of liberty under the most difficult and menacing circumstances
imaginable.

During the ten years from the passage of the Stamp Act, in 1705,
to the end of the provincial assembly, in 1775, the county (including
the Manor of Cortlandt and the borough Town of Westchester) was

EVENTS FROM 17G5 TO 1775 289

represented in the assembly, for longer or briefer periods, by Colonel
Frederick Philipse (3d), Peter de Lancey and John, his brother, Judge
John Thomas, Philip Verplanck, Pierre Van Cortlandt, Isaac Wil-
kins, and Colonel Lewis Morris (3d). Philipse and Thomas served
continuously throughout that period, both sitting for the county. Van
Cortlandt succeeded Verplanck as member from Cortlandt Manor.
Morris was a delegate for only one year. The de Lanceys and Wil-
kins were from Westchester Borough, Wilkins being assemblyman
during the four closing years (1772-75*. James de Lancey. son of
Peter and a nephew of the chief justice, in addition to his duties
as high sheriff of Westchester County, represented a New York City
constituency during the period in question. With the names of
Philipse, the de Lanceys, Van Cortlandt, and Morris the reader is
already familiar. They will recur prominently in the succeeding
pages. Philipse and James de Lancey were stanch opponents of the
whole Revolutionary programme; Van Cortlandt and Morris were as
stanch supporters of it. Jolm Thomas was judge of the Court of
Common Pleas of Westchester County in 1737-39, and again from
1705 to 1776. He was a son of the Rev. John Thomas, a missionary
and rector of the Church of England. Judge Thomas was a very
prominent citizen of Rye, and one of the most consistent and valu-
able advocates of independence, dying a martyr to the cause in a
prison in New York City in 1777. Isaac Wilkins, of Castle Hill
Neck, in the Borough of Westchester, was ;i brother-in-law of Lewis
and Couverneur Morris, but was on the opposite side politically. He
was one of the leaders of the conservative forces in the last pro-
vincial assembly, and was suspected of being the author of the
noted Tory tracts published over the signature of "A. W. Farmer."
He acted as spokesman for the motley adherents of "Great George,
our King," at the county meeting at White Plains in April, 1775, and
two months later tied to England. After a varied career, which com-
prehended a prolonged residence (subsequently to the war) among the
forlorn refugee Loyalists in Nova Scotia, he returned in 1798 to West-
chester and became rector of Saint Peter's Church. In the historic
assembly of 1775, when the issues for and against aggressive re-
sistance to England were sharply drawn, Westchester County's rep-
resentatives were Van Cortlandt, Thomas, Philipse, and Wilkins.

It is thus seen that, as concerns representation in the assembly,
the opposing parties of liberty and loyalty were exactly balanced in
this county. On the one side were Pierre Van Cortlandt ami Judge
Thomas; on the other, Frederick Philipse and Isaac Wilkins. Phil-
ipse, of course, had at his back the whole of his great manor. Wilkins
really represented the de Lancey interest, which controlled the Bor-

290

HISTORY OF WESTC1IKSTKK COUNTY

eugh of Westchester, where also a Tory mayor, Nathaniel Underbill,
grandson of the " redoubtable " Captain John, presided. Against
this powerful conservative combination stood the Morrises in the ex-
treme southern part of the county, Judge Thomas, representing no
landed estates but the simple yeomanry of Rye, Harrison's Pur-
chase, and the central sections, and Pierre Van Cortlandt, the bead

of the great Van Cortlandt family.
The popular side, therefore, comprised
diverse elements. The Morrises were
known chiefly as an aggressive polit-
ical family, with a well-defined follow-
ing, but hardly adapted to attract the
normally conservative or as yet unde-
cided classes. Thomas represented a
constituency of sturdy settlers, mostly
of New England antecedents and
largely belonging to zealous religious
sects. Van Cortlandt was in all re-
spects a match for Philipse and the
de Lanceys, to whatever elevation of
dignity or social importance they pre-
tended; and it was his personality
to the Revolutionary movement in Westchester County
a far different aspect than that of a mere propaganda of agitators.
His support of the cause stamped it necessarily as one demanding
Hie most respectful consideration of honest and intelligent men; for
it was beyond question that his attachment to it was wholly due to
a conception of its singular righteousness and of his high duty. He
was no new convert, but had stood for the rights of the colonies from
the beginning. The arts of the tempter and briber had, moreover,
been practiced upon him in the British interest. The late Mrs. Pierre
E. Van Cortlandt, in her historical account of the Van Cortlandt
family, tells how he nobly rebuked the royal Governor Tryon when
approached by that personage with corrupt offers:

In 1774 Governor Tryon came to Croton, ostensibly on a visit of courtesy, bringing with
him his wife, Miss Watts, a daughter of the Hon. John Watts (a kinsman of the Van
Cortlandts), and Colonel Fanning, his secretary. They remained for a night at the Manor
House, and the next morning Governor Tryon proposed a walk. They all proceeded to one
of the highest points on the estate, and, pausing, Tryon announced to the listening Van Cort-
landt the great favors that would be granted to him if he would espouse the royal cause and
give his adhesion to the king and the parliament. Large grants of land would be added to
his estate, and Tryon hinted that a title might be bestowed. Van Cortlandt answered that
"he was chosen a'representative by unanimous approbation of a people who placed confidence
in his integrity to use all his ability for their benefit and the good of his country as a true
patriot, which line of conduct he was determined to pursue." Tryon, finding persuasion and

ISAAC WILKIN!:

which gj

EVENTS FROM 1765 TO 1775 291

bribes vain, turned to Colonel Fanning with the brief remark, « I find our business here must
terminate, for nothing can be effected in this place " ; and after hasty farewells they embarked
on their sloop and returned to New York.

After the appointment of the committee of correspondence by the
meeting held in New York in May, 1774, events moved rapidly for-
ward to a crisis. Boston, having- received earlier news of the closing
of her port, had taken action on the matter two or three days before
New York, and at a public meeting- presided over by Samuel Adams
had adopted a resolution appealing for the united support of the
colonies in a new Non-Importation Agreement. On the afternoon of
Tuesday, the 17th of May, Paul Revere passed through Westchester
County, along the old Boston Post Road, bearing dispatches from
the Boston citizens to their brethren in New York and Philadelphia.
New York responded immediately with a recommendation for a new
colonial congress, which was adopted. The people of New York City
on July 4 elected as delegates to that body Philip Livingston, John
Alsop, Isaac Low, James Duane, and John Jay.

John Jay, who on this occasion made his first appearance in a high
representative capacity, was reared from infancy in Westchester
County and began among us his career as a lawyer. His great-
grandfather, Pierre Jay, a Huguenot of La Rochelle, France, emi-
grated to England during the troublous times of Catholic persecu-
tion, leaving a son, Augustus, who came to New York about 1686,
married Anna Maria Bayard, daughter of Balthazar Bayard, and led
a prosperous life as a merchant. Augustus's son, Peter, after ac-
quiring a competency in business pursuits in the city, purchased a
farm in our Town of Bye, where he lived with his numerous family
for the remainder of his days. He is described by Smith, the Tory
historian of New York, as " a gentleman of opulence, character, and
reputation," and by Baird, the historian of Bye, as " a man of sin-
cere and fervent piety, of cheerful temper, warm affections, and
strong good sense." He married Mary, daughter of Jacobus Van
Cortlandt and granddaughter of Oloff Stevense Van Cortlandt and
the first Frederick Philipse. Their eighth child was John Jay, born
in New York City, December 12, 1745. He lived with his parents
throughout his childhood and youth in the homestead at Rye — " a
long, low building, but one room deep and eighty feet wide, having
attained this size to meet the wants of a numerous family." He was
educated at King's College (now Columbia), taking the bachelor of
arts degree in 1764, and, after being admitted to the bar, entered
upon a professional career in which he soon gained a reputation os
one of the most brilliant and intellectual men in New York. He

292

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

took a leading part in the public discussion of the questions between
the colonies and the mother country, holding aloof from the radical
and noisy politicians, but enjoying the unbounded confidence and
admiration of the judicious friends of American independence. By
the time matters had become shaped for the inevitable, he stood
foremost among the well-balanced and sagacious patriots of New

York. In 177-1 he married Sarah
Van Brugh Livingston, daughter
of William Livingston. After the
completion of his illustrious pub-
lic career, he retired to an estate in
the Town of Bedford, this county,
where lie died.1 He was the father
of the eminent and beloved Judge
William Jay, of our county bench,
and the grandfather of the late dis-
tinguished statesman, John Jay,
also a prominent Westchester
County character. One of the feat-
ures of the Town of Eye is the cem-
etery of the Jay family, in which
stands a monument to the memory
of the great chief justice.
The committee of correspondence in New York City, soon after its
organization, opened communication with the rural counties. A sub-
committee of live (John Jay being one of its members) was appointed
on the 30th of May " to write a circular letter to the supervisors in
the different counties, acquainting them of the appointment of this
committee, and submitting To the consideration of the inhabitants
of the counties whether it could not be expedient for them to ap-
point persons to correspond with this committee "upon matters rela-
tive to the purposes for which they were appointed." A circular let-
ter was accordingly written, of which thirty copies were sent to the
treasurer of Westchester County, with a request to distribute them
among "the supervisors of the several districts." It is not known
whether this was done. At all events, nothing resulted, as no re-
plies from Westchester County appear among the records of the
committee. But in July a second circular was sent, which met with
a different treatment from this county. It communicated informa-

ACCiCSTUS JAY.

1 The Jay homestead at Bedford, says Bol-
ton, " for four generations the residence and
estate of the Jay family," descended to them

eir an

pest

or,

J a ci

ilms V;

Cortlandt,

•hnsed

the

Indian

eh em Ka

i 1703."

lev

. ed.,

i.. 77.)

events prom 1TG3 to 1775 293

tion of the election of delegates to the approaching congress by the
City and County of New York, and requested the other counties either
to appoint additional delegates of their own or to signify their will-
ingness that the delegates already chosen in the city should act for
them also, on the understanding that whatever number of repre-
sentatives should appear from this province at the congress they
would be entitled to but one vote. Pursuant to this second circular
a Westell ester County convention was called to meet in the court-
house at White Plains, on the 22d of August, various towns and
districts choosing local delegates to represent them. The Towns of
Uye and Westchester held particularly well-attended meetings for
that purpose and adopted rousing resolutions. The Rye delegation
was headed by John Thomas, Jr., and the Westchester by Colonel
Lewis Morris. It is noteworthy, however, that both the Rye and West-
chester resolutions, although expressing the views of the two most
radical political leaders in the county, were emphatic in the asser-
tion of loyalty to the king — so far removed from the public mind
was the thought of rebellion. Upon this point the Rye people said:
"That they think it their greatest happiness to live under the illus-
trious House of Hanover; and that they will steadfastly and uni-
formly bear true and faithful allegiance to His Majesty, King George
the Third, under the enjoyment of their constitutional rights and
privileges as fellow-subjects with those of England." And the W'est-
chester citizens declared: " That we do and will bear true allegiance
to His Majesty, George the Third, King of Great Britain, etc., ac-
cording to the British Constitution."

The county convention at White Plains on August 22, 1774, was
not a specially important body, at least from the standpoint of its
proceedings. The most interesting thing in connection with it is
that its presiding officer was Frederick Philipse, the Tory "lord,"
who, less than a year later, was to lead his tenant clans at the
same place, though in very different circumstances and emergencies,
in a vain protest against a repetition of the same political action for
which he now stood the chief sponsor. There was no dissident ele-
ment in the convention, and by unanimous consent the live men pre-
viously elected by the people of New York City as delegates to the
general congress were accepted as delegates for the County of West-
chester likewise.

The general congress of the colonies, the first held since the Stamp
Act congress of 1765, assembled in Philadelphia on the 5th of Sep-
tember, 1774, and continued in session until October 20. It proved
in every way worthy of the great occasion which called it into being,
and the result of its deliberations was to immensely stimulate dis-

294 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

cussion throughout the colonies and to strengthen the resolution and
hope of the people. It prepared and issued a declaration of rights,
advised the adoption of a third Non-Importation Agreement, and
made provision for the election in each colony of delegates to an-
other congress, which was appointed to meet on the 10th of May,
1775.

The citizens of Westchester County, having made a beginning in
the matter of public action on the rising questions of the day, soon
commenced to display a lively interest in their narrower considera-
tion. This interest found expression in all the varying degrees of
radicalism, moderation, timidity, and protest. The public prints of
the times contain a number of communications from Westchester
County, some of them iu the form of avowals or disavowals, formally
signed, and some in that of anonymous newspaper articles advocat-
ing one set of opinions or another with more or less zeal and dex-
terity. One of the earliest and most notable of these documents is
a communication from Eye, dated September 21, 1771, and published
October 13 in Rivington's New York G-azetteer. It is an emphatic pro-
test against the agitation of the period, as follows:

We, the subscribers, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Town of Rye, in the Comity of
Westchester, being much concerned with the unhappy situation of public affairs, think it onr
Duty to our King and Country, to Declare that we have not been concerned in any Resolu-
tions entered into or measures taken, with regard to the Disputes at present subsisting with
the Mother Country ; we also testify our dislike to many hot and furious Proceedings, in con-
sequence of said Disputes, which we think are more likely to ruin this once happy Country,
than remove Grievances, if any there are.

We also declare our great Desire and full Resolution to live and die peaceable Subjects
to our Gracious Sovereign, King George the Third, and his Laws.

Then follow eighty-three signatures, headed by Isaac Gidney. Evi-
dently some local pressure hostile to the Thomas interest was brought
to bear upon the conservative element of the Rye people; and evi-
dently, also, not a few of the signers had been overpersuaded, for in
Rivington's next issue appears a humble disclaimer, signed by fifteen
of them, who say that, after mature deliberation, they are fully con-
vinced that in indorsing the former paper they " acted preposter-
ously and without properly adverting to the matter in dispute," and
" do utterly disclaim every part thereof, except our expressions of
Loyalty to the King and Obedience to the Constitutional Laws of
the Realm."

A " Weaver in Harrison's Purchase" writes to Holt's New York Jour-
nal of December 22, 1774, combating the sophisms of the Tory pam-
phleteer, "A. W. Farmer"; and letters from correspondents in Cort-
landt Manor, representing both sides, appear in Rivington's Gazetteer
and Gaines's New York Gazette during the early months of 1775.

EVENTS FROM 1765 TO 1775 295

Some of this newspaper discussion by Westchester contributors is
couched in very strong- terms. Indeed, there is abundant evidence
that nowhere in America were stronger passions aroused by the un-
fortunate divisions of the period than among the farmers of West-
chester County. When the final conflict came, both parties in the
county were ripe for the most bitter persecutions and the most re-
vengeful reprisals, which frequently recognized neither neighborly
considerations nor the sacred ties of blood.

CHAPTER XV

WESTCHESTER COUNTY IN LINE FOR INDEPENDENCE EVENTS TO JULY

9, 1776

HAT was destined to be the last session of the general as-
sembly of the Province of New York convened on the 10th
of January, 1775, in New York City. Although the general
aspect of affairs had undergone no improvement siuce the
adjournment of the Philadelphia congress— and, indeed, the tendency
had been toward a further estrangement from Great Britain, espe-
cially through the operation of the "Association" recommended by
the congress, — the state of the public mind was rather that of expec-
tancy than of active revolt. Lexington had not yet been fought, and
there had been no new overt act of any very sensational nature on the
part of the British ministry. It was still the devout hope of good
men that a reconciliation might eventually be accomplished. In these
circumstances the conservative leaders of the New York assembly —
among whom James de Lancey, Frederick Philipse, and Isaac Wilkins
were conspicuous — had every advantage throughout the session, uni-
formly commanding a majority against the proposals of the radicals.
Resolutions extending thanks to the New York delegates to the Phil-
adelphia congress, commending the New York merchants for their
self-sacrificing observance of the "Association, " and favoring the elec-
tion of delegates from New York to the next general congress, were
voted down. On questions involving a division the vote was usually
fifteen to ten, Pierre Van Cortlandt and John Thomas being inva-
riably among the minority. But the house framed and passed a state
of grievances, petition to the king, memorial to the lords, and rep-
resentation or remonstrance to the commons, to which little or no
exception could reasonably be taken. These papers were respectful,
but comprehensive and firm, and did honor to the leaders of the ma-
jority. The complaint made against the assembly of 1775 was not
on the score of its positive transactions, but of what it refused to do.
It utterly and in the most studied manner ignored the great and
spontaneous manifestations of American sentiment, as expressed in
such organized agencies of the times as departed from the regular
channels of legislation and official administration. This was felt by
the impatient people as a sore affront. The closing act of the assem-

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1776 297

bly was the appointment of a " Standing Committee of Correspond-
ence," composed almost exclusively of conservatives, whose functions
were strictly limited to observing the proceedings of the British par-
liament and administration and communicating with the sister colo-
nies thereupon. Of this committee Philipse and Wilkins were made
the members for Westchester County.

The assembly having declined to assume the initiative as to the
election of the provincial delegates to the approaching general con-
gress, that duty reverted to the still surviving people's committee in
New York City. The committee decided that the delegates should be
chosen this time not by the individual counties in an independent
capacity, but by a provincial convention; and such a convention was
called for the 20th of April, the counties being severally requested
to send representatives to it. Circular letters to this end were dis-
patched under date of March 16. There was at that time no com-
mittee existing in Westchester County to take cognizance of the noti-
fication and summon the necessary county convention or meeting.
It hence became needful for some private person or persons interested
in the cause to take the lead in the matter. The man for the occasion
proved to be Colonel Lewis Morris, who, since the death of his father, in
1702, had been at the head of the Morris family of Morrisania. Colonel
Morris was born in 1726, and was graduated at Yale in 1746. While
inheriting the political temperament and abilities of his race, he had
as yet taken little part in public affairs, preferring the quiet and un-
ostentatious life of a country gentleman. Even in the first move-
ment of protest against the policy of Great Britain organized in this
county, resulting in the White Plains convention of August, 1774, he
had not been specially conspicuous. But after the refusal of the
assembly to identify itself in any manner with the prevailing senti-
ment, he became profoundly impressed with the importance of imme-
diate and emphatic action by t he people in their original capacity. The
occasion now presented was one demanding energy and management.
It was not to be doubted that the powerful conservative party would
exert its influence to the utmost to prevent any radical expression by
Westchester County. There was more than a suspicion that this had
been done deliberately, though insidiously, in 1774, when Frederick
Philipse, the head and front of the conservatives, had been chosen
chairman of the county convention, and that representative body, the
first of its kind to meet in the county, had adjourned without adopt-
ing any aggressive resolutions or appointing a committee of corre-
spondence to co-operate with the one in the city, or making any pro-
vision for the calling and assembling of future conventions of the
county. With the issues now more closely drawn by the unfriendly

298

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

attitude of the provincial assembly, it was certain that Philipse, Wil-
kins, the de Lanceys, and their friends would assume to again control
the course of Westchester County and to keep it well within the
former moderate bounds.

Principally through the efforts of Colonel Morris, a temporary com-
mittee or caucus for the county was improvised, which on the 28th
of March met at White Plains " for the purpose of devising means for
taking the sense of the county ,? relative to the appointment of dele-
gates to the proposed
provincial convention.
There were present Col-
o n e 1 Lewis Morris,
T h o m as Hun t, and
Abraham Leggett, of
Westchester; Theodo-
sius Bartow, J a m e s
Willis, and Abraham
Guion, of New Rochelle;
W i 1 1 i a m Sutton, of
Mamaroneck; Captain
Joseph Drake, Benja-
m in D r a k e, Moses
Drake, and Stephen
Ward, of Eastchester;
and James Horton, Jr.,
of Rye. A call was
issued for a general
meeting of freeholders
of the county, to be held
in the court house at
White Plains on Tues-
day, the 11th of April,
a n d communications
were sent to represen-
tative persons in every
locality, requesting
them to give notice to all the freeholders, without exception, " as
those who do not appear and vote on that day will be presumed to
acquiesce in the sentiment of the majority of those who vote."

Because of the well-known radical views of Colonel Morris and
most of his associates, this action at once became a subject of general
discussion, causing much disquietude to the opposing faction. Of
course no formal objection to the projected meeting could have been

THE TIII1!I> KKFbKRIt'K I'll I LII'SK.

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 177G 299

offered, for that would have been not merely a confession of weak-
ness, but highly inconsistent with the professed motives of the con-
servatives, who claimed to be quite as much devoted as the radicals
to the liberties of the country, differing- with them only as to methods.
The challenge for a test of strength was promptly accepted, and steps
were taken throughout the county to make as strong an antagonistic
demonstration as possible at White Plains on the appointed day. This
was made manifest by an address " To the Freeholders and Inhabi-
tants of the County of Westchester," which appeared in Rivington's
New York Gazetteer on the Gth of April, signed " A White Oak," it
not being deemed politic by its author or authors to attach any names
to it. It is very significant that, while the White Plains call appealed
only to the freeholders — that is, to the legally qualified voters ex-
clusively,— the counter-address comprehended the "inhabitants" as
well. As a body, the tenant farmers of the Manor of Philipseburgh
were not freeholders, but only non-voting "inhabitants"; and of
course it would never do, in the coming struggle of the factions, to
accept a basis of representation ruling out so considerable an ele-
ment of support for the programme of which the lord of that manor
was the embodiment. The "White Oak" address earnestly recom-
mended a full attendance of "the friends of government and our
happy constitution," in order that the proposal to appoint delegates
to meet in provincial congress — " a measure so replete with ruin and
misery " — might be voted down so far as Westchester County was
concerned. They were urged to " Remember the extravagant price
we are now obliged to pay for goods purchased of the merchants in
consequence of the Non-Importation Agreement," " and," it was add-
ed, " when the Non-Exportation Agreement takes place, we shall be
in the situation of those who were obliged to make bricks without
straw."

Early on the morning of the 11th of April the rival forces began
to gather at White Plains. The supporters of the announced busi-
ness of the day made their headquarters at the tavern kept by Isaac
Oakley, and the " friends of government " at the establishment of
Captain Hatfield. About noon the former party proceeded to the
court house, and, without waiting for the appearance of their friends
of the other side, organized a meeting and elected Colonel Lewis Mor-
ris chairman. Soon after the opposite faction entered in a body,
headed by Colonel Frederick Philipse and Isaac Wilkins, and Mr. Wil-
kins made a brief statement to the expectant Morrisites. He informed
them that, " as they had been unlawfully called together, and for an
unlawful purpose, they [the friends of government] did not intend
to contest the matter by a poll, which would be tacitly acknowledging

300 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the authority that had summoned them hither; but that they came
only with a design to protest against all such disorderly proceedings,
and to show their detestation of all unlawful committees and con-
oresses » They then, according to the account of their transactions
which their leaders furnished to the press, " declared their deter-
mined resolution to continue steadfast in their allegiance to their
orncious and merciful sovereign, King George the Third, to submit
to lawful authority, and to abide by and support the only true repre-
sentatives of the people of the colony, the general assembly. Then,
•riving three huzzas, they returned to Captain Hatfield's, singing as
they went, with loyal enthusiasm, the good and animating song ot-
" God save great George our King;
Long live our noble King, etc."
The declination of the followers of Philipse and Wilkins to con-
test the matter by a poll was an unexpected measure of tactics. In
the address signed by " White Oak » the friends of government had
been expressly solicited to rally at White Plains in order to give their
votes on the vital question to be propounded there, and the conse-
quences of failure to attend and declare their sentiments m control-
ling numbers had been pictured in vivid words. Notwithstanding the
organization of the meeting by the Morris party, the conservatives
could, of course, have made its proceedings conformable to their will
if they had been in the majority. Their preference to retire with
nothing more than a protest, and convert themselves into a mere
rump was an act either of political petulance or studied discretion.
The reasonable conclusion is that they were with good cause appre-
hensive of the result of a vote, and that their experienced leaders de-
cided upon the safer course of a dignified retreat.

The radicals in the court house, being left to themselves, put
through the programme arranged for them with expedition and en-
thusiasm. Bv a unanimous vote it was agreed to unite with the other
counties in sending delegates to the proposed provincial convention,
and eight delegates were accordingly chosen, as follows: Colonel Lewis
Morris and Dr. Kobert Graham, of Westchester; Stephen Ward, of
Eastchester; Colonel James Holmes and Jonathan Piatt, of Bedford;
John Thomas, Jr., of Bye; and Samuel Drake and Philip Van Cort-
landt of the Manor of Cortlandt. Eesolutions were adopted extend-
ing thanks to " the virtuous minority of the general assembly of
this province, and particularly to John Thomas and Pierre Van Cort-
landt, Esquires, two of our representatives, for their firm attachment
to and zeal for. on a late occasion, the preservation of the union of
the colonies and the rights and liberties of America/ and also thank-
in- " the delegates who composed the late congress for the essential

TO ALL BRAVE, HEALTH!

DISPOSED

IN THIS NEIGHBOURHOOD, WHO HAVE!

NOW RAISIN)

GENERAL I

LIBERTIES AH[

OF THE UNI

Againfl. the hoflile I

TAKE-!

To&iticTi c/jSfflr^

Fu*lccb. *■'<

Ramrrur> . JS JBxan

^^^^ ^&ec&^, 0&^, J^t,

THAT

The Encoubagemeiit J.hi-T g to e?t/r ,nto thi" honour;

antf silver moncv on account of mx ■tH?-£h3. aIiow,a.n« ?f a arge
comfort arc provided by W \vit„„& ^yTxpLl M, theib,dieT

home to ni, friends, with his po^S^^^^'L^eid™^

GOD SAVE T
REPRESENTING AMERICAN SOLDIERS GOING THROUGH THEIK DI

NOW IN POSSESSION OF THE

\.BLE BODIED, AND WELL
CJNG MEN,

Y INCLINATION TO JOIN THE TROOPS,
vIDER

,SHINGTON9

feEPENBENCE
;d states,

of foreign enemies,

fOTICE,

piting party pf

^ „ <^^ couifty, attencfance will be given \>\?

it Colonel AafonOgtieupjfor the purpoleof receiving the enrollment of

company in .y££a/^i>

1 fervice.

Ious? namely, a bounty of twelve dollars, an annual and fully fufficient
ample ration of provifions, together with sixty dollars a yeaT in gold
lay up for himfelf and friends, as all articles proper for his fubfiftance and

kove, will have an opportunity of hearing and feeing in a more particular
[embrace this opportunity of fpendino* a few happy years in view""
liable character of a foldier, after which, he may, if he pleafes
p with laurels.
iNlTED STATES.

I— A FACSIMILE OF THE ONLY COPY KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN PRESERVED,
IrORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

in viewing the
return

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1776 301

services they have rendered to America." The meeting then adjourned
with three cheers for the king.

The " friends of government,'' after leaving the court house, or-
ganized an independent meeting and adopted the following decla-
ration, to which all present signed their names:

We, the undersigned, freeholders and inhabitants of the County of Westchester, having
assembled at the White Plains in consequence of certain advertisements, do now declare that
we met here to express our honest abhorrence of all unlawful congresses and committees, and
that we are determined at the hazard of our lives and properties to support the king and the
constitution, and that we acknowledge no representatives but the general assembly, to whose
wisdom and integrity we submit the guardianship of our rights and liberties.

There were in all three hundred and twelve signers to this docu-
ment, headed by Frederick Philipse, Isaac Wilkins, the Revs. Samuel
Seabury and Luke Babcock, Judges Jonathan Fowler and Caleb Fow-
ler, and several other prominent persons, including Mayor Nathaniel
Underbill, of the Borough of Westchester, and Philip Pell, of Pelham
Manor.

The patriotic meeting at White Plains was conducted with perfect
decorum, and, in spite of the aggressive speech of Mr. Wilkins against
"disorderly proceedings" and "unlawful committees and congresses,"
Colonel Morris and his adherents had the good taste to refrain from
all violent or vindictive expressions or doings on that occasion. Also in
his published report of the events of the day Colonel Morris abstained
from language that could possibly give offense, confining himself to
a dispassionate narrative of facts. But the " friends of government "
were not so moderate. They caused an elaborate statement to be
printed in the New York press, filled with animadversions of an ex-
asperating nature. In this statement, which appeared in Rivington's
paper on the 20th of April, the day after the battle of Lexington, it
was charged that the meeting held at the court house had, by assum-
ing (o represent the true sentiment of Westchester County, imposed
upon the world and insulted the "loyal County of Westchester" in
a most barefaced manner"; that it was "the act of a few individuals
unlawfully assembled," and that it was well known that at least two-
thirds of the inhabitants of the county were "friends to order and
government, and opposed to committees and all unlawful combina-
tions." The ire of Colonel Morris was aroused by such reflections and
allegations, and in a communication to the press published soon
afterward he replied with great vigor and cutting satire, also sub-
jecting the list of signers to a merciless analysis. " I shall pass over,"
said he, " the many little embellishments with which the author's
fancy has endeavored to decorate his narrative; nor is it necessary
to call in question the reality of that loyal enthusiasm by which it

302 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

was said these good people were influenced; and I really wish it
had been the fact, because when inconsistencies and fooleries result
from inebriety or enthusiasm, they merit our pity and escape indig-
nation and resentment. Much pains, I confess," were on that day
taken to make temporary enthusiasts, and with other exhilarating
spirit than the spirit of loyalty. To give the appearance of dignity
to these curious and very orderly protestors, the author has been
very mindful to annex every man's addition to his name, upon a. pre-
sumption perhaps that it would derive weight from the title of Mayor,
Esquire, Captain, Lieutenant, Judge, etc. But it is not easy to con-
ceive why the publisher should be less civil to the clergy than to
the gentry or commonalty. Samuel Seabury ami Luke Babcock cer-
tainly ought not to have been sent into the world floating on a news-
paper in that plain way. The one is the Rev. Mr. Samuel Seabury,
rector of the united parishes of East and West Chester, and one of
the missionaries for propagating the Gospel, and not politicks, in
foreign parts, etc., etc.; the other is the Rev. Mr. Luke Babcock, who
preaches and prays for Colonel Philipse and his tenants at Philipse-
burgh." Tn his analysis of the signers of the protest he showed that
no fewer than one hundred and seventy of the three hundred and
twelve were persons not possessing the least pretensions to a vote,
many of them being lads under age; while of the one hundred and
forty-two who were freeholders many held lands at the will of Colonel
Philipse, " so that," he concluded, " very few independent freeholders
objected to the appointment of deputies." Theaccuracy of this analysis
was never challenged; and it thus appears that with all the advant-
ages of prestige enjoyed by the conservative leaders they were able to
muster scarcely a hundred disinterested voters in opposition to a po
litical programme which they had announced to be " replete with
ruin and misery." Moreover, several formal recantations of the pro-
test by persons who had signed it followed, showing that, as in the
case of the Rye protestants of the year before, various individuals
who had been drawn into support of Tory principles were speedily
brought to a realizing sense of the odiousness of their behavior.
Among the recanters was Jonathan Fowler, one of the judges of
the Court of Common Pleas of the county, who, in a published card,
declared that " upon mature deliberation and more full knowledge
of the matter" he had come to the conclusion that the sentiments
expressed in the protest were "not only injurious to our present
cause, but likewise offensive to our fellow-colonists, " and therefore
repudiated and testified his abhorrence of them.

The New York provincial convention for the appointment of dele-
gates to the congress at Philadelphia met in New York City on the

FROM JANUARY, 1"

TO JULY 9, 17 70

303

20th of April. All the representatives for Westchester County se-
lected by the meeting at White Plains were in attendance excepting
Jonathan Piatt and Colonel James Holmes. A delegation of twelve
men — five from New York County and one each from Kings. Suffolk,
Orange, Albany, Ulster, Westchester, and Dutchess Counties — was
chosen to represent the province. The delegate for Westchester
County was Colonel Lewis Morris. John Jay was re-elected as a dele-
gate for New York City. The convention adjourned on the 22o*.

On the morning of the next day, Sunday. April 23, 1775, the news
of the battle of Lexington was received by the people of our county

rs^

wmmm

THE NEWS OF LEXINGTON.

residing along the Boston Post Road from the express rider who had
been dispatched to bear it as far as New York. Spread from mouth
to mouth throughout the county, it everywhere intensified the pas-
sions which had been stirred by the local political events of the pre-
vious few weeks. Already incensed at the arrogant bearing of the
conservative party, which had just been freshly illustrated by the
injudicious narrative of the proceedings at White Plains that the
leaders of that party had inserted in the New York newspapers, the
patriotic element was aroused by this alarming intelligence to bit-
terness and aggression. Numerous were the interviews held with
signers of the protest who were supposed to' be open to persuasion,

304 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

and with all individuals of previously uncertain tendencies. A week
later Judge Jonathan Fowler published bis meek recantation, and
even the bold spirit of Isaac Wilkins, the eloquent leader of the ma-

NEW- YORK, Committee-Chamber,

WEDNESDAY, 26th April, 3775.

THE Committee Jnvmg taken into Confidetanon the Commotions
occafioned by the fanguinary Meafures purfued by the BritiiL
Mmifhy, 2nd that the Powers with which this Committee is
inverted, refpeft only the AiTociition. are unanimoufy of
Opinion, That a new Committee be elected by the Freeholders
and "Freemen of this City and County,, for the prefent unhappy Exigency
of Affairs, as well as to obfervc the Conduct cf all Perfons touching- the
AfTociation; That the faid Committee oonnil of ioo Perfons; that 33 be a
Quorum, and that they difTclvc within a Fortnight next after the End of
the nextSefuons of the Continental Congrefs. And that the Senfe of the
Freeholders and Freemen of this City and County, upon this Subject, may
be better procured and afcertained, the Committee are further unanimoufly
of Opinion, That the Polls be tzken on Friday Morning next, at 51 o'clock,
at the ufual Places cf -Election in each Ward, under the Infpection of the
two Vestrymen of each Ward, ar.d two of this Committee, or any two
of the four j and that at the faid Elections the Votes of the Freemen and
Freeholders, be taken on the following Queilicns, vis. Whether fuch New.
Committee (hall be conftitufedj and if Yea> of whom it ihallconfift. And
this Committee is further unanimously of Opinion, That at the prefent
alarming Junclure, it is highly advifeable that a Provincial Congrefc be
immediately iummoned; md that it be recommended to the Freeholders
and Freemen cf this City and County, to chocfe at the fame Time that
they vote for the New Committee aforefaid, Twenty Deputies to reprefent
them at the faid Congrefs. And that a Letter be forthwith prepared and
difpatchedto all the Counties, requeuing them to unite with us in forming
a Provincial Cong-cfs, and to appoint their Deputies withoutDclay^ to meet
at New-York, en Monday the 22 d of May next.

By Order cf the Committee,

ISAAC LOW, Chairman,

FACSIMILE OF NKW YORK COMMITTEE CIRCULAR AFTER THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON".

jority in the provincial assembly, yielded itself to the inevitable.
Against Wilkins particularly severe animosity was cherished. It
was he who, at White Plains, had denounced the patriotic assem-
blage as disorderly and unlawful, and common report atTributed to

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1770 305

him the authorship of the protesting " narrative," with its offensive
assumptions and impudent characterizations. The public resent-
ment toward him was so deep, and was manifested with such activ-
ity, that without delay he formed the resolution to leave the country.
This was announced in an open letter addressed To " My Country-
men," dated New York, May 3, 1775. The precipitation of his flight
may be judged from his statement that he left behind " everything
that is dear to me — my wife, ray children, my friends, and my prop-
erty." He avowed that he was actuated not by fear or a conscious-
ness of having done wrong, but by an unwillingness to become in-
volved iu the fratricidal strife that was impending. " I leave
America, and ^xery endearing connection," he concluded, '-because
I will not raise my hand against my Sovereign, nor will I draw my
sword against my Country; when I can conscientiously draw it in
her favour, my life shall be chearfully devoted to her service."

In New York City, the center of political agitation and manage-
ment, the thrilling news from Lexington evoked more energetic and
aggressive measures than had yet been attempted. Although a pro-
vincial convention had just been held, and a continental congress was
about to meet, it was decided to summon a provincial congress; and
a call was promptly issued for such a body to meet in New York City
on the 22d of May and "deliberate upon and from time to time to
direct such measures as may be expedient for our common safety."
In the circular sent to the counties the gravity of tie- situation was
pointed out in strong language, and for the first time the hint of
war was given to the people of the colony. 'Westchester County re-
sponded to this new appeal by holding a meeting at White Plains
on the 8th of May. James Van Cortlandt, of the Borough of West-
chester, occupying the chair. It appointed a permanent county com-
mittee of ninety persons, twenty of whom were empowered to act
for the county, and to that committee was referred the authority to
choose the delegates to the proposed congress. The delegates select-
ed under this provision were Gouverneur Morris, Dr. Robert Graham,
Colonel Lewis Graham, and Colonel James Van Cortlandt, all of the
Town of Westchester; Stephen Ward and Joseph Drake, of East-
chester; Major Philip Van Cortlandt, of Cortlandt Manor; Colonel
James Holmes, of Bedford; John Thomas, Jr., of Rye; David Dayton,
of North Castle; and William Paulding, of Philipseburgh Manor. It
is noteworthy that among the results of this White Plains meeting
two men whose names were destined to rank among the most im-
portant in the annals of Westchester County obtained their first en-
trance into public life — Gouverneur Morris and Jonathan G. Tomp-
kins. The former headed the delegation to the provincial congress.

306

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

and the latter was one of the principal members of the committee
of ninety which was created to take charge of affairs in the county.
Gouverneur .Morris was the fourth son of Lewis Morris, Jr., and a
stepbrother of Colonel Lewis Morris. lie was born in 1752, was grad-
uated at Columbia College in 1768, studied law under the preceptor-
ship of William Smith the younger (afterward royal chief justice),
and was admitted to the bar in 1771, when only twenty years old.
He immediately espoused the cause of the anti-government party, al-
though identifying himself, like Jay, with its more moderate advo-
cates; and it was not until the die had been cast by the introduction
of the Declaration of Independence in the continental congress that
he took a pronounced position in support of radical doctrines. As
a delegate from Westchester County to the provincial congress of
1775 and 1776 he attracted general attention by his abilities, and

thenceforward his services were con-
stantly employed iu behalf of the
nation. His mother was a lady of
strong Loyalist prejudices, and Gou-
verneur's championship of the Revo-
lutionary cause was a great disap-
pointment to her. His sister, Isabella,
married Isaac Wilkins, whose melan-
choly farewell to his countrymen has
just been noticed. Gouverneur Mor-
ris, being his father's youngest son,
did not inherit any portion of the
Morrisania estate; but some years
after the conclusion of peace with
Great Britain he purchased from his
brother, General Staats Long Morris,
of the British army, all that portion
of the ancestral property lying east
of .Mill Brook. There he resided during the closing years of his life,
and died on the Kith of November, 1816.

Jonathan G. Tompkins,1 of Scarsdale, the lather of Governor and
Vice-President Daniel I>. Tompkins, was a prominent Westchester
County figure throughout the Revolution and for many years after.
His ancestors emigrated from the north of England to Massachu-

GOUVEKNKl'H MORRIS.

Jusl

dale from Westchtster Town. One of the
family's neighbors in Scarsdale was Captain
Jonathan Griffen, a well-to-do farmer, who,
being childless, and taking a fancy to young

d had him baptized by
Jril'tVn Tompkins. Cap-
to him a farm of one

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 177G 307

setts. Besides serving on the county committee, he was supervisor
for the Manor of Scarsclale, and later was a member of the committee
of safety, a delegate to two provincial congresses, member of the as-
sembly and county judge under the State government, and one of the
first regents of the State University. He lived to the venerable age
of eighty-seven, dying in 1823.

The second continental congress began its sessions at Philadel-
phia on the 10th of May. Accepting the proceedings at Lexington
and their associated events as acts of war, it immediately began to
lay plans for a general armed resistance. Steps were taken for the
creation of an army by the enlistment of volunteers, Washington was
appointed commander-in-chief, and the preliminary arrangements
were made for meeting the expenses of the struggle.

When the New York provincial congress assembled on the 22d of
May, the programme of revolution had already been well marked out.
This provincial body was equal to the emergency, being fully con-
trolled by the patriotic element, although well balanced in its mem-
bership. It entered at once upon the serious business of the hour.
By the election of Peter Van Brugh Livingston, an extremist, as its
presiding officer, it testified irs complete readiness for co-operation
with the sister colonies in radical action. Vet it took a firm stand
in insisting upon the local autonomy of the Colony of New York, one
of its earliest ads being the rejection of a resolution providing for
implicit obedience (o the continental congress in all matters except
those of local police regulation. On the first day of the session pro-
vision was made for effective organization in the several counties by
the establishing of committees in sympathy with the general plans
of the friends of liberty. A plan for a continental currency, sub-
mitted and advocated with great ability by Gouverneur Morris, was
recommended to the consideration of the continental congress. Final-
ly, detailed arrangements were adopted for putting the province in
a state of military defense, for the levying of troops, and for active
local administration and supervision in the interest of assuring full
exercise of authority by the Revolutionary party and repressing dis-
affection.

The British garrison in New York had given little trouble to the
populace since the Golden Hill affray of January, 1770. During its
brief stay in the city after the battle of Lexington it was not re-
enforced. Although as yet no armed body of colonists had arisen to
threaten the British soldiers, it was perfectly understood that the
people, and not the garrison, were masters of the local situation, and
that at the slightest manifestation of aggression on the part of the
troops sanguinary events would be precipitated. The British com-

308 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

niander had the good sense to abstain from anything of that nature,
and, on the other hand, the populace made no attempt to interfere
with him. But this forbearance was about the only instance of mod-
eration displayed in the City of New York at that critical time. The
people, under the leadership of the Sons of Liberty, committed overt
acts which were in the line of open rebellion. A government store-
house at Turtle Bay was seized, and about one hundred pieces of
ordnance were carted to Kingsbridge, which, as the point of com-
munication with the mainland, was instantly recognized as a prin-
cipal strategic position, demanding intrenchment. Indeed, as early
as the 4th of May the New York City committee ordered " that Cap-
tain Sears, Captain Randall, and Captain Fleming be a committee to
procure proper judges to go and view the ground at or near Kings-
bridge, and report to this committee, with all convenient speed,
whether it will answer for the purposes intended by it." Thus the
very first warlike measure determined upon in this portion of the
country had reference to a locality upon the borders of our county.

The supremacy of the popular power in New York was well evi-
denced by the dictatorial authority assumed and successfully en-
forced by the committee of one hundred upon the occasion of the
departure of the garrison from the city. This event occurred early
in June, the frigate " Asia " having come into the harbor with orders
to remove the soldiers to Boston. The committee gave its consent
to the transaction, with the proviso, however, that the troops should
carry away with them no other arms than those upon their own
persons. An attempt was made to violate the arbitrary order thus
promulgated, and the first detachment that issued from the fort was
accompanied by several vehicles loaded with stacks of arms. At
the corner of Broad and Beaver Streets a single citizen, Marinus Wil-
lett by name, emerged from the crowd, seized the horse of the leading-
vehicle by the bridle, and commanded the driver to turn back. An
altercation now ensued, several prominent gentlemen expressing their
opinions — among them Gouverneur Morris, who, consistently with
the pacific attitude that he had taken, deprecated Willett's act. But
the aggressive faction was represented by well-known spokesmen,
having behind them overwhelming numbers of the Sons of Liberty,
and they gave it to be understood that unless the arms were left in
the city, in obedience to the directions of the committee, blood would
tlow. Tic judicious British officer in command yielded to these rep-
resentations, and the citizens were permitted to appropriate the arms.
After that triumphal termination of the matter, Willett mounted
one of the carts and delivered an impassioned address to the meek
soldierv, exhorting them to desist from the unnatural business of

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1 i i 6

309

shedding the blood of their brethren, and promising protection to
an}- of their number who should have the courage to leave the ranks
and join the patriotic multitude. History records that one of the
men deserted in response to this appeal. In all the preliminary events
of the devolution there is no more dramatic episode than this ex-
ploit of Marinas Willett. It is typical of the whole course of the
people of New York from the earliest period of the troubles with
the mother country — a course of unfaltering aggression, taking no
thought of consequences. Willett subsequently became an officer in
the American army, and, as we shall see, distinguished himself upon

EXPLOIT OF MARIM'S WILLETT,

a notable occasion in repelling a British expedition near Peekskill, in
our county.

The continental congress at Philadelphia, pursuing the Revolu-
tionary programme which had been inaugurated at the beginning of
its session, early turned its attention to the subject of preparing the
Province of New York for defensive and offensive operations. In this
connection the fortification of the passes at Kingsbridge and at the
entrance to the Highlands, and plans for obstructing the navigation
of the Hudson Paver in case of necessity, received chief consideration.
On the 25th of May a number of resolutions pertaining to New York
were adopted by the congress, including the following:

That a post be immediately taken and fortified at or near Kingsbridge, in the Colony of
New York ; and that the ground be chosen with a particular view to prevent the communica-
tion between the City of New York and the country from being interrupted by land.

310 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

That a post be also taken in the Highlands, on each side of Hudson's River, and bat-
teries erected in such a manner as will most effectually prevent any vessels passing that may
be sent to harass the inhabitants on the borders of said river ; and that experienced persons
be immediately sent to examine said river, in order to discover where it will be most advis-
able and proper to obstruct the navigation.

These resolves, with others, were communicated to the provincial
congress of New York, with instructions to keep them secret. That
body referred the two matters to separate committees, which in due
time reported plans for carrying the recommendations into effect.
The result as to Kingsbridge was the construction of three redoubts,
one of which (on Tetard's Hill) was called Fort Independence; and
the first intrenchments thus established were soon supplemented br-
others along the Harlem and Spuyten Duyvil waterway. Fort Wash-
ington, on Manhattan Island, overlooking the Hudson at about the
foot of 181st Street, was built under the supervision of Colonel Rufus
Putnam, of Washington's staff, previously to the British occupation
of New York. It was designed to be — and was, in fact — the main de-
fensive position guarding New York City below and the open country
above; and Fort Washington and the Kingsbridge defenses were
closely interdependent. In addition to its function as a citadel at the
northern end of Manhattan Island, Fort Washington covered the
passage up the Hudson River, to which end Fort Lee, erected about
the same time directly opposite on the New Jersey bank, also con-
tributed.

The committee having iu charge the matter of advising as to forti-
fying both banks of the Hudson in the neighborhood of the High-
lands and obstructing the river navigation paved the way for equally
important undertakings in that quarter. Expert commissioners who
were sent to examine the country laid stress in their report upon
the natural military advantages offered by the northwestern section
of Westchester County, which, besides guarding the Highlands, was
the eastern terminus of the King's Ferry route (at that time the
principal means of communication between the Eastern andSouthern
colonies), and also afforded an excellent road leading into Connecticut.
The famous chain across the Hudson at Anthony's Nose was soon
afterward manufactured. It is said to have cost £70,000, almost
bankrupting the continental treasury, whereas no compensating ben-
efits were derived from it. On tw<) occasions it broke from its own
weight. The ill-fated Forts Clinton and Montgomery were con-
structed in the Highlands on the west side of the river, with Fort
Constitution on an island opposite West Point. The erection of Fort
Lafayette at Yerplanck's Point and Fort Independence at Peekskill
(as also of the famous works at Stony Point, opposite Verplanck's)

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 0, 1776 311

belongs to a later period. Of the various Revolutionary fortresses in
the Highlands and that section, West Point was built last.

In addition to its particular recommendations respecting Kings-
bridge, the Highlands, and the Hudson, the continental congress ad-
vised New York to have its militia thoroughly armed and trained,
and placed in "constant readiness to act at a moment's warning";
and, as a final matter, the colony was summoned to enlist and equip
three thousand volunteers, who were to serve until the 31st of De-
cember, 1775, unless sooner discharged. In response to the demand
for three thousand enlisted men, four regiments were formed, of which
one, though known as the Dutchess County regiment, was composed
to a considerable extent of Westchester County men. Its colonel
was James Holmes, of Bedford, a grandson of one of the original
proprietors of that town, who had served with credit as a captain in
th'- French and Indian War. Although, in addition to accepting this
commission, Holmes had been a delegate to the provincial congress,
and soon afterward served with his command in the invasion of Can-
ada, he subsequently became one of the disaffected, turned Loyalist,
and was appointed lieutenant-colonel in the corps of Westchester
( ounty Refugees. Philip Van Cortlandt, son of Pierre Van Cortlandt
and a leading member of the provincial congress, was made lieuten-
ant-colonel of the Dutchess County regiment. Three of its ten com
panics were largely from Westchester County.

In the summer of 1775 the provincial congress ordered a complete
reorganization of the militia of the colony, and required every mem-
ber of that body, between the ages of sixteen and fifty, to provide
himself with a musket and bayonet, a sword or tomahawk, a cartridge-
box to contain twenty-three rounds of cartridges, a knapsack, one
pound of gunpowder, and three pounds of balls. There were no reg-
ulations as to uniform. Under this order Westchester County thor-
oughly reconstructed its militia, deposing all officers of unsatisfac-
tory or doubtful antecedents, and electing stanch patriots in their
stead.

The battle of Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June, had still farther
widened the breach, which, indeed, now seemed incapable of being-
closed. Three days previously George Washington had been ap-
pointed by the continental congress commander-in-chief of the Amer-
ican armies. On June 25 he arrived in New York on his way to the
seat of war in Massachusetts, having been met at Newark by a depu-
tation of citizens, of whom Gouverneur Morris was one of the prin-
cipal members. He stopped over night in the city, and the next morn-
ing continued his journey, being escorted for some distance by the

312

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

local militia. His route, of course, lay through our county, along
the Boston Post Road.

One of the most noteworthy enactments of the provincial congress
of 1775 was a series of regulations for preventing and punishing un-
acceptable acts and language by the Tory element of the province.
These regulations were drastic, and, as they were applied with par-
ticular severity in Westchester County, a somewhat detailed notice
of i hem is called for. The measure embodying them was adopted on
the 2(>th of August. It prohibited the furnishing of provisions or
other necessaries, kk contrary to the resolutions of the continental
or of this congress," to the ministerial army or navy, as well as com-
municating by correspondence or otherwise to the British military
or naval officers any information prejudicial to the interests or plans
of the colonists. Persons accused of offending against the act in these
respects were to be brought before the county or city committee, the
provincial congress, or the committee of safety, and. if found
guilty, were to be disarmed, to forfeit double the value of the
articles furnished, and to be imprisoned not to
exceed three months. In case of a second of-
fense, the guilty person was to be banished from
the colony for seven years. Continuing, the act
declared that, tk although this congress, having
tender regard to the freedom of speech, the
rights of conscience, and personal liberty, so far
as indulgence in these particulars may be con-
sistent with our general security, yet, for the
^^^Jsj^y^^^ general safety," it was necessary to sternly pun-
philipse arms. ish abuses of such privileges. Consequently all

persons were prohibited from opposing or deny-
ing " the authority of the continental or this congress, or the commit-
tee of safety, or the committees of the respective counties, cities,
(owns, manors, precincts, or districts in this colony" and from "dis-
suading any person or persons from obeying the recommendations of
the continental or this congress, or the committee of safety, or the
committees aforesaid." Suspects were to be tried before the county
committees, and, if convicted, were to be disarmed for the first offense
and committed to close confinement, at their respective expense, for
the second. Committees and militia officers were enjoined to appre-
hend every person discovered to be enlisted or in arms against the
liberties of the country, and to keep him in custody until his fate
should be determined by the congress; and the estate of every such in-
dividual was to be seized and confiscated.

Very soon after the passage of this measure the zealous local com-
mitteemen in Westchester County began to take steps for its wide-

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1776 313

spread and stringent enforcement. With the autumn of 1775 com-
menced those numerous acts of information, frequently by neighbor
against neighbor, and as frequently violative of every private confi-
dence and decent obligation between man and man, which form so
much of the history of our county during the Revolution. In no
other county of the province did such abundant and inviting ma-
terial exist for the exercise of the peculiar activities of the patriotic
informer. It is true that Kings, Queens, Suffolk, and Richmond
Counties contained a large Loyalist population — perhaps as numer-
ous and important, proportionately, as that of Westchester. But with
the capture of New York City in the summer of 1776 these island
counties came under the complete protection of the British forces,
and their Tory inhabitants were consequently exempted from the
inquisitorial observation and regulation through a long term of years
which the British sympathizers in Westchester County had to suffer.
There is no doubt that many of the individual proceedings in this
connection in our county were fully warranted. It should also be
remembered that such doings are the inevitable concomitants of
war — especially civil war, — even at the present day and under the
most enlightened and generous governments. Yet the history of this
aspect of the Revolution in Westchester County is peculiarly dis-
tressing. The proscriptions were appalling in number, and whatever
individual justice, wisdom, or necessity attached to special cases, the
characteristic spirit of the Revolutionary authorities was without
question merciless. A certain satisfaction, though but a melancholy
one, is afforded by the reflection that the British, so far as they had
the power to pursue retributive practices here, were even more vin-
dictive in their spirit and barbarous in its execution. The Americans
at least seldom burned private mansions or devastated estates, which
the British did not fail to do in their raids; and, indeed, the West-
chester raids of the British were often exclusively for these j:)recise
purposes. Summary arrests by the British in this county of persons
not in arms, but deemed obnoxious for political reasons, were also
very frequent; and many a Westchester patriot, including some of
the most honored sons of the county, perished miserably in the loath-
some dungeons and frightful prison-ships which the English com-
manders maintained for political captives.

The first list of suspects for the Comity of Westchester reported
to the provincial congress was headed by the name of Colonel Fred-
erick I'hilipse. Another conspicuous person denounced on the same
occasion was the Rev. Samuel Seabury, of Eastchester, to whom Col-
onel Lewis Morris had sarcastically alluded a few months before as a
missionary for " propagating the Gospel, and not politicks, in for-

314 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

eign parts/' Philipse was destined to a brief respite before being
summoned to the Revolutionary bar, but Seabury was soon to expe-
rience even harsher treatment than that provided for in the suffi-
ciently aggressive provincial act. This initial list comprised alto-
gether thirty-one persons. So far as their individual cases have been
traced, documentary evidence has been found showing that at least
twenty of the number were duly convicted and cast into prison. A
specially interesting case was that of Godfrey Hains, of live, de-
noun ced by one Eunice Purdy, supposed to have been a revengeful
sweetheart, in an affidavit over her mark. Eunice, being sworn " upon
the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God," alleged that Hains had used
extremely incendiary language in her hearing against congresses and
committees, and moreover had expressed the heinous wish that men-
of-war would come along the Sound. Hains was arrested, and, after
being examined by the committee at White Plains, was about to be
discharged with the mild sentence that he be disarmed; whereupon
he defiantly admitted that he possessed arms, but would not reveal
their hiding-place. The committee dispatched him to New York,
with a letter describing him as a particularly dangerous man. He
was confined in the City Hall Prison, and after a time was arraigned
before the provincial congress and recommitted to jail. Taking ad-
vantage of a. favorable opportunity he escaped, and then, with sev-
eral associates, he loaded a vessel with provisions and sailed for
Boston, intending to deliver his supplies to General Howe. The
ship was wrecked, its cargo was seized by the Revolutionary gov-
ernment, and Hains was again imprisoned, this time in the Ulster
County jail, where a strong guard was placed over him, and where,
presumably, he languished long enough for his Tory ardor to become
cooled.

Hains was supposed to have been concerned in a plot to seize the
distinguished Judge John Thomas, and other prominent Westchester
patriots, and carry them captives to the British general at Boston.
Throughout the fall of 1775 there were whisperings of serious Tory
conspiracies in Westchester County, which were likely to result at
any time in retaliatory measures of a formidable nature. The arrests
of Tories had in some instances been resisted by companies of their
armed partisans, and in general a spirit of resentment had been
manifested which gave considerable uneasiness to the committee. In
a letter dated White Plains, the 1st of November, and signed by Jona-
than G. Tompkins and others, concerning the rumored plot to abduct
Judge Thomas, the president of the provincial congress was besought
to take the necessary steps for causing a number of specified persons
to appear before that body and testify. " We would not have troubled

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1776 315

the congress," it was added, " about apprehending the above-named
persons, but that we look upon ourselves, at present, as too weak to
do it without great danger." Remembering that the committee had
full power to summon the militia officers to their aid, this is a rather
curious confession. It was particularly feared that British vessels
of war would appear on the Westchester shore of the Sound and
land marines to carry out concerted local Tory plans. Strong feeling-
had been excited in this county by an order of the committee of
safety for the general impressment of arms — that is, the seizure of
all fire-pieces belonging to private persons — on the ground that they
were needed for the equipment of the troops. The complaints against
this order were so bitter that it had to be rescinded after a few
sporadic attempts at its enforcement, none of which appear to have
been ventured upon in Westchester County. Unfavorable comment
was also caused by the bringing of some four hundred militiamen
from Connecticut, who were quartered at the northern end of Man-
hattan Island under the command of General Wooster. There was
at the time no enemy in the vicinity of New York, and none expected,
and the necessity of employing troops from another colony in the ab-
sence of any such emergency could not be explained to the satisfac-
tion of the people. There is no evidence that there was fear of an
armed rising in Westchester County, and yet many circumstances
of the local situation in the fall of 1775 indicate a well-founded dis-
trust of the Tory faction.

In this position of affairs occurred the celebrated Westchester raid
of Captain Isaac Scars, resulting in the apprehension and removal to
Connecticut of three of the leading men of the Loyalist party — the
Rev. Samuel Seabury, Mayor Nathaniel Underbill, of Westchester
Borough, and Judge Jonathan Fowler. Seabury and Underbill were
men of undisguised and strong Tory sentiments. Fowler, although
he had signed <i recantation of expressed views of a similar char-
acter, was still regarded with a good deal of suspicion. The three
men were leading representatives of the disaffected classes who wTere
giving so much trouble to the Revolutionary committee in West-
chester County, and Sears conceived the idea that their simultaneous
arrest by means of a dashing expedition would exert a wholesome in-
fluence toward the proper regulation of that much Tory-ridden region.

Captain Isaac Sears was a picturesque Revolutionary personage. In
the French and Indian War he was in command of a privateer sloop,
with which, although it carried but fourteen guns, he attacked a
French ship of twenty-four, grappling with it three times but finally
being compelled by a storm to abandon his bold attempt. Later, he
engaged in shipping pursuits in New York of a more or less ques-

316 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

tionable character. At the beginning of the Stamp Act troubles he
took the leadership of the Sons of Liberty in that city, and through
his many exploits in this connection he came to be popularly known
as King Sears. At the time of the Golden Hill conflict between the
citizens and the soldiers, in 1770, he was in the thick of the fray, and,
finding himself confronted at one stage of it by a fierce grenadier
with a bayonet, with great presence of mind and precision of aim
hurled a rani's horn at the unfortunate man, which struck him full
in the forehead and put him liors de combat. Wherever there was an
affray Sears was sure to be, always rough and ready and always
victorious. As time sped on to the Revolution, he sought to give to
his country's cause the benefit also of his co-operation in council, but

received not overmuch encourage-
ment in that line from the aristocratic
I and coldly intellectual Jays, Duanes,

yHp iMcwmcU wnty — Livingstons, and Morrises. Yet as

the leading man of the democratic
masses he was not to be ignored, and
he not only was connected with the
New York committee from its organi-
zation, but sat in the provincial con-
gress of 1775 as a delegate from the
city. Resigning his membership in
that body, he went to New Haven,
Conn., where, continuing to observe the march of events in New York,
he was particularly impressed with the unsuitable spirit of so many
citizens of Westchester County, and concluded that a little vigorous
correction in that quarter would be entirely apropos.

With sixteen mounted and armed men, described by a New Haven
newspaper of the day as " respectable citizens of this town," Sears
set out on the 20th of November for the avowed purpose of an ex-
pedition " to East and West Chester, in the Province of New Yrork, to
disarm the principal Tories there and secure the persons of Parson
Seabury, Judge Fowler, and Lord Underbill." On the way they were
joined by Captains Richards, Silleck, and Mead, with about eighty
men. At Mamaroneck they burned a sloop that had been purchased
by the British governor to convey provisions to the man-of-war
'kAsia." A detachment of forty men, commanded by Captain Lo-
throp, was sent to WTestchester, which without ceremony took Sea-
bury and Underbill in custody, the main body meantime proceeding
to Eastchester and securing Judge Fowler. The three prisoners were
dispatched with a guard of twenty to Connecticut. This completed
Sears's business in Westchester County, but he had still another reg-

JJV

LIBERTY PLACARD.

PROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 177<i 317

ulating duty to perform. He had long been displeased with the
editorial conduct of Rivington's New York Gazetteer, and he now rode
with his remaining men, a troop of about seventy-five, down to the
city, "which they entered at noon-day, with bayonets fixed and the
greatest regularity, went down the main streets, and drew up in
close order before the printing office of the infamous James Riving-
ton.,,1 They completely wrecked the establishment, demolishing the
presses and taking away the types; and, having so successfully com-
pleted this final part of their mission, remounted, struck up the tune
of " Yankee Doodle," and amid the cheers of the populace returned
whence they came.

Some incidents of Sears's raid suggest that it was not exclusively
an enterprise of patriotic enthusiasm. Certain acts of indecorum
were committed, to characterize them by no harsher term. At Sea-
bury's house they broke open his desk, examined and scattered his

papers, appropriated some thr >r four dollars in money, and quite

offensively threatened and insulted his daughter. From Fowler's
residencethey carried away a beaver hat, a silver-mounted horse-
whip, and two silver s] us, besides the sword, gun, and pistols which

belonged to his official dignity as colonel in the militia. They more-
over visited the homes of various Tories along the route, where sup-
posably they did not uniformly resist taking such articles as were
to their liking. Our nineteenth century Tory historian, Dawson, in
his account of this raid, comments with uncontrolled and terrible
excitement upon every phase of it, describing Sears as a cowardly,
plundering ruffian of the dirtiest water, and his troopers as diabolical
banditti, and insists that they returned to Connecticut laden with
spoils. Of this there is no evidence whatever. Abundant evidence
docs exist that they brought back with them a large and curious
collection of arms from Westchester Loyalists of notorious repute.
The expedition, however lawless and reprehensible, was a bona fide
one in the patriot interest, and not an adventure for mere private
plunder, although it can not be questioned that some incidental pecu-
lating was done. Compared with the villainous doings of the Cow-
boy and Skinner bands of subsequent years, it was a quite virtuous
and legitimate enterprise.

As such it was unhesitatingly regarded by the good people of Con-
necticut, who right royally welcomed home the returning regulators.
The guard having the three prisoners in charge had halted at Horse-

T^Teircumstance as recorded by the vera- nessed many mounted troops going into or in

• . .hr0nicler that they rode into the city process of action, but does not recall any occa-

"wltli bayonets' fixed," is powerful evidence of sion when fixed bayonets were among their

the grimiiess of the business upon which they arms,
were bent. The editor of this History has wit-

318 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

neck, where on the 27th of November they were joined by the parent
band. The next day the whole party took up their triumphal march
to New Haven. They were escorted, says the local newspaper from
which we have already quoted, " by a number of gentlemen from the
westward, the whole making a grand procession. Upon their en-
trance into town they were saluted with the discharge of two can-
nons, and received by the inhabitants with every mark of approba-
tion and respect. The company divided into two parts, and con-
cluded the day in festivities and innocent mirth. " Captain Sears,"
ingenuously adds this patriotic sheet, " returned in company with
the other gentlemen, and proposes to spend the winter here, unless
publick business should require his presence in New York." It does
not appear that any such " publick business," so far as Westchester
County was concerned, transpired to interfere with the virtuous cap-
tain's amiable arrangements. He does not again figure, at least to
the knowledge of the present historian, in the concerns of our county.
Judge Fowler and Mayor Underbill were released in a day or two,
after signing papers presented to them by the Connecticut officials,
wherein they declared themselves to be heartily sorry for their "in-
considerate conduct," and promised never more to transgress in like
manner. But the Rev. Mr. Seabury was not so leniently dealt with. It
was widely believed that he was the author of ki A. W. Farmer " tracts,
so peculiarly offensive to the patriotic sentiment of the times; and
however that might be he was undeniably a Tory of the most in-
tractable and odious type. It was remembered with great indigna-
tion against him that he had refused to open the church at East-
chester on the day appointed for the continental fast. Finally, he
was regarded with deep private resentment by Captain Sears, who
suspected him of complicity in a scheme to seize him (Sears) while
lie was passing through Westchester County on a former occasion,
and carry him on board a man-of-war. He was held in confinement
for more than a month, at his own financial charge, his prayers to
the courts for relief being utterly ignored. At length he submitted
an able memorial to tin' Connecticut legislature, in which he dwelt
upon the flagrant illegality of the whole proceedings in his case, and
that body presently ordered ins release. Returning to Westchester,
he found his affairs there in a sorry plight. The private school upon
which he had mainly depended for support was completely broken up.
He was under a heavy burden of debt, his influence in the community
was at an end, and he and his family were obliged to submit to many
discourtesies ami insults. During the military campaign of 1776 he
was obliged to give accommodation in his house to a company of

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1776 319

Revolutionary cavalry, who, says Dawson, consumed or destroyed all
the products of his glebe. The poor Tory clergyman finally, in desper-
ation, fled with his wife and six children to the British lines.

Like Isaac Wilkins, also of the Borough of Westchester, Seabury
continued a British sympathizer throughout the war; but after the
Revolution he returned to America and became bishop of the (Epis-
copalian) diocese of Connecticut. Wilkins, after a more protracted
absence, came back to Westchester Town, and, taking holy orders,
was made rector of the same parish of Saint Peter's which his com-
patriot Seabury vacated in 1776. The question of the authorship of
the A. W. Farmer tracts has puzzled many minds; but there is no
reasonable doubt that the}' were written either by Seabury or by
Wilkins. They were almost as noted in the polemic literature of
their times as was Tom Paine's " Common Sense." Whatever the
doubts respecting their authorship, it is certain that the apparent
pseudonym "A. W. Farmer"' stood for k' A Westchester Farmer";
and both Seabury and Wilkins, though persons of polite character,
were gentlemen farmers. The detestation in which these tracts were
held by the patriotic people is well instanced by a resolution adopted
by the committee of safety of Suffolk County, X. Y., February, 1775,
in which it was declared "That all those publications which have
a tendency to divide us, and thereby weaken our opposition to meas-
ures taken to enslave us, ought to be treated with the utmost eon-
tempt by every friend to his country; in particular the pamphlet en-
titled A Friendly Address, &c, and those under the signature of A. W.
Farmer, and many others to the same purpose, which are replete with
i he most impudent falsehoods and the grossest misrepresentations;
and that the authors, printers, and abettors of the above and such
like publications ought to be esteemed and treated as traitors to
their country, and enemies to the liberties of America." A writer in
Dawson's Historical Magazine (January, L868) says: "When copies
<d' these pamphlets tell into the hands of the Whigs they were dis-
posed of in such a manner as most emphatically to express detesta-
tion of the anonymous authors and their sentiments. Sometimes they
were publicly burned with imposing formality, sometimes decorated
with tar and feathers (from the turkey buzzard, as ' the fittest emblem
of the author's odiousness ') and nailed to the whipping-post." In
the draft of a document claimed to be in Seabury's own writing, he
says that he was the author of a pamphlet entitled " Free Thoughts
on the Proceedings of the Congress at Philadelphia," and of other
publications width followed, all signed "A. W. Farmer." Dawson,
however, after a careful study of the whole subject, concludes that

320

HISTORY OF WKNTCIIKNTKll COUNTY

the burden of evidence furors the opinion that Wilkins was their
author.1

The provincial congress which assembled in May, 1775, continued
in session, with several brief recesses, until the 4th of November,
when it adjourned sine die. On the 7th of November elections for del-
egates to a second provincial congress were held in a number of the
counties of New York, those in Westchester County occurring, as
usual, at White Plains. The representatives chosen were Colonel
Lewis Graham, Stephen Ward, Colonel Joseph Drake, Robert Gra-
ham, John Thomas, Jr., William Paulding, Major Ebenezer Lockwood,

•"' v . ..

TEARING DOWN THE KING S STATUE NEW YORK CITY

Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt, and Colonel Gilbert Drake, any three of
whom were authorized to cast the vote of the county. The new body
experienced considerable difficulty in procuring a quorum, and did not
enter upon Us active business until the (1th of December. This busi-
ness was in continuation of the aggressive political and military meas-
ures, harmonizing witli the policies of the continental congress, that
had been instituted by the first congress of the province. Like its
predecessor, the second congress adjourned temporarily several times,
vesting complete administrative authority, during such intervals,

1 See Scharf, i., 313, note.

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1776

321

in a general committee of .safety, of which Pierre Van Cortlandt was
chairman for some months. The last session of the second provincial
congress was held on The 13th of May, 177<i.

During its lifetime the general condition of affairs steadily grew
more critical, events of commanding importance transpired, and de-
velopments of portentous significance to the people of New York and
Westchester County resulted. In the early part of this period the
invasion of Canada by the American troops was brought to a disas-
trous end before the walls of Quebec,1 but tin1 collapse in that quarter
was more than compensated for by the surrender of Boston to Gen-
eral Washington in March. Thereupon the war, which had previously
been localized in New England, was terminated there for the time
being. It needed no keen prevision to forecast its course in the near
future. New York City, as the central point of vantage, command-
ing a waterway which completely divided the rebellions colonics,
would unquestionably be attacked as soon as a sufficient expedi-
tionary force for the purpose could be gathered. Any other plan
of campaign was unthinkable. New York Avas the only quarter from
which offensive operations could be conducted with equal facility
against every section of the country. With New York in their hands,
the British would be prepared for any emergency that the strategy
of Washington or the fortunes of battle might produce. Absolutely
secure against recapture from the sea, since the Americans possessed
no tleet, and almost completely incapable of being invested by land,
that city would certainly remain theirs to the last. Even if exten-
sive campaigns should fail, and pitched battle after pitched battle
should go against them, with New York as a base they could still
wage the conflict with great advantage of position. Such was tin-
reasoning which naturally occurred to intelligent men after the fall
of Boston, and it was fully sustained by results. If the British had
not captured and held New York, it is in every way historically im-
probable that they could have made even a respectable struggle for

d M.

1 The lamented General
whose death in this expedition will always be
remembered as one of the capital tragedies of
the Revolution, was a resident of our county,
and seme of the most important associations
of the War of Independence cluster around the

place where his heme st 1. It was on the

spot new occupied by the residence of William
Ogden Giles, at Kingsbridge- the identical spot
where Fort Independence was built. About
1772 Montgomery, after several years of serv-
ice as a captain in the British army, resigned
his commission, purchased this land with con-
siderable mere, and engaged in agricultural
pursuits. In 1773 lie married one of the aristo-

s Kings-

1 a half

etentious building, a story ami
lis sister was the Viscountess of Rane-
n his will, made at Crown Point, he
' 1 give to my sister. Lady Ranelagh,
• estate at Kingsbridge, near New
adding that " my dear sister's large
ivant all I can spare them." One of the
l>S of this will was the Rev. John
'eta rd. also of Kingsbridge, whose fam-
2 its name to Tetard's Hill. Rev. Mr.
was a chaplain in one of the regiments
ig to the Canadian expedition.

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1776 323

of Liberty, after the news of Lexington, was, as we have seen, the
first overt demonstration by the Revolutionary element in New York.
The guns taken up at that time, and during the next few months, did
not include, however, the tine ordnance of the fort. Nevertheless
they made a formidable showing as to numbers, although hardly as
to serviceability. At Kingsbridge they were divided, by the order of
congress, into three parcels, one portion being left there, another
sent to Williams's Bridge, and a third to Valentine's Hill, near Kings-
bridge.1 "Before the close of the year 1775," says Dawson, whose
facts may generally be accepted without question, " between three
and four hundred cannon, of all calibers, grades, and conditions,
some of them good and serviceable, others less valuable and less use-
ful, the greater number honeycombed and worthless, unless for old
iron, and all of them unmounted and without carriages, were accu-
mulated in three large gatherings, one of about fifty guns being at
' John Williams's,' the Williams's Bridge of the present day, one ' at
or near Kingsbridge," and the third or larger parcel within two hun-
dred and fifty yards of Isaac Valentine's house, the Valentine's Hill
of that period as well as this." For a number of months they re-
ceived no further attention, and were even left unguarded. Their
unprotected condition presented an irresistible temptation to some
mischievous Tory spirits who one night in January, 177(5. plugged
them with large stones, effectually spiking them. This incident threw
the county into great excitement, and was the occasion of numerous
arrests of suspected citizens of the Towns of Westchester, Eastchester,
Mamaroneck, and Yonkers. Soon afterward all the guns were accu-
mulated at Valentine's, unspiked, and placed under guard. Subse-
quently, during the military administration of the noted and noto-
rious General Charles Lee in Xew York City, most of the heavy cannon
in Fort George and upon the Battery were, in anticipation of the
capture of the place by the British, removed to Kingsbridge. These
were about two hundred altogether, mostly excellent pieces of artil-
lery. The reply of General Lee to the persons charged with trans-
porting them to Kingsbridge, who complained to him that they could
not ixot sufficient horses for the work, is somewhat celebrated. "Chain
twenty damned Tories to each gun," said he, " and let them draw
them out and be cursed. It is a proper employment for such villains,
and a punishment they deserve for their eternal loyalty they so much
boast of."

General Charles Lee, at the time second in command of the conti-

1 This locality should nol be .
the eminence <>f the same nam
City of Yonkers. The Valentine

nfounded with

idge

is loeatec

1. ..ii ..1.1 maps, hard by tin

in the present

bri

dge.

Valentine

:'s ITill in Yonkers is the spo

Hill at Kings-

wl:

iere

Saint Jos

eph's Seminary now stands.

324 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

nental army, was dispatched by Washington to New York in the latter
part of January, 177G, with instructions to put the place " in the best
posture of defense the season and circumstances will admit of." In
his march through Westchester County he caused numerous dwell-
ings to bo entered and searched for arms, which ho appropriated and
bore away with him for the good of the cause. Dawson pathetically
observes that this was indeed a heavy and melancholy visitation of
fate upon the wretched farmers of the Boston Post Road, who thus,
only a few weeks after being pillaged by the cowardly banditti from
Connecticut, were forced to submit to a similar diabolical outrage by
an infamous military despot. Lee, establishing himself in New York,
entered upon a very energetic regime. Skilled in military science, he
constructed defenses which would undoubtedly have proved of con-
siderable utility if the city had been held to resist a siege. One of
these defenses, a redoubt on Hoern's Hook, at the mouth of the Har-
lem River, commanding the Hellgate pass aud also the Long Island
ferry, was erected by Colonel Samuel Drake's regiment of Westchester
County minute men, a body of one hundred and eleven privates and
numerous officers. Of this organization it is recorded in an official
document that it possessed, when summoned into active duty, no
fewer than " four field officers, two captains, thirteen other commis-
sioned officers, and twenty non-commissioned officers " — a most ridic-
ulous state of things, about which Dawson makes merry as illustrat-
ing the abominable propensity to office-holding among the so-called
" friends of Liberty " in Westchester County. General Lee ordered a
rigorous reduction of the staff, and directed the eliminated officers to
"return to their county, in order to complete their corps," which
were as deficient in numbers as the list of their commanders was
enormous.

Enlistments in the continental line were certainly not attended by
attractive conditions. By an act of the continental congress, passed
January 111, 1776, four battalions were ordered to be raised for the
defense of the Colony of New York. The committee of safety, in its
instructions to the recruiting officers charged with enlisting men
under this act, prescribed that the pay of privates should be |5 per
month, and that each should receive, as a bounty, a felt hat, a pair
of yarn stockings, a pair of shoes, and, if they could be procured, a
hunting-shirt and a blanket. On the other hand, the men were to
furnish their own arms, or, if too poor to do so, were to be armed
at the public expense, the value of their weapons to be deducted from
their pay. Concerning this matter of arms, the following explicit
statement was made in a circular letter from the president of the
provincial congress: "It is expected that each man furnishes him-

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 177G 325

self with a good gun and bayonet, Tomahawk, knapsack or haver-
sack, and two bills. But those who are not able to furnish them-
selves with these arms and accoutrements will be supplied at the
public expense, for the payment of which small stoppages will be
made out of their monthly pay, till the whole are paid for; then they
are to remain the property of the men." Little wonder that the rela-
tive numbers of officers and volunteer privates were somewhat dispro-
portionate.

On the 13th of February, 177(5, at a meeting in Harrison's Pre-
cinct, a cavalry force was organized, Samuel Tredwell being elected
captain. This was the beginning of the well-known Westchester Troop
of Horse. About the same time there were various enlistments in
the county for the infantry service. Local zeal for the cause con-
tinued to manifest itself in the ominous forms of information and
arrest, and it was even proposed by some Westchester enthusiasts,
who doubtless had acquired thorough experience in that particular
line at home, to proceed to other counties where Tories notoriously
abounded and lay upon them the heavy hand of discipline. One Wil-
liam Miller, of White Plains, in a communication to the committee of
safety, informed that honorable body that, as many of the inhabit-
ants of Queens County were behaving themselves in a manner preju-
dicial to the American cause, he and other " Friends of Liberty in
this County" were desirous to go thither and "reduce the Enemies
to their Country before they are supported by the Regular Troops."
Of course no attention was paid to the offer.

In March, 1776, General Lee was superseded in command in New
York City by General Lord Stirling, son of the famous colonial lawyer,
James Alexander, lie was replaced by General Putnam, who re-
mained in charge until Washington's arrival (April 111.

The second provincial congress expired on the 13th of May, 1770,
and the following day was appointed for the assembling of the third.
No quorum was obtained, however, until the 18th. The delegates
from Westchester County were Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt, Colonel
Lewis Graham, Colonel Gilbert Drake, Major Ebenezer Lockwood,
Gouverneur Morris, William Paulding, Jonathan G. Tompkins, Sam-
uel Ilavilaml, and Peter Fleming. The third provincial congress was
the last of the series to sit in the City of New York, where its sessions
came to an abrupt end on the 30th of June, the enemy's long-expected
fleet having arrived the day before in the bay. Among the members
of this congress were John Jay. James Duane, John Alsop, Philip
Livingston, and Francis Lewis, who also were representatives from
New York City in the continental congress then sitting at Phila-
delphia.

326 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Although the career of the third congress of the Province of New
York was exceedingly brief, its transactions were highly interesting.
The reader will observe that its existence coincided with the period
of the final deliberations of the continental congress on the subject
of independence — a period during which also culminated the startling
transformation of the struggle with Great Britain from a principally
wordy character, with but a slight physical aspect, into a grim and
gigantic war. On the day when this congress suddenly dispersed
there were riding in the Lower Bay the advance vessels of a fleet of
one hundred and thirty sail — ships-of-the-line, frigates, tenders, and
transports — which bore an invading army of thirty-three thousand
men, all of them experienced in the business of lighting and magnifi-
cently equipped. The representatives of the patriotic people of New
York, in legislative body assembled at this critical time, could not
have failed to be occupied with the most grave and emergent public
business, some of it very naturally reflecting the powerful popular
passions of the day.

One of the first acts of the congress was the appointment of a
committee "to consider of the ways and means to prevent the dan-
gers to which this colony is exposed by its intestine enemies." Al-
though the committee was headed by one of the principal conserva-
tives of the province, John Also]), who soon afterward resigned his
seat in the continental congress on account of the Declaration of
Independence, it brought in a report recommending stringent meas-
ure's against suspected persons. Uumors of conspiracies by the Tories
of New York had long been rife, some of them resting on more sub-
stantial foundations than suspicion. Investigations of various al-
leged transactions by emissaries of Governor Tryon's for providing
suspected individuals with arms and ammunition disclosed strong
moral evidence in support of the charges. In the month of June
the famous " Hickey plot " to poison Washington and other American
generals was unearthed; and proofs were found which resulted in the
hanging of the chief person accused. In such circumstances, and in
view of the crisis of invasion then impending, it is not surprising that
the third provincial congress, although comprising in its member-
ship influential men of singularly calm and judicious tempera-
ment, who had previously been noted for moderation, was pervaded
by a determination to deal summarily wit li all Tories of the danger-
ous or irreconcilable type. The Alsop report was followed by an
elaborate series of resolutions concerning such characters, wherein
;i number of them were indicated by name, with directions that they
be brought before the congress either by the process of summons
or by that of arrest. The specified persons were divided into two

PROM JANUARY

to july 9, 177G

327

classes — private individuals and officers of the crown. A special com-
mittee of the congress, known as the Committee to Detect Conspir-
acies, was created to deal with all cases. John. Jay was made its
chairman, and among its members were Gonverneur Morris and
Lewis Graham, of Westchester County.

In Westchester County the private persons designated as "suspi-
cious or equivocal *' were Frederick Philipse, Caleb Morgan, Na-
thaniel Underbill, Samuel Merritt, Peter Corne, Peter Huggeford,
James Horton, Jr., William Sutton, William Barker, Joshua Purdy,
and Absalom Gidney, all of whom wore given the opportunity to
show their respect for the committee through the medium of a sum-
mons, but, in default of appearance, were to be ar-
rested. The committee was directed to inquire as
to their guilt or innocence upon the following points:
(1) Whether they had afforded aid or sustenance to
the British fleets or armies; (2) whether they had
been active in dissuading inhabitants from associat-
ing for the defense of the united colonies; (3)
whether they had decried the value of the conti-
nental money and endeavored to prevent its cur-
rency; and (4) whether they had been concerned or
actually engaged in any schemes to defeat, retard,
or oppose the measures in the interest of the united
colonies. All found innocent were to be discharged
with certificates of character. Those found guilt\
were, at the discretion of the committee, to be im-
prisoned or removed under parole from their usual
places of residence, or simply released under bonds
guaranteeing subsequent good behavior. The only
crown officials residing in Westchester County who
were named in the resolutions were Solomon Fowler
and Richard Morris, neither of whom was found
guilty of any offense. Richard Morris was a brother
of Colonel Lewis Morris, the signer of the Declar-
ation of Independence, and a half-brother of Gonverneur Mor-
ris, lie was judge of the colonial Court of Admiralty, but his
designation as a possible foe to the Revolutionary programme seems
to have been wholly undeserved, lie resigned his crown commission,
giving as his reason that he could not conscientiously retain it, ami
his country-seat at Scarsdale was subsequently burned by the British
and his estate devastated. On July 31, 1776, less than two months
after he was singled out as a possible traitor, he was unanimously ap-
pointed by the fourth provincial congress judge of the High Court

CONTINENTAL
SOLDIER.

328 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

of Admiralty under the new provisional government, In 1779 he
became chief justice of the New York State Supreme Court, succeed-
ing John Jay.

The committee to detect conspiracies began its sessions on the
15th of June, with John Jay as its chairman. It sent summonses
to all the Westchester County men named in the resolutions. The
limits of our space do not admit of a detailed notice of the action of
the committee concerning these various cases, none of which, except-
ing that of Frederick Philipse, possesses any very important historic
interest. The history of Philipse's case may properly be completed
in the present connection.

In the summons sent to him he was ordered to appear before the
committee on the 3d of July, lie sent the following reply:

Philipsborough, July 2, 1776.

Gentlemen : — I was served on Saturday evening last with a paper signed by you, in
which you suggest that you are authorized by the Congress to summon certain persons to
appear before you, whose conduct had been represented as inimical to the rights of America,
of which number you say I am one.

Who it is that has made such a representation, or upon what particular facts it is
founded, as you have not stated them it is impossible for me to imagine ; but, considering my
situation and the near and intimate ties and connections which I have in this country, which
can be secured and rendered happy to me only by the real and permanent prosperity of
America, I should have hoped that suspicions of this harsh nature would not be easily har-
boured. However, as they have been thought of weight sufficient to attract the notice of
the Congress, I can only observe that, conscious of the uprightness of my intentions and the
integrity of my conduct, I would most readily comply with your summons, but that the situ-
ation of my health is such as would render it very unadvisable for me to take a journey to
New York at this time. I have had the misfortune, gentlemen, of being deprived, totally,
of the sight of my left eye ; and the other is so much affected and inflamed as to make me
very cautious how I expose it, for fear of a total loss of sight. This being my real situation,
I must request the favour of you to excuse my attendance to-morrow ; but you may rest
assured, Gentlemen, that I shall punctually attend, as soon as I can, consistent with my
health, flattering myself, in the meantime, that, upon further consideration, you will think
that my being a friend to the rights and interests of my native country is a fact so strongly
implied as to require no evidence on my part to prove it, until something more substantial
than mere suspicion or vague surmises is proved to the contrary.

I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

Frederick Philipse.

To Leonard Gansevoort, Philip Livingston, Thomas Tredwell, Lewis Graham, Gouver-
neur Morris, Thomas Randall, Esquires.

The terms of this letter, considered apart from Philipse's specific
excuse for declining to attend, are entertaining to a degree. Sum-
moned by a Revolutionary tribunal to appear before it and answer
the accusation of hostility to American liberty, he recognizes in the
situation which confronts him no circumstance of gravity. He delays
his reply until the day before the lime appointed for his attendance,
and the peremptory command sent to him lr\ the committee he al-
ludes to as " a paper ... in which you suggest that you are
authorized," etc. A naive interpretation, indeed, of a stern Revolu-

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 177G 329

tionary summons. Finally, he dismisses the inconvenient matter by
flattering himself that the committee really will not require his
presence at all. The lord of Philipseburgh Manor deemed himself
well within the bounds of political sagacity in treating the committee
with such exact though courteous reserve. The overpowering fleet
and army of Great Britain had just arrived, the provincial congress
was scurrying out of New York ( V.y, and, indeed, if Frederick Philipse
had been so obliging as to journey to the city on that 3d of July
conformably to the " suggestion " which had been conveyed to him,
he would have found no committee there to interrogate him.

It does not appear that Philipse was again summoned or that he
was ever subjected to any inquisitorial examination. He was, how-
ever, compelled to give his parole to guarantee his good behavior.
That summer of 177C> was a most critical period for the patriot in-
terests on the banks of the Hudson. British warships were in the
river, and it was suspected that they were holding nightly commu-
nication with the influential Tories. Washington deemed it expe-
dient to remove Philipse from his manor house on the Nepperhan to
a quarter where his presence would not be a possibly disturbing thing.
On the llth of August Philipse, by Washington's order, was taken to
New Kochelle. There, says a historian of Yonkers, " he was closely
confined, under guard, for eleven days, when he was removed to
Connecticut and gave his parole that he would not go beyond the
limits of Middletown. lie was accompanied by Angevine, his faithful
colored valet, who afterward went with Mr. Philipse to England, and
survived him but one year. They are interred in the same church-
yard. Charley Philips, son of Angevine, lived for many years on
the banks of the Hudson, and wa.s sexton of Saint John's Church
(Yonkers) forty-five years. After the Philipse family had left Philipse-
burgh (1777), John Williams, steward of the manor, had possession
of the manor until its confiscation, in 1779." *

Philipse's undoing was at every stage the consequence of his own
deliberate acts. If he had remained discreetly within the American
lines until the fortunes of the war were decided, if is highly improb-
able that tin' extremity of confiscating his estates would have been
resorted to; for he was a man of generally prudent character, with
absolutely nothing against him except the conjecture that he pre-
ferred the triumph of England. But he was firmly convinced from
the beginning that the " rebellion " would be crushed, and he shaped
his course accordingly. After his removal to Connecticut he was
granted leave to visit New York City, subject to recall. He was suni-

1 Alison's Hist, of Yonkers, 91.

330 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

mcned back, bu1 did not conic That settled everything.1 Shortly
afterward the Slate of New York confiscated his property. He died
at ('hosier, England, in LTS5, and was buried in the Cathedral Church
of thai place, where the following tablet to his memory is to be

seen :2

Sacred to the Memory

Frederick Philipse, Efquire, Late of the

Province of New York ; A Gentleman in Whom

the Various focial, domeftie and Religious

Virtues were eminently United. The Uniform

Rectitude of His conduct commanded the

Efteem of others : Whilft the Benevolence of His

Heart and Gentleness of His Manners secured

their Love. Firmly attached to His Sovereign

and the British Constitution, He opposed, at

the Hazard of His life, the late Rebellion in

North America ; and for this Faithful discharge

of His Duty to His King and Country He was

Proscribed, and His Estate, one of the Largest in

New York, confiscated, by the usurped Legislature

of that Province. When the British Troops were

withdrawn from New York in 1783 He quitted

A Province to which He had always been an

Ornament and Benefactor, and came to

England, leaving all His Property behind Him :

which reverse of Fortune He bore with

that calmness, Fortitude and Dignity

which had distinguished Him through

every former stage of Life.

He was born at New York the 12th day of September

in the year 1721) ; and Died in this Place the 30th

day of April, in the Year 1785, Aged 65 Years.

The British government, as a partial recompense to Philipse for
his forfeited American estates, paid him a sum equal to about $300,000
of our money.

In addition to summoning or arresting the various individuals
specified in the resolutions to which wo have alluded, the third pro-
vincial congress authorized its committee for the detection of con-
spiracies to summon or apprehend all other persons deemed danger-
ous or disaffected, and to use for that purpose not merely detach-
ments of the militia, but troops of the continental line, the latter to
be obtained by application to the commander-in-chief. Also the town
and district committees were encouraged io exercise zeal and vigi-
lance to the same end, and were empowered to summon or arrest,

!A facsimile of this tablet is suspended in a By its terms lie pledged his "faith and word

Yonkers. It has always appeared to the editor States, and to return to Connecticut when re-

of the presenl History that this is in rather intelligence to the enemies of the United

questionable taste. States, and to return to Connecticut when re-

2 His parole, dated December 23, 1 T7< ;. was quired by the governor or General Washington

issued by Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut. so to do.

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 177G

331

upon their own responsibility and without waiting for advice from
the county committee, everybody whom they regarded with suspicion.
Persons thus summoned or arrested by the town and district com-
mittees were required to give good security that they would appear
before the county committee at its next session, or, in default of
such security, were to be committed to custody. It will thus be
seen how rigid and detailed were the arrangements, upon the eve
of the breaking out of the war in the Colony of New York, for com
pelling absolute submission everywhere to the will of the Revolu-
tionary authorities, and for visiting swift and condign punishment
upon all refractory or sullen spirits. 11 is needless to remark that
t here was no relaxation of this severe programme during the progress
of the war. Yet the extreme limits of the legal processes put in opera-
tion against the Tories were imprisonment or deportation to other
parts of the country, with the added punishment later, in special in-
stances, of confiscation of estates. There was no resemblance to the
sanguinary scenes of the French [{evolution. Life was uniformly
respected, unless the offense was of a nature punishable by death
under the articles of civilized war.

Some of the common Tory suspects arrested in Westchester County
who were deemed dangerous, and therefore not tit
persons to go at large, were, for the lack of local
prison facilities, sent to the forts in the Highlands '<
and put at hard labor.

The third provincial congress, as the reader no
doubt will remember, was a very short-lived body,
extending only from the lSth of .May to the 30th of
June. It was deliberately planned by the eminent

. ' ... ,' , . FLAG OF THE

men Who were its controlling members to bring thirteen colonies.
its labors promptly to a conclusion, and to have
it superseded by a new congress, freshly elected by the people
upon the great issue of American independence which was
being shaped for ultimate decision at Philadelphia. in an-
ticipation of the Declaration of Independence, the continental
congress had, as early as the Kith of .May, adopted a preamble
and resolution declaring it to be absolutely irreconcilable to
reason and good conscience for the people of the colonies longer to
take the oaths and affirmations necessary lor the support of any
government under the crown of Great Britain, and recommending
to the various colonial assemblies and conventions to take measures
for the adoption of " such government as shall, in the opinion of the
representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and
safety of their constituents in particular and America in general. "

332 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

The significance of the preamble and resolution was fully appre-
ciated by the provincial congress of New York, whose leaders
promptly decided that the responsibility for dealing with the issue
of a formal abrogation of the government of Great Britain and of
the creation of a new form of government should be referred to an
entirely new congress to be elected by the people without delay.
Consequently on the 31st of May action was taken summoning the
electors of the various counties to meet at an early date and choose
delegates to a fourth provincial congress. Meantime steady progress
was being made at Philadelphia toward the definite consideration
of the subject of American independence, and some of the New York
representatives in the continental congress couceived a strong de-
sire for categorical instructions from home as to that vital question.
On the 8th day of June four of these representatives— William Floyd,
Henry Wisner, Robert II. Livingston, and Francis Lewis— sent a let-
ter to the New York provincial congress, requesting that such in-
structions be sent them immediately. It was not until the 11th that
1 lie latter body complied with the request thus made. It then adopted
a series of resolutions whose essential purport was to declare the
congress's unwillingness and incapacity to deal with the matter, and
1<> commit it for decision to the people at the forthcoming election
for a new provincial congress. The first of these resolutions was
an emphatic intimation to the delegates at Philadelphia that they
possessed as yet no authority to vote in favor of independence, being
lo the effect that "the good people of this colony have not, in the
opinion of this congress, authorized this congress or the delegates of
this colony in the continental congress to declare this colony to
be and continue independent of the crown of Great Britain." The
whole matter was submitted in most explicit terms to the electors,
who were earnestly recommended to vest their representatives in
the soon-to-be chosen fourth provincial congress "with full power
to deliberate and determine on every question whatever that may
concern or affect the interest of this colony, and to conclude upon,
ordain, and execute every act and measure which to them shall ap-
pear conducive to the happiness, security, and welfare of this colony,"
and particularly, " by instructions or otherwise, to inform their said
deputies of their sentiments relative to the great question of Inde-
pendency and such other points as they may think proper."

The resolutions of the 11th of June were passed by the provincial
congress mainly at the instance of John Jay, who is supposed to
have left his seat in the continental congress and become a member
of the third provincial congress of New York for the express object
of holding the latter body to a judicious course on the subject of

FROM JANUARY, 1775, TO JULY 9, 1776

333

independence pending possible final efforts for reconciliation with
the mother country. The resolutions embodied, so far as it was pos-
sible for them to do, an absolute prohibition of support of independ-
ence by the New York delegates at Philadelphia until further in-
structions should be dispatched to them. No further instructions
were sent up to the time of the promulgation of the Declaration ot
Independence— the 4th of July. Notwithstanding this condition of
things, four of the delegates from New York— William Floyd, Philip
Livingston, Francis Lewis, and our Lewis Mori is— had the great cour-
age to ignore the dissuasions of the qualified representatives of the
people in their home colony, and sign their names to the immortal
instrument. Of this number, there is no room for doubt that the
signer contributed by Westchester County was inflexibly resolved
upon that line of conduct from the first, and entirely without refer-
ence to instructions from home. lie did not unite with Floyd, Wi-
ner, Robert R Livingston, and
Lewis in their letter of June 8
soliciting instructions, but deemed
himself fully qualified as a duly
chosen representative from New-
York to act upon the measure ac-
cording to his individual judg-
ment. It can scarcely be ques-
tioned that his bold attitude, in
which he was joined by the highly
respected Philip Livingston, was
influential in persuading two of
the signers of the communication
of June S to in like manner set
duty above caution. Particularly
apropos to the four courageous
delegates from New York, in view
of the embarrassing circum-
stances which compassed them
about, is the magnificent tribute
of the Abbe Raynal to the signers
of the Declaration: "With what

grandeur, with what enthusiasm, should I not speak of those .
men who erected this grand edifice by their patience, their wisdom,
and their courage! Hancock, Franklin, the two Adamses were the
greatest actors in the affecting scene; but they were not the only ones.
Posterity shall know them all. Their honored names shall be trans-
mitted to it by a happier pen than mine. Brass and marble shall show

LEWIS MORRIS,

Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

'CUeroll:

334 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

them to the remotest ages. En beholding them shall the friend of
freedom feel his heart palpitate with joy- fed his eyes float in deli-
cious tears. ruder the bust of one of them has been written: w lie
wrested thunder from Heaven, and tin' scepter from tyrants/ Of the
last words of this eulogy shall all of them partake/'

Lewis Morris, Westchester County's signer of the Declaration, after
completing the term of service in the continental congress for which
h,. had been elected, retired from that body and was succeeded by
his younger brother, Gouverneur. In June, 177C>, he was appointed
by the New York provincial congress brigadier-general of the militia
of Westchester County, and later he was made major-general of mili-
tia. Alwavs devoted to agricultural pursuits, he resumed his favorite
avocation as soon as peace was restored. He lived to witness the
complete realization of all the patriotic aims and governmental prin-
ciples of which he had been one of the earliest and most radical pro-
moters, and for which he had made conspicuous sacrifices, dying on
the 22d day of January, 1798, aged seventy-two.

CHAPTEK XVI

THE STATE OF NEW YORK BORN AT WHITE PLAINS EVENTS TO OCTOBER

12, 1776

HE third provincial congress, in discontinuing ils sittings
in New York City as a consequence of the sighting of the
British fleet, adopted a resolution which provided for its
reassembling at White Plains, the county-seat of West-
chester County, on Tuesday, The 2d day of July. Bu1 it did not
again come together, either on that day or subsequently.

On the morning of Tuesday, the 9th of July, representatives from
a majority of the counties of New York appeared in the court house
in White Plains, and promptly organized the fourth provincial con-
gress, electing General Nathaniel Woodliull as president. From that
date until the 27th day of July, White Plains continued to be the
seat of the Revolutionary government, which now, for the first time,
became the responsible government of a new commonwealth. It was
there that the Declaration of Independence was formally proclaimed,
that the name of the State of New York was substituted for the an-
cient designation of the Province of New York, and that the original
steps for the organization of the State machinery were taken. To
the lasting regret of all who hold venerable associations dear, the
historic court house where these ever-memorable events transpired
ceased to exist very soon afterward, being burned by some vandal
soldiers of Washington's army on the night of the 5th of November,
177(i. This original Westchester County court house, as we have
already noted, was built after the destruction by tire (February 4,
L758) of the court house in Westchester Town, ami was first used
by the Court of Common Pleas on the 7th day of November, lTo!).1
The representatives from Westchester County to the important body
whose sessions began within its walls on the 9tli of July were Colonel
Lewis Graham, Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt, Major Ebenezer Lock-

irt house was erected. His ef-
ly seconded by John Thomas, .if
the credit of having Rye, who was then a member of the colonial
is the county-seat, assembly. Dr. Graham also, at considerable
having the court house building erected, and expense, caused two hotels and a country store
having the courts removed there from West- to be built, and thus gave the county-seat a
ehester He gave to the county the site upon start.— Smith's Manual of Westchester County, 33.

i To Dr. Robert Graham, who was supervisor which t
of White Plains from 1769 to 1775. and county forts w<
judge in 1778,
White riains fixed upon

:;:;<•>

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

wood William Paulding, Captain Jonathan Piatt, Samuel Haviland,
Zebadiah Mills, Colonel Gilbert Drake, Jonathan G. Tompkins, Gen-
eral Lewis Morris, and Gouverneur Morris, all of whom, the Journal
records, were in attendance on that historic morning. John day also,
as a dcpntv from New York City, was there.

The first business of the day was the consideration of the Declara-

JONATIIAN G. TOMPKINS.

tion of Independence, which was referred to a committee headed by
John Jay. In the afternoon the following report was brought m and
adopted without a dissenting voice:

In Convention of the Representatives
of the State of New York, White Plains,
July 9, 177G.
Resolved, unanimously, That the reasons assigned hy the continental congress '^Jecl^
inP- the United Colonies free and independent States are cogent and conclusive , and that
Se we ament tl ruel necessity which has rendered that measure unavoidable, we approve
the same, and will, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, join the other eolomes m supporting it.

EVENTS FROM JULY 0 TO OCTOBER 12, 177<> 337

Resolved, That a copy of the said Declaration and the foregoing resolution be sent to the
chairman of the committee of the Comity of Westchester, with order to publish the same,
with beat of drum, at this place, on Thursday next, and to give directions that it be pub-
lished, with all convenient speed, in the several districts within the said county ; and that
copies thereof be forthwith transmitted to the other county committees within the State of
New York, with order to cause the same to be published in the several districts of their
respective counties.

Resolved, That five hundred copies of the Declaration of Independence, with the two
last-mentioned resolutions of this congress for approving and proclaiming the same, be pub-
lished in handbills and sent to all the county committees in this State.

Resolved, That the delegates of this State, in continental congress, be and they are
hereby authorized to consent to and adopt all such measures as they may deem conducive to
the happiness and welfare of the United States of America.

On Thursday, the 11th day of July, therefore, " with beat of drum,"
the official proclamation of the great Declaration on the part of the
representatives of the State of New York was made before the old
court house at White Plains. There unfortunately existed at the
time no local newspaper in the county to record the undoubtedly in-
teresting- circumstances attending the grand event.

On the second day of its sessions at White Plains, the "Conven-
tion of Representatives of the State of New York " began to consider
plans for the organization of the proposed State government, but
nothing definite was accomplished in that direction during the con-
tinuance of the body at our county-seat. On the 27th of July the con-
vention terminated its sessions at White Plains, and from the 29th
of July to the 29th of August it sat at Harlem. A committee of thir-
teen, of which John Jay was chairman and Gouverneur Morris was a
member, was appointed on the 1st of August to take into considera-
tion and report a plan for instituting a form of government. Out of
this action resulted the first constitution of the State, which was re-
ported on March 12 and adopted on April 20. 1777. Meantime, and
until the new governmental machinery was started, New York re-
mained under exclusive legislative and committee government. The
State convention, after leaving tlarlem, met successively at Fishkill
and Kingston, being dissolved on the loth of May, 1777. Through-
out the critical period which included the successive British occupa-
tions of Staten Island. Long Island, and Manhattan Island, and the
Westchester County campaign, the convention was indefatigable in
performing the manifold onerous duties that belonged to its sphere.

An interesting and significant resolution adopted by the convention
while in session at our county-seat (July 15) was the following:

Resolved, unanimously, That it is the opinion of this [convention that if bis Excellency,
General Washington, should think it expedient for the preservation of this State and the
general interest of America to abandon the City of New York and withdraw the troops to
the north side of Kingsbridge, this convention will cheerfully co-operate with him in every
measure that may be necessary — etc.

338 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

The proclamation of Independence was of necessity submitted to
quietly, though with varied murmurings, by the Tory faction of
Westchester County. The local committees every where were su-
preme, and manifestations of an unfriendly nature, even in the form
of disfavoring remark, were pretty certain to involve the culprits
in difficulty. The name of one bold spirit, who for three weeks perse-
vered in a public attitude of defiance, has come down to us; and be-
fore proceeding with the narrative of the momentous events which
now crowd thick upon us, this interesting local episode should be
recorded.

It is not surprising that the aggressive individual was a clergy-
man of the Church of England, the Rev. Epenetus Townsend by name,
who since 1766 had officiated as a missionary of the Venerable Propa-
gation Society in the Parish of Salem. He was a man of ability,
though not of distinguished talents like Parson Seabury, of West-
chester. For inveterate devotion to the king and scorn of all rebels
he certainly yielded to none in all our County of Westchester. He
relates in one of his letters thai as early as the end of the year 1773 he
began to strongly suspect that - the leaders of opposition to govern-
ment in America " were aiming at independence; whereupon he un-
dertook to do all that lay in his power, - by preaching, reading the
Homilies against Rebellion," and the like, to persuade his people
a<»'ainst countenancing such wicked tendencies. "And blessed be
God," he exclaims, "I have the satisfaction that the Church people
[Episcopalians] in all my parishes [Salem, Ridgefield, and Ridge-
bury] have almost unanimously— there being three or four excep-
tions—maintained their loyalty from the first." In .May, 1776, he says
he was called before the " Rebel Committee of Cortlandt's Manor"
and - invited " to join their association. This he indignantly declined
to do. Next, he was ordered to furnish blankets for the " Rebel sol-
diers," and, refusing, was sent under guard to the committee, which,
failing to persuade him on the same point, gave orders to search his
house^and appropriate the desired goods; but happily his wife had
safely secreted all they possessed. Then he was directed to pay - up-
wards of thirty shillings " to the mortified searching party, refused to
obey, and was detained under guard until he produced the money.
After that he was escorted before the Westchester County commit-
tee, on complaint made by the Cortlandt Manor committee, to be
examined as to his political principles. These several unpleasant in-
cidents all occurred in the months of May and June, 1776; and con
sidering the respectable ami reverend character of Mr. Townsend,
together with the circumstance that all but "three or four" of flu
" Church people " of his parishes were Loyalists, the severity and per-

EVENTS FROM JULY

9 to October 12, 1770 339

tinacity with which he was disciplined are forcibly illustrative of
the general spirit of the times in Westchester County.

On the .Sunday after the Declaration of Independence was pro-
claimed by the authority of the assembled delegates of the State of
New York at White Plains, the Eev. Epenetus Townsend, holding
services as usual in his church at Salem, omitted not one jot of
the prescribed formularies in relation to the king and the royal
family. On the second Sunday he still pursued the even tenor of
his duties in this particular; but on the third Sunday, says Bolton,
4k when in the afternoon he was officiating, and had proceeded some
length in the service, a company of armed soldiers — said to have be-
longed to Colonel Sheldon's regiment, stationed on Keeler's Hill, op-
posite marched into the church with drums beating and fifes play-
ing, their guns loaded and bayonets fixed, as if going to battle; and as
soon as he commenced reading the collects for the king and royal
family they rose to their feet, and the officer commanded him npon
the peril of his life to desist. Mr. Townsend immediately stopped
reading, closed his prayer-book, descended from the reading-desk, and
so the matter passed over without any accident." On the 21st of Oc-
tober following he was sent to Fishkill as an enemy of America, and
for six months was kept on parole at his own expense. In tin spring
of 1777, having refused to take the oath of allegiance to the republic,
he was permitted to remove with his "family, apparel, and house-
hold furniture" to the British lines, his property in Salem — a very
"genteel " one — being confiscated. In 177!) he was appointed chap-
lain to a Loyalist battalion, which was ordered to Halifax, and he
sailed with ii thither, accompanied by his wife and five children. His
ship foundered, and he and his whole family perished.

The first vessels of the British expedition against New York, which
arrived at Sandy Hook on June 2!), were gradually joined by the
entire fleet. The united military force comprised the army formerly
quartered in Boston (which, after evacuating that place, had been
transported to Halifax), some troops from the Southern colonies, n
large addition of fresh troops from England, and some fourteen
thousand Hessian mercenaries. In the aggregate there were 33,614
men, of whom 24,404 were in condition for battle. It was by far the
largest army ever gathered in America during the Revolution. It
seemed probable that General Howe's attack on New York would
not be in the form of a naval bombardment of the city or of a de-
barkation of the army on Manhattan Island, but of a movement
thither from Long Island. There Washington had earned defenses
to be fortified and occupied, whose inner line extended from Gowanus

340 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Creek to Wallabout Bay. General Howe's original intention seems
to have been to disembark immediately on Long Island and move to
his destination with all possible energy. On July 1 the fleet was
brought up to Gravesend Bay (Coney Island), with the evident de-
sign of effecting a landing the next morning. But if such was the
purpose of the British commander, he promptly abandoned it (being
actuated, it is supposed, by the prudential feeling that it would be
wisest to await the arrival of the bulk of his forces); and, indeed,
it was not until the 22d of August that the landing on Long Island
was made. There Washington was granted a respite of seven weeks,
which he availed of by perfecting the Long Island defenses and
making all practical arrangements for concentrating in that quarter
a force capable of resisting the invasion. How nearly this proved
fatal to the American cause is a theme that the historians of the
Revolution never weary of expatiating upon.

General Howe, in bringing his formidable command to America,
had, at least nominally, a double function to discharge. While he
grasped the sword with one hand he bore the olive branch in the
other. Before proceeding to sanguinary measures he was to proffer
terms of reconciliation, which were to include gracious pardon for
all acts of rebellion. But toward the end of peace so devoutly to be
wished for, he unfortunately was not able to make any progress
whatever One of his first acts was to dispatch an officer under a
flag of truce with a letter addressed to " George Washington, Esq./'
reminding one of that other historic British impertinence, the offi-
cial designation of the fallen and captive Emperor Napoleon, after
Waterloo, as "General Bonaparte." Howe's messenger, after ex-
changing'the most elegant and amiable courtesies with the Amer-
ican officer who came to meet him, stated that he had a letter for a
" Mr. " Washington. The other informed him that some unaccount-
able mistake must have been made, that there was no person an-
swering to such a name in the whole patriot camp. The missive
was next produced, and still it was disavowed that the specified pri-
vate individual had any known existence. The puzzled messenger
was fain to return to liis chief without accomplishing his laudable
object. This was the last offer to spare the erring colonies the fear-
ful chastisement that had so long been threatened.

On the 2d of July the British ships left Gravesend, advanced in
stately procession through the Narrows, dropped anchor one by one
along the shores of Staten Island, and began to discharge the troops,
who, gladly remarks Dawson, were tk welcomed by the inhabitants of
that' beautiful island as their deliverers from the terrible oppression
of the Revolutionary powers." Not until the 12th of July was any

EVENTS FROM JULY 9 TO OCTOBER 12, 177G 341

formal demonstration against the American foe attempted. Then
two vessels, the " Phoenix," of forty-four guns, and the " Rose," of
twenty guns, with three tenders, were dispatched on an expedition
up the Hudson River. They were fired on by the shore batteries,
with little or no effect, and responded by dropping a number of shells
into the city, which killed three of Washington's soldiers. Anchor-
ing at Spuyten Duyvil Creek, they got a warm reception from the
new batteries which had been planted on Tippet's and Cock's Hills.
They then resumed their voyage up stream as far as Tarrytown,
where the local company of militia, known as the Associated Com-
pany of the upper part of Philipseburgh Manor, showed itself ready
for the emergency. That body turned out, under the command of
Lieutenant Daniel Martling, and guarded the shore during the night
to prevent any possible attempt at landing. But there was no such
endeavor; and, although the hostile ships remained opposite Tarry-
town for four days, no clash of arms occurred there. Meantime the
State convention at White Plains sent supplies of powder and ball
to Tarrytown, and also ordered re-enforcements thither. It is very
conjecturable that the purpose of the British warships in staying
so long at that spot was to carry on communication with the Tories
of Philipseburgh Manor and the opposite shore. Washington was con-
cerned about this movement up the Hudson. Referring to it in a letter
to the convention dated the 11th, he expressed the opinion that the
ships "may have carried up arms and ammunition to be dealt
out to those who may favor their cause, and co-operate with
them at a fixed time," and urged vigilant action for nipping so dan-
gerous a scheme in the bad. He also apprehended that troops might
be on board, intended for the seizure of the important Highland de-
files "in which case the intercourse between the two [American]
armies, both by land and water, will be wholly cut off, than which
a greater misfortune could hardly befall the province and army."
Steps were accordingly taken to guard against such a catastrophe,
particular attention being directed toward protecting the road which
passed around Anthony's Nose. Solicitude was likewise felt for Kings-
bridge, a point of even greater immediate importance. In June Wash-
ington had made a personal visit of inspection to Kingsbridge and
vicinity, had found the locality to admit of advantageous fortifica-
tion in seven distinct places, and, " esteeming it a pass of the utmost
importance in order to keep open communication with the country,"
had assigned troops to push forward the defensive works deter-
mined upon. On the 2d of July General Mifflin was sent to Kings-
bridge to assume charge, and from that time forward there was the
utmost activity in and around this spot. The great fear was that

EVENTS FROM JULY 9 TO OCTOBER 12, 1776 343

the bridge itself, and with it the Farmers' Bridge, would be de-
stroyed bv a boat expedition from the Hudson River, and that a por-
tion of the British army would be coincidently landed in Westchester
County, which would have shut up Washington's whole force on
Manhattan Island. But these dreaded attempts were never made,
and even if they had been the precautions taken would probably
have sufficed to counteract them.

It is well known that General Howe placed not a little dependence
upon the hope of receiving active co-operation in the held from the
loyal inhabitants of the lower counties of this State, and in that
hope he was encouraged by assurances which he received from Gov-
ernor Tryon and others upon his arrival. So far as Westchester
County is concerned, no evidence exists that any results to sustain
him in such an expectation followed the undoubted attempts to stim-
ulate Tory courage incidental to the dispatch of the " Phoenix " and
kk Rose " up the Hudson.

Too much praise can not be given the New York State convention
for its vigorous and well-considered measures at this time of uncer-
tainty regarding the intent ions of the enemy. With the situation
below the Harlem River Washington was competent to deal in all
its details, but the convention relieved him of much of the responsi-
bility and distraction that would have been involved in caring for
the security of the country above. Provisions and other stores having
been accumulated in the neighborhood of Peekskill, the convention
ordered their removal to places which would be less exposed to
danger from possible British landing parties. Militia re-enforce-
ments for Forts Constitution and Montgomery were provided for.
One-fourth of the entire militia of Westchester, Dutchess, and Orange
Counties was called out, and, in view of the emergency, each militia-
man taking the field was granted a bounty of twenty dollars ut gen-
erous allowance in the circumstances of the time), with continental
pay ami subsistence. This whole militia force (Westchester County's
contingent being under the command of Colonel Thomas Thomas) was
ordered to Peekskill as the strategic point for repelling the expected
attack on the Highlands. The convention pledged itself to defray
the expenses of any practicable plans for obstructing the naviga-
tion of the Hudson and annoying the enemy's ships. Not having
sufficient ammunition for the militia, it requested Washington to
loan what was needed, promising to replace it at the earliest oppor-
tunity. It also advised Washington to use his offices with Governor
Trumbull, of Connecticut, for the creation of a cam]) of six thousand
men on the Byrani River, in the interest of bringing to confusion
any schemes of the British for seizing the country above Kingsbridge.

344 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

This recommendation was deemed by Washington most excellent, but
never bore any fruits.

On the 16th of July the " Phcenix " and " Rose," with their tenders,
left Tarrytown and sailed up the river to near Verplanck's Point.
Finding that their progress into the Highlands would be prevented
by the batteries of Forts Constitution and Montgomery, they merely
took soundings, received such information as could be got from sym-
pathizers on shore, and landed small parties here and there, which
committed a few minor depredations. Returning slowly down the
stream, they soon found that some tolerably lively adventures had
been prepared for (hem by the alert American commander.

At Tarrytown, on the 4th of August, they were boldly engaged by
a number of galleys — the " Washington," kk Lady Washington," kl Spit-
fire," kk Whiting," kk Independence," and " (Vane " — which Washing-
ton had procured from the governors of ( Connecticut and Rhode Island,
and dispatched for the purpose of annoying the two warships. One
of the participants on the American side, in an account of this spirited
encounter, says: kk We had as hot a lire as, perhaps, was ever known,
for an hour and a half. Our commodore, Colonel Tupper, thought it
prudent to give the signal for our little fleet to withdraw, after man-
fully fighting a much superior force for two hours. Never did men
behave with more firm, determined spirits than our little crews. One
of our tars, being mortally wounded, cried to his messmate: kI am
a dying man; revenge my blood, my boys, and carry me alongside
my gun, that I may die there.' We were so preserved by a gracious
Providence that in all our galleys we had but two men killed and
fourteen wounded, two of which are thought dangerous."

An (wen more exciting experience was reserved for the kk Phoenix,"
kk Rose," and their tenders. Two fire vessels, constructed by Wash-
ington's orders, approached them at their anchorage on the night of
the 10th of August. The resulting transactions have been pictur-
esquely described by numerous writers, but with many variations as
to details. The precise location of this affair of the fire-ships is im-
possible of determination, so conflicting are the statements on that
point. The thrilling scene is variously located off Tarrytown, Dobbs
Ferry, Hastings, and Vonkers. According to a very circumstantial
account by a principal participant on the American side — Captain
Joseph Bass, apparently the navigator of one of the fire-ships, — it oc-
curred not in Hie jurisdiction of Westchester County but in that of
Rockland County, the British vessels, he says, having taken stations
on the west side of the river, because of the greater depth of the
water there, upon receiving an intimation from some quarter that
mischief was impending. The narrative of Captain Bass (originally

EVENTS FItOM JULY 9 TO OCTOBER 12, 1776 345

published in the Worcester Magazine in 1826) is so explicit and in essen-
tial respects so intelligent that it seems to us his statement that the
event transpired on the west side of the river mast be accepted with-
out question. Yet Dawson, after examining numerous original au-
thorities, all carefully cited in his footnotes, gives no suggestion of
this; although he does not specifically say that the engagement oc-
curred on the east bank. Again, the individual proceedings and
performances of the two tire-ships are strangely confused by different
narrators, the exact part borne by one in some accounts being as-
signed to its companion in others. Leaving aside the minuter de-
tails involving discrepancies, which after all are not very material—
and, indeed, the whole affair is of no distinct importance in its rela-
tion to the progress of general events, although exceedingly interest-
ing as an episode, — we shall confine ourselves to a brief statement
of the essential facts, about which there are no disagreements.

The advisability of converting small river craft into fire-ships to
attack the enemy's war vessels received early consideration by the
State convention after the advent of the British fleet. The subject
was assigned to a secret committee, whose practical projects were en-
couraged by Washington and also by General George Clinton. After
the passage of the " Rose," " Phamix," and their tenders up the
river, two fire-ships, or rafts, were fitted out and held in readiness
atSpuyten Duyvil Inlet for a favorable opportunity. " The fire-ships,"
says Ruttenber, whose account is digested from the narrative of Cap-
tain Bass, "had been prepared with fagots of the most combustible
kinds of wood, which had been dipped in melted pitch, and with
bundles of straw cut about a fool long, prepared in the same manner.
The fagots and bundles tilled the deck and hold as far aft as the cabin,
and into this mass of combustible materials was inserted a match,
that might be tired by a person in the cabin, who would have to
escape through a door cut in the side of the vessel into a whaleboat
that was lashed to the quarter of the sloop. Besides these combus-
tibles, there were in each vessel ten or twelve barrels of pitch. A
quantity of canvas, amounting to many yards, was cut into strips
about a foot in width, then dipped in spirits of turpentine, and hung
upon the spars and rigging, extending down to the deck."

On the night of the Kith of August the two fire-ships, commanded
(savs Dawson) by Captains Fosdick and Thomas, both volunteers from
the army, sailed up the river on the serious business for which they
had been constructed. They kept in midstream, and in the dark-
ness were unable to detect the enemy's ships, but located them by
the cry of the lookouts, "All's well!" and bore down upon them.
One of the fire-ships grappled a tender (or " bombketch," according

346 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

to Bass), and the other made fast to the " Phoenix." The fires were
lighted, and instantly the rafts were aflame. The tender, or bomb-
ketch, was burned to the water's edge, and the "Phoenix" seemed
in a fair way of total destrnction, but was saved by desperate exer-
tions. Nevertheless she was tired in several places, and much of her
rigging was cut away so that the flames might not catch it. Most
of'Wcrew of the tender perished, and it is supposed that some
nun on the " Phcenix " were lost. Captain Thomas and Ave of his
men were unable to escape to their whaleboat after applying the
match to the combustibles. They jumped into the water and were
drowned. Washington's account of this daring and, indeed, very
brilliant affair is as follows:

The night of the 16th two of our fire vessels attempted to burn the ships of war up the
river. One of these boarded the « Phoenix," of forty-four guns, and was grappled with her
for some minutes, but unluckily she cleared herself. The only damage the enemy sustained
was the destruction of one tender. It is agreed on all hands that our people engaged in this
affair behaved with great resolution and intrepidity. One of the captains, Thomas, it is to
be feared perished in the attempt, or in making his escape by swimming, as he has not been
heard of. His bravery entitled him to a better fate. Though this enterprise did not
succeed to our wishes, I incline to think it alarmed the enemy greatly; for this morning
(Aucmst 18 ) the " Phoenix " and « Rose," with their two remaining tenders, taking advantage
of a brisk and prosperous gale and favorable tide, quitted their stations and have returned
and joined the rest of the fleet

With the final sailing away of the British ships on the morning
of the 18th of August, the Hudson River, from the bay up, was re-
lieved of the enemv, whose entire Meet was now anchored along the
Staten Island shore. It was nearly a month before the much-dreaded
vessels of war again ventured above the Battery, and it was not until
the 9th of October that the citizens of Westchester County were
thrown into renewed apprehension by the reappearance of the un-
welcome visitors in their quarter.

The transportation of the invading army from its temporary quar-
ters on Staten Island to Long Island was begun early on the morn-
ing of the 22d of August, the landing being effected at Gravesend
without opposition. With the details of the battle of Long Island,
which presently followed, our narrative is not concerned, and it is
sufficient for the purpose of this History to briefly summarize its re-
sults. By noon on the 27th of August that disastrous battle ended in
complete victory for the British, and Washington, having sustained
a heavy loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, retired with his
whole remaining force, which, as slightly re-enforced the next day, did
not exceed nine t housand, behind his inner intrenchments, stretching,
as already noticed, from the Gowanus to the Wallabout. Fronting
him was an army of fully twenty thousand, and at any moment the
whole tremendous British fleet might enter the East River and cut

EVENTS FROM JULY 9 TO OCTOBER 12, 1TTG 347

off his retreat to Manhattan Island. In such an eventuality his un-
conditional surrender would be but a question of a brief time, and
with it the cause of American independence would in all probability
receive its deathblow. The sole problem for Washington to solve
was therefore that of the most expeditious possible escape. Without
delay he began to make his arrangements. By the evening of the
29th all the available craft in the surrounding waters had been col-
lected and brought to the Brooklyn end of the ferry. The night was
fortunately dark, and not a, ship of the enemy's had yet appeared
in the vicinity, while Howe's army lay before our works in complete
ignorance of the design of the American general. One by one the
regiments left their posts and were safely transferred to the New
York side. At dawn the business was still unfinished, but, happily,
a heavy fog obscured river and land. Nevertheless the last boat-
loads had scarcely left the Brooklyn shore when the British ap-
peared on the scene, and, indeed, their arrival was in time to cap-
ture some of the stragglers. It was a narrow escape for the patriot
army from the jaws of certain destruction, made possible only by a
combination of circumstances which seems providential. It is told
that the wife of a Tory named Rapelje, living near the ferry, as
soon as the retreating movement began after nightfall, dispatched
a negro with information of it to the British camp, but that the mes-
senger, after safely making his way through the American lines,
had the ill luck to stumble upon an outpost of Hessian mercenaries,
who were unable to understand a word of his language, and, not ap-
prehending that he was a person of any importance, did not turn
him over to the British until morning. The battle of Long Island,
although in its immediate result to the Americans a terrible defeat,
followed by the abandonment of Long Island and of New York City
also, was, if thoughtfully reflected upon, a defeat of prodigious ulti-
mate advantage. If Washington had triumphed in that battle, or
even if ils outcome had been comparatively indecisive, his generals
would almost certainly have insisted on standing their ground, and
in that event he would almost inevitably have suffered a miserable
end on Long Island. It was the completeness of his defeat alone
which preserved the army by leaving no course of action open ex-
cept immediate retreat. Although the loss of New York City also
was involved, that, from the American point of view, was more a
relief than a catastrophe. Without a fleet, Washington never could
have held the city, which, as a base absolutely indispensable for the
British, to acquire, would have been taken by them in the end, even
at the cost of reducing it to ashes. An attempt to hold it could have
resulted in nothing but a futile sacrifice of energies, troops, and

348 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

money on an enormous scale. It was best that he should be rid of it
at once with no greater sacrifice than that incurred in the brief Long
Island campaign and the mainly defensive movements that followed
it. lie was thereby released from a most perilous situation and en-
abled to withdraw his army into the interior, where it could recruit
its strength, improve its discipline, and grasp opportunities as they
should be presented in a struggle for liberty which everyone knew
must be protracted and could succeed only through endurance.

On Manhattan Island Washington was still undisputed master,
and the British, without any precipitancy but with great thorough-
ness, proceeded to bring him to another reckoning there. Although
the ileet made no attempt to dispose itself around the island for
purposes of co-operation with Howe's land forces until several days
after the battle of Long Island, two of the warships, with a brig, had
on the very day of that battle taken a station above Throgg's Neck.
This was an ominous move, suggesting an intention to come up
through the Last River and seize the numerous strategic points of-
fered by the islands and necks of the river and Sound. Between
the 3d and 14th of September a number of the most powerful frigates
of the fleet were stationed in the East River, and what are now Ran-
dall's and Ward's Islands were occupied. On the 15th the frigates
took a position at the head of Kip's Bay and opened a terrific fire
upon a selected spot on the shore, under whose cover eighty-four boat-
loads of soldiers were landed without the least resistance. It is true
that Washington had placed a considerable force of Connecticut and
Massachusetts troops in that vicinity— eight regiments in all,— but
they beat a hasty and decidedly discreditable retreat as soon as the
enemy showed himself. With the English army present in force on

EVENTS

FROM JULY 9 TO OCTOBER 12, 1'

349

Manhattan Island, it was now imperatively necessary for Washing-
ton to withdraw his whole command to the northern portion of the
island, which lie was fortunately able to do, following the Blooming-
dale Koad on the west side, and camping on the evening of the 15th
on Harlem Heights. Here he established his headquarters in the
Roger Morris mansion, which afterward became the Jumel mansion,
and is still preserved (One Hundred and Sixty-iirst Street near Saint
Nicholas Avenue).

As has already been related, Colonel Roger Morris, the owner of this
stately residence, married Mary Philipse, for whose hand Washington
himself is said to have been a suitor. Mary was the youngest sur-
viving daughter of Frederick
Philipse, the third lord of the
manor, and was born on the 3d of
July, 1730, nearly two years be-
fore Washington saw the light.
The romantic story that Washing-
ton actually sought her in mar
riage, and was refused, does not
rest on any known foundations:
yet there is strong presumptive
evidence that he admired her very
heartily, and that if opportunity
had enabled him to pay diligent
court to her he probably would
have embraced it. Much as has
been written on this subject, noth-
ing that is authentic, so far as we
have been able to discover, lias
been added to Sparks's well-
known reference to it. tk While
in New York in 175(5, " says
Sparks, " Washington was lodged and kii
of Mr. Beverly Robinson, between who
of friendship subsisted, which, indeed, continued without
severed by their opposite fortunes twenty years aft
Revolution. It happened that Miss Mary Philipse, a sist
Robinson, and a young lady of rare accomplishments, wa
mate in the family. The charms of the lady made a deep
sion upon the heart of the Virginia colonel, lie went to Boston, re
turned, and was again welcomed to the hospitality of Mr. Robinson
He lingered there till duty called him away; but he was careful t<
intrust his secret to a confidential friend, whose letters kept him in

^0^:mwi

MARY PHILIPSE.

ly entertained at
and himself an

lie House

intimacy

ange liil

rward in the

r of Mrs.

an in-

impres-

348

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

money on an enormous scale. It was best that he should be rid of it
at once with no greater sacrifice than that incurred in the brief Long
Island campaign ami the mainly defensive movements that followed
it. lie was thereby released from a most perilous situation and en-
abled to withdraw his army into the interior, where it could recruit
its strength, improve its discipline, and grasp opportunities as they
should be presented in a struggle for liberty which everyone knew
must be protracted and could succeed only through endurance.

The first encounter of the Revolution on the soil of Westchester
County occurred on the 2Sth of August in the vicinity of Mamaro-
neck between a party of Loyalist recruits led by one William Louns-
burv and an American force commanded by Captain John Flood,
which was sent in pursuit of them. According to the records of the
State convention for the 29th of August, 1770, "Mr. Tompkins came
into convention ami informed that Mr. Lounsbury was come into
Westchester County with a commission from General Howe to raise
rangers; and that a party of the militia went in pursuit of him, and
were under the necessity of killing him, as he would not surrender;
another was wounded, and four were taken prisoners— all his re-
cruits.'1 The prisoners were Jacob Schureman, Bloomer Neilson
(wounded), Joseph Turner, and Samuel Haines. Lounsbury had
been on board the - Phoenix " in the North River, and his enlisting or-
ders were found on his person. Each of his recruits was to receive £3.
On Manhattan Island Washington was still undisputed master,
and the British, without any precipitancy but with great thorough-
ness, proceeded to bring him to another reckoning there. Although
the fleet made no attempt to dispose itself around the island for
purposes of co-operation with Howe's land forces until several days
after the battle of Long Island, two of the warships, with a brig, had
on the very day of that battle taken a station above Throgg's Neck.
This was an ominous move, suggesting an intention to come up
through the East River and seize the numerous strategic points of-
fered by the islands and necks of the river and Sound. Between
the 3d and 14th of September a number of the most powerful frigates
of the tleet were stationed in the East River, and what are now Ran-
dall's and Ward's Islands were occupied. On the 15th the frigates
took a position at the head of Kip's Bay and opened a terrific fire
upon a selected spot on the shore, under whose cover eighty-four boat-
leads of soldiers were landed without the least resistance. It is true
that Washington had placed a considerable force of Connecticut and
Massachusetts troops in that vicinity— eight regiments in all,— but
they beat a hasty and decidedly discreditable retreat as soon as the
enemy showed himself. With the English army present in force on

-
-

EVENTS FROM JULY 9 TO OCTOBER 12, 1776 351

zines in Westchester County and sent to the army; purchases of
clothing and other materials for the army were made, and it was
ordered that all the bells should be taken from the churches, and all
the brass knockers from the doors of houses, so as to accumulate
material for the manufacture of cannon in case of need.

On the same day that the British effected their landing on Man-
hattan Island, the 15th of September, they sent three of their best
warships, the "Phoenix," "Roebuck," and "Tartar," up the North
River as far as Bloomingdale. There they rode at anchor until the
9th of October, when they pushed farther up, easily passing a chevauas
de frise that had been constructed with much pains just above Fort
Washington. This clievaux de frise consisted of a line of sunken craft
stretching across the stream, and it was hoped that the obstructions
would at least detain the enemy's vessels long enough to admit of
their being so destructively played upon by the Fori Washington
and Fort Lee batteries as to compel them to turn back. It is true
the batteries did some execution, killing and wounding men on each
ship; but the obstructions in the river unfortunately began some
distance from the shore, leaving an open space of tolerably deep
water through which the expedition passed without difficulty and
with little delay. The warships proceeded as far as Dobbs Ferry,
and later moved up to Tarrytown, where they remained, wholly in-
active, throughout the period of the eventful military operations in
Westchester County. It does not appear thai they accomplished
anything except the seizure of a few river craft carrying supplies to
the American army, although incidentally they closed the navigation
of the lower river to the Americans and perhaps diverted to the
Hudson shore of Westchester County some troops that otherwise
would have been used to strengthen the continental army. It is
the general opinion of historical writers that the real purpose of the
British commander in sending them tip the stream was to make a
feint and cause the Americans to fix their attention upon the Hud-
son while he was preparing to outflank Washington from the Sound.
The incident certainly did produce a vast deal of uneasiness on the
American side. We shall recur to this subject in detail later.

While Washington lay encamped on the Heights of Harlem, the
whole southern border of Westchester County, stretching from Spuy-
ten Duyvil Creek to the Sound, A\as protected by a large force under
the efficient command of General Heath, with headquarters at Kings-
bridge. The defensive works at Kingsbridge and its vicinity, com-
menced in the spring, had by arduous labor been completed, and
now comprised nine well fortified and garrisoned positions, having
for their central and most powerful point what was called Fort In-

352

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

dependence, on Tetard's Hill, where the farm of General Richard Mont-
gomery then was, and about where the honse of William Ogden Giles
now stands. It "occupied a most commanding position, overlooking
the Albany road on one side and the Boston road on the other,"
and " had "two bastions at the westerly angles." After the battle of
Lou- Island, and previously to the occupation of .Manhattan Island
The enemy, General 1 loath had adopted excellent precautions
a possible landing in Westchester County. Early in Septem-
hain of vedettes from Morrisania to Throgg's

againsi

ber he established «> < inm <" * * <" > • * >• — --- .... ^.
Neck, so as to provide tor immediate information of any hostile move-
ment'that might require resistance in force, lie also began to render

the Harlem and the Sound

1I1

ds leading from the villages

impassable to the British artillery

OLD BLUE BELL TAVERN.

by telling trees athwart them
and digging deep pits. His
division was increased to ten
thousand men of all arms
(including ineffectives), while
about an equal number re-
mained with Washington on
Manhattan Island. This dis-
position shows how impor-
tant was deemed the busi-
ness of guarding against
the contingency of a sudden
attempt to cut off the re-
treat of the army to the
north. The suggestion of the
likelihood of such an at-

tempt was received, as we have noted, on the 27th of August, when
two British ships and a brig took a station above Throgg's Neck.
That was, however, only a preliminary movement, and, although men
from the ships were landed on City Island and seized all the cattle
they found there, they quickly retired upon the arrival of a regi-
ment sent by General Heath to protect that locality. On the 10th
of September, five davs before the British army moved upon Wash-
ington's forces from Kip's Bay, Montressor's (now Randall's) Island
w;?s taken, and a detachment was placed there, with a large amount
of stores. The island commanded the Morrisania shore, and Colonel
Morris's manor honse was within convenient range. Some four hun-
dred of Heath's men were posted along the shore, and for a time
there were frequent interchanges of compliments between their sen-
tinels and those of the British on the island. Much irritation was
caused on both sides bv occasional exchanges of shots between the

EVENTS FROM JULY 9 TO OCTOBER 12, 1776 353

sentinels, contrary to the regulations of war, and as a result the
British commander threatened to cannonade the Morris house. These
practices were finally stopped, and it is related that the opposing
pickets were afterward " so civil to each other that they used to ex-
change tobacco by throwing the roll across the creek." On the 24th of
September a daring attempt was made to recapture the island. During
the preceding night an expedition of two hundred and forty men,
loaded on three flatboats, with a fourth boat bearing a small cannon,
dropped down the Harlem from Kiugsbridge. depending upon the tide
to float them up on the island about daybreak. They arrived at the cal-
culated time, with no other misadventure than an unfortunate experi-
ence with an American sentry, who, refusing to believe that they were
friends, discharged his gun at them, thereby probably alarming the
enemy. Yet the endeavor would undoubtedly have succeeded if it
had not been for the cowardly behavior of the troops on two of the
boats, who at the critical moment failed to land. The heroic party
that did land according to programme was easily repulsed and made
to retreat, sustaining a loss of fourteen killed and wounded. Among
the killed was a very promising young officer, Major Ilenly, whose
death was much lamented.

After this affair of September 24 on Randall's Island, the first en-
counter of the war along the southern side of Westchester County,
(here was a period of nearly three weeks during which absolutely
no collision worth mentioning occurred between the American and
British forces, either on Manhattan Island or in Westchester County
or its waters. General Heath was not inactive, however. With keen
foresight, he made a careful inspection, on the 3d of October, of the
Town of Westchester and the approach to it from the neighboring
peninsula of Throgg's Neck (or Frog's Neck, as if was usually called
in those days). That peninsula, extending more than two miles into
the Sound, was at high tide a complete island, separated from the
mainland by Westchester Creek and a marsh, over which were built
a plank bridge and a. causeway. At the western extremity of the
bridge stood a wooden tide-mill, erected (probably in the last decadeof
the seventeenth century), at his own expense, by Colonel Caleb Heath-
cote, first mayor of the borough Town of Westchester. At that point
also a large quantity of cordwood had been piled up, which General
Heath found to be "as advantageously situated to cover a post de-
fending the pass as if constructed for the very purpose." It Avas a
valuable strategic position — a few men posted there could hold an
army at bay. and, moreover, as the bridge and causeway commu-
nicated direct with the Village of Westchester, it was a very neces-
sary precaution to have them guarded, quite irrespective of the pos-

354 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

sibilitv that Throgg's Neck might prove to be the chosen landing-
place of the now daily expected invading host. Accordingly the gen-
eral-we qnote from -Heath's Memoirs "-" directed Colonel Hand,
immediately on his return to camp, to fix upon one of the best sub ah
tern officers and twenty-five picked men of his corps, and assign them
to this pass, as their alarm post at all tin.es; and m case the m
made a landing on Frog's Neck to direct this officer immediately to
take np the planks of the bridge; to have everything in readiness to
set the mill on fire, but not to do it unless the fire of the riflemen
should appear insufficient to check the advance of the enemy on the
causeway; to assign another party to the head of the creek; to re-
enforce both, in case the enemy landed; and that he should be sup-
ported." Upon the arrangements thus made were to depend, a tew
days later, perhaps the very salvation of the American army. Of
the fio-ht which occurred there, Mr. Fordham Morris, in his - History
of the Town of Westchester," appropriately says that it was the
"Lexina-ton of Westchester," and that it is to be "hoped that the
wealth and patriotism of the Town of Westchester will some day
cause an appropriate monument to be erected near the bridge m
commemoration of the baffle of Westchester Creek.' '

Lou- before the period at which we have now arrived the whole oi
the Westchester County militia had been ordered into active service.
Some were sent to Peekskill and the Highlands, and some were
posted along the Hudson River; but most of them were attached to
General Heath's command at Kingsbridge, and were detailed to
o-uard the southern ami eastern shore line. It was, in the aggregate,
a curious armament that Westchester County contributed to the con-
tinental battalions. The State convention, in ordering out these mili-
tiamen, directed that if any of the men were without arms they
should bring -a shovel, a pickaxes or scythe, straightened and fixed
OI1 a poie." They were, moreover, to take with them all "disarmed
and disaffected (Tory) male inhabitants between sixteen and fifty-
five vears of age," who were to make themselves useful as fatigue
llien»; and persons of this description who resisted orders were to
be summarily court-martialed. The- State convention evidently did
not cherish a high opinion of the efficiency of the farmer soldiery.

■ ' , , „i ,,r t,,i,i me he assisted in re-covering it many

iThe mill stood at the soutuweste™ ^ °* V(.ars ll(.fcll,, and found under the shingles

the stone bridge which now connec * gg covering it another covering, pierced in

Neck will, the mainland It ^aB ^*™yf ^ plflces with bullet holes." About a third

fire early in December, 1S<4. Jo tne lasi a . ^^ ^ bl.idge> ,,n tlu, promises of

i„ a good state of preservation for its age, , ana Brainerd T. Harrington, grape-shot wore

was still in use for grinding gram The old Mr Bu mu j_ b_ evidently wore

mill," writes a venerable resident of the local- found as ^te^a ■ M^

itv to the present historian, "was sided in some of th< missiles

and a man living here in 1S49 lean artillery.

EVENTS FROM JULY 9 TO OCTOBER 12, 1776 355

Iii a letter to General Washington, dated the 10th of October, its
committee of safety urged him to take measures of his own for guard-
ing against landings by the enemy at all points, adding that "no
reliance at all can be placed on the militia of Westchester County.''1
But this was no exclusive reflection upon the soldierly qualities of
the men of our county, the raw rural militia of all sections naturally
receiving like criticism. In numerous communications written dur-
ing those perilous days Washington wrote with agony of soul about
the miserable subject of the militia. " The militia," he said in a
letter to the president of the continental congress, " instead of calling
forth their utmost efforts to a brave and manly opposition, in order
to repair our losses, are dismayed, intractable, and impatient to re-
turn. Great numbers of them have gone off; in some instances
almost by whole regiments, by half ones, ami by companies at a
time." And in a letter to his brother he gave the following vivid
account of the situation: "The dependence which the congress have
placed upon the militia has already greatly injured and, 1 fear, will
totally ruin our cause. Being subject to no control themselves, they
introduce disorder among the troops whom we have attempted to
discipline, while the change in their living brings on sickness, and
this causes an impatience to get home, which spreads universally
and introduces abominable desertions. In short, it is not in the
power of woids to describe the task I have to perform."

Notwithstanding the terrible emergencies with which Washing-
ton was confronted, his effective force after his escape to the Heights
of Harlem (September 10) showed a diminishing tendency. On the
LMst of September the whole army, including General Heath's com-
mand, comprised (exclusive of officers) about 16,100 men tit for duty;
on the 30th of September, about 15,100; and on the 5th of October,
about 14, 500. These, besides embracing a large proportion of crude
militiamen who were an element of weakness, were encumbered by
thousands of sick, (hi the other hand. General Howe had at his
disposal for the invasion of Westchester County, after leaving behind
him ample garrisons, as well as all his sick, an army many thousands
larger — all professional soldiers. The contrasting conditions are thus
powerfully summarized in the notorious Joseph Galloway's " Letters
to a Nobleman": "The British army was commanded by able and
experienced officers; the rebel by men destitute of military skill or
experience, and, for the most par', taken from mechanic arts or the
plough. The first were possessed of the best appointments, and more
than they could use; and the other of the worst, and less than they
wanted. The one were attended by the ablest surgeons and physi-
cians, healthy and high-spirited; the other were neglected in their

356 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

health clothing, and pay, were sickly, and constantly murmuring and
dissatisfied. And the one were veteran troops, carrying victory and
conquest wheresoever they were led; the other were new raised and
undisciplined, a panic-struck and defeated enemy wherever at-
tacked Such is the true comparative difference between the force
sent to suppress and that which supported the rebellion/'

CHAPTEE XVII

THE CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS

ENERAL HOWE'S determination to move his army into
Westchester County by way of the East River ami Long
Island Sound was perfectly guarded from Washington's
knowledge. In all the official correspondence on the Amer-
ican side up to the day of Howe's landing in our county (October 12),
there appears not the slightest inkling of the real designs of the
British commander. Indeed, during the days when Howe was making
the final preparations for his grand coup, American attention was
absorbed by the successful passage of the three British frigates (the
"Phoenix," " Roebuck," and "Tartar") up the Hudson River past
the batteries of the forts and around the chevaux de frise, which
was deemed a most calamitous occurrence. From the time of the
appearance of the British expedition in New York waters the greatest
solicitude had been felt for the safety of the whole Hudson Valley;
and it seemed scarcely to admit of doubt that the early mastery of
the Hudson as far as the Highlands, to be followed by progressive
occupation of that most vital region, was a necessary feature of the
comprehensive scheme for paralyzing all American resistance which
this powerful expedition was manifestly intended to compass. Pop-
ular apprehension on this point was stimulated by the action of
the British commander in dispatching ships up the Hudson almost
immediately after his arrival in New York Bay. During the pause
after the bitter American defeat on Long Island, all the conditions
seemed to indicate that whatever General Howe's preference might:
be in the selection of a quarter from which to renew his direct oper-
ations against Washington's army, he would at least not neglect to
secure a substantial foothold at the essential points along the lower
Hudson. Hence the American measures for obstructing the naviga-
tion of the river and for protecting the Highland passes. It is of
course idle to speculate as to the probable results, in their relations
at least to the ultimate fortunes of the war, that would have at-
tended an effective land occupation at this early period of the western
part of our county, or even of the very small section from Verplanck's

358

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Poiul to Anthony's Nose. Bn1 it seems an irresistible conclusion
thai will, the latter strategic section in the hands of the British
aml tlie nvcr fro... Evings Ferry to Spuyten Duyvil Greek patrolled
by a detachment from their fleet, the entire theater of war would
have been changed and a prime object of the British government--
the possesion of the Hudson Biver throughout its course and the
consequent division of the colonies-would have been almost com-
pletely realized at once. The escape of Washington to New Jersey
would then have been cut off, and he would have been obliged to
retreal into New England, with the single alternative oi waging a
defensive local war there or proceeding by a round-about northern

route to the middle colonies, where
also he would have been under the
disability of local confinement, with
his lines of eastern communication
closed by the Hudson. General
Howe's calculations were not, how-
ever, so far-reaching; he was en-
grossed with the immediate busi-
ness of annihilating the patriot
army. He probably felt that the
diversion of so large a force as
would be necessary to hold the
Westchester bank of the Hudson
would be an unprofitable division
of his strength at the time, and
he did not care to risk the losses
likely to result in passing numerous warships and transports around
the cheuaiuc <le frisc under the guns of Fori Washington and Lee.

The final decision of Howe to move on General Washington from
the Sound without preliminarily closing the Hudson against him as
far north as the Highlands was indeed a reversal of what was ex-
pected by the best American opinion. Not that it was seriously sup-
posed Howe's main attack would proceed from the river side of
Westchester County. It was not doubted that when he got ready to
act he would choose some point on .he Sound for his outflanking
movement, since that const was wholly unprotected by American
forts or improvised impediments to navigation, and from its low
formation afforded perfectly satisfactory conditions for landing, which
nowhere existed on the precipitous shores of the Hudson. But there
was an apprehension on the American side which amounted to con-
viction that before making his next movement in force he would
secure the navigation of the Hudson; and upon that quarter Aineri-

GENERAL

CAMPAIGN

AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 359

can attention was fixed with an anxiety which became painful after
the easy passage of the chevaux dc frisc by the three hostile ships on
the 9th of October.

In a series of noteworthy official letters of that period, whose orig-
inals have been placed at the disposal of the editor of the present
History, the whole situation from the American point of view is
made strikingly clear. After the removal of the migratory State
convention from White Plains to Fishkill, that body appointed "a
committee of correspondence for the purpose of obtaining intelli-
gence from the army"; and the committee, of which William Duer was
the active spirit, made arrangement with Lieutenant-Colonel Tench
Tilghman, one of Washington's aides, for a daily letter from army
headquarters. The resulting letters extend from the 22d of September
to the 21st of October. The originals furnished us, thirty-seven in
number, are from the documentary remains of Colonel Tilghman
now owned by his descendant, lion. Oswald Tilghman, of Maryland;
and for the most part are the communications of Duer, on behalf of
the committee, in reply to Tilghmans notes of information, although
a few letters to Tilghman from other members o1 the committee, to-
gether with copies of some of Tilghmaifs notes to the committee, are
comprehended in the collection. The circumstance that most of the
letters are from Duer, one of the most intelligent and valuable mem-
bers of the State convention, and represent in an unstinted way the
feelings and opinions entertained in State government quarters about,
the posture of affairs on the basis of -daily news from Washington's
army, adds naturally to the interest of the whole correspondence.

The documents begin with a letter from Duer to Tilghman, dated
-Fish-Kills, Sept. 22d, UTti," in which the latter is informed of the
appointment of the committee and requested to accept the function
of headquarters correspondent. The following are extracts from the
correspondence up to the date of the landing of the British army in
our county:

Duer to Tilghman, September 25.-I shall communicate your Letter to the Convention
—to-morrow who will (I doubt not) be happy to find that their Attention to the Obstruction
of Hudson's River meets with General Washington's approbation.

Duer to Tilolnnan, September !><».— I expect daily to hear of the Enemy's making some
oreat Attempt. It is surely their Business if they hope to make a Campaign any wise hon-
orable to them. Your present station [on Harlem Heights] appears to me ext remely at vaii-
tageous, and 1 have no doubt but you will give a good account of them should th ey be hardy
enouo'h to attack your Lines. I should have little anxiety were I convinced of the Sufficiency
of our Obstructions in Hudson's River. I do not think it improbable that the Enemy may
march part of their Force to the Eastern Part of Long Island, and endeavor to transport

i The correspondence was printed in detail in interest, which, however, not being specially
the New Y,„-k Times of April 7. 14. 21. and 28, pertinent to our general narrative, must be
1895. It includes much subsidiary matter of omitted here.

;j(50 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

them across the Sound, in order to come on the Rear of our Works. I dare say however
that Precautions will be made here to prevent any Surprise of that Kind.

Ducr to Livingston, September 27. — I have heard it reported that near 100 Sail of the
Enemy's ships are gone out of the Hook [Sandy Hook]. Is it true? If so, it is far from
improbable that they will go round Long Island into the Sound, and Endeavor to Land in the
Hear of our Army. From many Circumstances I do not think it improbable they may
attempt to land at Sutton's Neck,1 about 10 miles from Kingsbridge. I flatter myself we
shall be on our Guard to pie vent any Manoeuvre of this kind.

I expect every Moment to hear of some Attempt at Mount [Fort] Washington, \vh' is
in my opinion the most Important Post in all America as it commands the Communication
betwixt the United States. Is it practicable for the Enemy to get Possession of the high
Grounds on the West Side of the River? If they should succeed in an Attempt of that kind
—the Garrison in that Post [Fort Lee] would be made very Uneasy. I trust however that
our Army would never desert so important a Station without making it the dearest bought
Ground wh' the Enemy have hitherto got.

Duer to Tilghman, September 28.— You observe that if the Passage of the North River
is sufficiently obstructed that our Lines will keep the Enemy from making any Progress in
Front. This is certainly true; but you must recollect that the Sound is, and must ever be,
open;' and if they should succeed in 'Landing a Body of Men in Westchester County, they
might by drawing lines to the North River as effectually hem us in, as if we were in New
Yo&rk, from Sutton's Neek to the North River (if I am not mistaken) is not above Twelve
Miles. ...

I expect that the Yessells wh the Convention of this State have ordered to Mount
[Fort] Washington will be arrived before this letter; no Time I dare say will be lost in
sinking them in the proper Channell, since the Success of our Army depends so much on this
Measure.

Duer to Tilghman, September 30.— I am extremely happy to hear that you are in so
good a Situation for opposing the Enemy shonld they make an Attempt to force your Lines,
and I should be still more so were the Yessells, we have lately sent down, properly Sunk.
The Precaution you have taken by breaking up the Roads from the Sound are certainly are
very proper; and will of course tend to impede the Motions of the Enemy should they land
in that Quarter, wh for my own Part I think may be the Case. ...

The late Strong Southerly Wind afforded in my Opinion a Strong Temptation to the
Enemy to try the Strength' of our Chevau de Frise. Probably they esteem them more
effectual than we do. May this Sentiment prevail till we have completed these Obstructions.
Duer to Tilghman, October 1.— I am happy to And by your Letter of the 30th ulto.
that you are upon a Guard against the Enemys Operations of coming upon your Rear; you
may '(I think) depend that this will be their Mode of Attack. From the Nature however of
the Grounds I think you will be able to make a Formidable Opposition. They ought not,
must not, shall not get in your Hear. Should they succeed no Event so fatal could ever
befall the American Cause.

I am sorry the Ships have been so long detained; but I hope they will be with you
before this arrives. Don't let their Youth or their Beauty plead for them, if there is the
least Probability of their rendering the Obstructions in that part of Hudson's River more
effectual. I am convinced upon the Maturest Reflection that a Million of Money would be a
trifling Compensation for the Loss of the Navigation of Hudson's River.

Duer to Tilghman, October 2.— I can scarcely describe to you my feelings at this
interesting Period. What, with the Situation of our Enemies in your Quarter, and the
cursed Machinations of our Internal Foes, the Fate of this State hangs on a Single Battle of

1 The neek of land just be)
Harbor. Mamaroneck proved
mate point mi the Sound occu]

6 b

they sent a detaeh-
[cd by Duer as their

isli in their Westchester County campaign- mem to u.r in,,., u,
that is, after landing far below, al Throgg's most available original landing poinl 1m- effect-
Neck, they slowly advanced, without striking ive purposes of strategy.

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 361

anv Importance. I am happy to find you are securing your Flanks and I hope our best
Troops will he ready to give the Enemy a Reception on their Landing. . . .
I hope to hear in your next that the North River is completely obstructed.
Tilghman to Duer, October 3.— Capt. Cook is now up the River cutting Timber for
Chevaux de Frise, as he is much wanted here to sink the old Vessels— the General begs that
he may be sent down immediately, we are at a Stand for want of him, for as he has Super-
intended the Matter from the Beginning he best knows the properest places to be obstructed.
If the new ships should be found necessary to our Salvation you need not fear their being-
Sacrificed, but our public Money goes fast enough without using it wantonly.

Duer to Tilghman, October 3.— I am glad you have so nearly completed your Defences
in the Front, and hope you will be expeditious in fortifying your Flanks to the Eastward of
Harlem River. I think that the Enemy must be meditating some General Attack — but as
Providence has been generally kind to 'us I hope they will postpone it till Lee, and Mifflin
return to Camp.

Robert Benson to Tilghman, October 5.— Agreeable to your request, our President [of
the State convention] dispatched a letter to Capt. Cooke at Poughkeepsie requesting him to
repair immediately to Mount [Fort] Washington. He is now at Fishkill Landing on Ins
Way down & is to set out in the Morning with a quantity of Oak Plank &c.

Duer to Tilghman, October 8.— I cannot account for the Enemys Procrastination unless
it proceeds from some of their Ships being sent into the Sound round Long Island for the
Purpose of making an Attempt to Land in West Chester County.
They never certainly will make any Attempt but on our Flanks ?

Tilghman to the committee, October 9.— About 8 O'clock this Morning the Roebuck &
Phoenix of 44 Guns each and a Frigate of about 20 Guns got under way from about Bloom-
ingdale, where they have been laying some time, and stood on with an easy Southerly Breeze
towards our Chevauz de Frise, which we hoped would have given them some Interruption
while our Batteries plaved upon them. But to our Surprise and Mortification they all ran
through without the least difficulty, and without receiving any apparent damage from our
Forts, which kept playing on them from both sides of the River. How far they intend up I
dont know, but His Excellency thought to give you the earliest Information, that you may
put Genl. Clinton upon his Guard at the Highlands, for they may have troops concealed on
Board with intent to surprise those Forts. If you have any Stores on the Water Side you
had better have them removed or secured in time. Boards especially for which we shall be
put to great Streights if the Communication above should be cut off. The Enemy have
made no Move on the land Side.

p. s.— Be Pleased to forward this Intelligence up the River and to Albany. The two
new Ships are put in near Colo. Phillips's. A party of Artillery with 2 twelve pounders and
100 Rifle Men are sent up to endeavor to secure them.

Duer to Tilghman, October 10.— There is no Event wh could have happened that could
have given me more Uneasiness than the Passage of the Enemys Ships up the River. I can-
not persuade myself that there only design is to cut off the Communication of Supplies by
Water to our Army at Kingsbridge; though that is an Event which will be highly preju-
dicial to our Army. Thev certainly mean to send up a Force (if their Ships have not Soldiers
already on board)"so as to take Possession of the Passes by Land in the Hylands. In this
they will be undoubtedly joined by the Villains in Westchester and Dutchess County. It is
therefore of the utmost Consequence that a Force should be immediately detached from the
Main Body of our Army to occupy these Posts. It is impossible for the Convention to draw
out a force which can be depended on from the Counties last mentioned.

By the Influence and Artifices of the Capital Tories of this State the Majority of
Inhabitants in those Counties are ripe for a Revolt; many Companies of Men have actually
been enlisted in the Enemys service, several of whom are now concealed in the Mountains.
From the Frontier Counties little Strength can with Safety be drawn, and that not in Time
to prevent such an attempt of the Enemy. These Matters I have in a few Words suggested
to the Convention (for my Business on the Committee I am in is so urgent that I have only
been a few Minutes in Convention this Day). If they have not wrote to Genl. Washington,
let me earnestly entreat that a Force may be immediately sent to the Highlands on this Side.

362 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

by this Means you will not only keep up the Communication with the Army, but I verily
believe prevent a Revolt in Westchester and Dutchess Counties. . . .

How are you of for Flour, and Salt Provisions? Will it not be wise to lay in Maga-
zines in Time in this Quarter [Fishkill] lest through the Fortune of War our Army should
be obliged to retreat to the Highlands?

Tilghman to the committee, October 11.— We have no Intelligence of any Troops,
either Horse or Foot, going round long Island into the Sound.

Duer to Tilghman, October 12.— Notwithstanding the Enemy had, agreeable to your
last Advices, sent no Yessells tip the Sound, depend upon it they will endeavor to make an
Attack upon your Flanks by means of Hudson's and the Fast River. Several Examinations
wh we have taken mention this as their intended Operation: and indeed it is the only one wh
can give them any Probability of Success. If we may give Credit to Intelligence procur d
through the Channell of the Tories, Thursday next is tix'd upon for them to make their
Attack, and for their Partisans in this State to Cooperate with them. ...

You will now have an Anxious Task to watch both the Rivers, and I am afraid all your
Vigilance will not be altogether effectual.

Three facts stand out very distinctly front this correspondence —
first, that the protection of the Hudson River was the thing of fore-
most concern to the Americans, even a tentative intrusion of the
enemy above Fort Washington causing the direst forebodings of im-
pending preparations for seizing the Westchester river bank as a
principal factor of the new British campaign about to be inaugu-
rated; second, that the superior availability of the Sound shore of
Westchester County as a departing point for the main body of Howe's
army was well appreciated, although there were but vague notions
as to Howe's probable intentions in that direction; and third, that
Howe's slowness in developing his plans was supposed to indicate
that they were much more elaborate than they eventually proved
to be, and that they contemplated ultimate connecting operations
between river and Sound.

As late as the 11th of October (the very day before Howe's com-
plete disclosure of his project) Colonel Tilghman, writing to the
committee of Hie State convention from the American cam]), with
full knowledge of such informal ion as Washington himself pos-
sessed, made this peculiarly malapropos statement: "We have no in-
telligence of any troops, either horse or foot, going round Long Island
into°thc Sound." Thus up to the last moment Washington was not
only quite unsuspicious of the impending blow, but apparently re-
garded the possibility of a movement against him from the Sound
as a still remote eventuality, to be considered for the time only in
relation to the rumored departure of an expedition around Long
Island (that is, around the eastern extremity of the island ami thence
through the Sound). Well may it be believed, as several historical
writers aver, that the intelligence brought to Washington on the
morning of October 12 that the whole British army was sailing up
the East River and disembarking on Throgg's Neck, completely sur-

MILITARY MAP, 177<).

364 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

prised him. We are told by Dawson that he " appears to have given
way to despair in view of his powerlessness, and to have become de-
spondent," and that the record of Ins official acts for the day is
remarkable chiefly for singular lack of the active proceedings nat-
urally to have been expected from the commander-in-chief in such
an emergency.

It is true that, contrasted with the conditions which would have
obtained if Howe had been in possession of the Hudson simulta-
neously with opening his campaign from the Sound, the situation
created by his sudden descent on Throgg's Neck was not without an
element of hope. At least, one flank of the American army re-
mained quite unimperiled, which afforded scope for thwarting the
designs of the enemy upon the other by the resources of defensive
generalship. But aside from that single comforting aspect, the out-
look was alarming in an extreme degree. Washington, intrenched
on the Heights of Harlem — that is, in the northwestern portion of
.Manhattan Island, — with New York City below him in the hands
of the British, and Howe making ready to fall upon him on his flank,
had but three possible courses of action — first, to remain in that posi-
tion and undergo a siege, which could have resulted in nothing but
early capitulation, as he would have had no sources from which to
draw supplies; second, to retreat at once across the Hudson River
into New Jersey under the protection of Fort Washington and Fort
Lee, a programme not to be thought of even if it could have been
carried out successfully, since it would have involved abandoning
the whole country northward, including the Highlands and conse-
quently the river to its source; or third, to seek a new defensive
position at the north, where he could fight the enemy under toler-
ably advantageous geographical conditions, backed by the West-
chester hills and finally by the Highlands, with the King's Ferry
route to New Jersey and Philadelphia open. Of these three possible
courses, one was equivalent to ruin and another to disgrace, while
the third and only feasible one was hedged about by a variety of
strangely doubtful and difficult circumstances. In the first place,
Washington was under every disadvantage of unpreparedness for
such a movement. He was even unprepared in judgment, so unex-
pectedly did the necessity of considering the matter present itself.
It was by no means plain to him at first just what ultimate object
Howe's appearance on Throgg's Neck imported, or whether it repre-
sented all or even the essential part of the British scheme. A too
precipitate retirement to the north on Washington's part would have
had the aspect and all the ill moral effect of a cowardly retreat;
whereas just on this occasion it was most important for him to gain

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 365

some prestige. Finally, when there was no mistaking the fact that
Howe's sole aim was to outflank him, he found himself terribly em-
barrassed in marching to a new position by deficient facilities in
the way of teams and wagons for the transportation of his
guns and baggage. Indeed, it was not until the 20th of October-
eight days after the landing of the British on Westchester soil— that,
having at last evacuated his intrenchments on Harlem Heights,
Washington had so far moved up his rear as to make his headquar-
ters at Kingsbridge. Moreover, he had to provide for the highly
probable emergency of battle along the route, or at least of serious
interferences with the progress and integrity of his column. To this
end it was necessary to protect himself by a series of intrenched
camps at intervals all along the line of march, his destination being
White Plains, preappointed by certain circumstances which will be
set forth later. Meantime the royal army, as the aggressor, had but
to march with reasonable expedition to White Plains— the natural
destination for Howe as for Washington, because, in Howe's case, of
its central location, and the excellent roads leading thither from the
Sound and the circumstance that all the other roads of the county
converged there— and Washington would be completely hemmed in.
In the light of all that followed, the one vital question at the outset
of this campaign was, Who should first arrive at and possess White
Plains? and the advantage was decidedly with Howe, because he
was not hampered by any of the physical difficulties that beset Wash-
ington. Such were 'the elements of the startling Westchester situa-
tion whose details we shall now trace with as much brevity as is con-
sistent with clearness. ^^

About daybreak on the morning of Saturday, October 12, l<7b— a
very fo<-v morning— many boatloads of British troops, led by Gen-
eral Howe in person, embarked at Kip's Pay, Manhattan Island, pro-
ceeded through Hellgate and up the Sound, and landed, under the
guns of the frigate « Carysfort," on Throgg's Point, where Fort Schuy-
ler now stands. A second large detachment, conveyed by <> forty-two
sail " was deposited at the same place in the afternoon; and for sev-
eral days afterward there was n continuous transportation thither of
soldiers and all manner of army appointments. Neither the Point
nor any part of the Neck was occupied by American troops, but at
Westchester causeway and also at the head of the creek, the only lo-
calities affording passage to the mainland, the picked riflemen posted
about a week previously, through the happy foresight of General
Heath still stood guard. As soon as the presence of the invader on
the Neck became known to them, the men at the bridge ripped up
its planking; and when the first reconnoitering party of redcoats

366 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

approached they gave them the contents of their muskets. The enemy
beat a hasty and disorderly retreat; and, although the defenders of
the bridge were only twenty-five against many thousands, and the
possession of that pass was of supreme importance to Genera] Howe,
no serious attempt was made to secure it. lie however ordered a
breastwork erected, facing the structure. For the rest, he sent out
detachments to explore the unknown and mysterious land upon which
ho had debarked, who, returning, gave him the disheartening infor-
mation that it was an island, with only one possible crossing-point
to the main, a fording-place, where also a party of rebels with rifles of
particularly deadly quality disputed the way. In such circumstances
Bowe A\as powerless, at least pending the conveyance of intelligence
lo the American cam]), which, of course, resulted in the dispatching
of re-enforcements. General Heath "immediately ordered Colonel
Prescott, the hero of Bunker Hill, with his regiment, and Captain-
Lieutenant Bryant, of the artillery, with a three-pounder, to re-
enforce the riflemen at Westchester causeway, and Colonel Graham,
of the New York line, with his regiment, and Lieutenant Jackson, of
the artillery, with a six-pounder, to re-enforce at the head of the
creek; all of which was promptly done/' These forces, insignificant
though they were in comparison with what Howe could have hurled
against them, proved sufficient. He did not care to take the hazard
of forcing either pass; and from the 12th to the ISth of October he
remained ridiculously penned up on Throgg's Neck by a contemptible
few of the starveling continentals who up to that melancholy hour
had fled terror-stricken before his ferocious grenadiers. Indeed, his
whole programme of entering Westchester ( •ounty by way of Throgg's
Neck had to be abandoned finally; and he was obliged, after six days1
delay, to put his army on boats and ship it across Eastchester Bay to
Pelham (or Rodman's) Point, a locality not cut off from the main by
creeks and marshes and strategic passes.

The responsibility for the selection of Throgg's Neck as the Brit-
ish lauding place has been charged to the commander of the
fleet, Admiral Lord Howe, General Howe's brother; and in ex-
planation of the choice of that locality it has been urged that a
direct lauding on Pell's Neck would have been an imprudent meas-
ure because of the shallowness of the water at the latter place,
preventing the co-operation of any vessel of sufficient battery
to cover the landing. But whatever share of the responsibility
may be shifted to Admiral Howe, General Howe at least offered
no objection to Throgg's Neck, and indeed he subsequently justi-
fied its selection. "Four or five days," he said in a speech before
an investigating committee of the House of Commons in 1770, " had

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 367

7o HEATH's MEMOIRS. [Oct. 1776.

! Ith. There was a coniiderable movement among

the Britifh boats below. This afternoon, Gen.
Wafhington's pleafure-boat, coming down the river
with a frefh breeze, and a topfaii hoifted, was fup-
pofed, by the artilleries at Mount Wafhington, to be
one of the Britifli tenders running down. A 1 2
pounder was difcharged at her, which was fo exadly
pointed, as unfortunately to kill three Americans,
who were much lamented. The fame day, feveral of
Gen. Lincoln's regiments arrived, two of which were
jotted on the North River. >

12-th.— Early in the morning, 80 or 90 Britifh
boats, full of men, flood up the found, from Montre-
fors Ifland, Long-Mand, &c. The troops landed
at Frog's Neck, and their advance pufhed towards
the caufeway and bridge, at Weft Chefter mill.
Col. Hand's riflemen took up the planks of the
bridge, as had been directed, and commenced a fir-
ing with their rifles. The Britifh moved towards
the head of the creek, but found here alfo the Amer-
icans in poiTefhon of the pafs. Our General imme-
diately (as he had allured Col. Hand he would do)
ordered Col. Prefcott, the hero of Bunker Hill, with
his regiment, and Capt. Lieut. Bryant of the artil-
lery, with a 3 pounder, to reinforce the riflemen at
Weil-Chefter caufeway ; and Col. Graham of the
New-York. line, with his regiment, and Lieut. Jack-
fo-n of the artillery, with a 6 pounder, to reinforce
at the head of the creek ; all of which was promptly
done, to the check and difappointment of the en-
emy. The Britifh encamped on the neck. The
riflemen and Yagers kept up a fcattering^ popping
at each other acrofs the marfh \ and the Americans
on their fide, and the Britifh on ihe other, threw up
a work at the end of the caufeway. Capt. Bryant,
now and then, when there was an object, faluted the

Britifh with a field-piece.

PAGE FROM HEATH'S MEMOIRS.

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

been unavoidably taken up in landing at Frog's Neck, instead of
going at once to Pell's Point, which would have been an imprudent
measure, as it could not have been executed without much unneces-
sary risk." It is difficult to conceive what great risk would have
been involved in the latter proceeding, since there Avas no American
post at the point of Pelham Neck on the 12th of October, or, for that
matter, on the 18th of October either — the final landing of the
British there on the latter date being accomplished without the
slightest interference on the part of the Americans, and indeed with-
out being known to them until the advance party of the invaders
suddenly showed themselves to the American pickets a full mile and
a half above the point. But even granting the force of the special
objection to Pelham Neck as an original landing place, one marvels
why Throgg's Neck should have been regarded as the only alterna-
tive spot. Surely there was adequate depth of water at points
farther up the Sound (Mamaroneck Harbor, for instance); and Gen-
eral Howe's sole object being to outflank Washington, it would have
been rather an advantage than a disadvantage for him to disem-
bark at a comparatively northernly locality. In whatever aspect the
Throgg's Neck landing is viewed, it is hard for the dispassionate mind
to regard it otherwise than as a prodigious strategic blunder.1

During the six days of Howe's supine occupation of Throgg's Neck,
Washington's headquarters were continued at Harlem Heights,
where also, in conjunction with the Kingsbridge dependency, the

1 A glance at the map shows that Throgg's
Neck, in a purely geographical sense (not tak-
ing into account either its practical insular
character or the fact, which must have been
known to Howe, that the adjacent country was
well guarded by the Americans and its roads
had largely been rendered impassable), was
about the most unfavorable place that could
have been hit upon for initiating a movement
to set the royal army down in Washington's
rear. It is, indeed, on a due-east line, some-
what south of the Heights of Harlem and
Kingsbridge: so that upon Howe's arrival at
Throgg's Neck Washington was actually in ad-
vance of him along the one open line of move-
ment. The complacency of Washington in re-
nminbis in his Harlem Heights and Kings-
bridge position until after Howe had pushed
northward to Pell's Neck, although six days
had elapsed meanwhile, is of itself plain dem-
onstration that Howe blundered egregionsly in
his choice of ground so far as his intention of
outflanking the patriot general was concerned.
The civilian Duer, of t lie State convention, in
his correspondence with Washington's head-
quarters, shows a perfect grasp of the elements
of the situation. In a letter to Tilghman, Oc-

1 I.

writ.

'■They [the enemy] could not, I think, have
blundered more effectually than by Landing on
the Neck of Land they are now on. I should
think a small Number of Men with Field
Pieces would suffice to prevent their penetrat-
ing further into the Country from that Quar-
ter. You say that you think more of the Ene-
my's Troops are moved up the Sound. I think
they will endeavor to Land the Main Body
of their Army near Rye and endeavor to sur-
round our Troops from the Sound to the North
River." And the next day. writing to Robert
Harrison, Washington's secretary, he says:

" I . . . am happy to find you have got the
Enemy in so desirable a Situation.

" There appears to me an actual Fatality at-
tending all their Measures. One would have
naturally imagined from the Traitors they have
among them, who are capable of giving them
the most Minute Description of the Grounds in
the County of Westchester, that they would
have landed much farther to the Eastward
[northward]. Had they pnzzl'd their Imagina-
tions to discover the worse Place they could
not have succeeded better than they have
done."

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 369

main body of the American army remained. Tlie apparent confusion
of mind which he experienced upon being apprised of Howe's land-
ing was not of long duration; and indeed his energetic qualities as a
commander were probably novel- displayed with greater or more
judicious attention to detail than throughout the period of the Brit-
ish general's inactivity on the Sound. On the evening of the 12th
he rode over to Westchester village and personally inspected the sit-
uation, becoming satisfied that it threatened no immediate clanger
and that his plain duty, pending a further disclosure of the enemy's
intentions, was to strengthen his defensive position in every way.
At a loss to understand why Throgg's Neck should have been se-
lected if the British purpose was to quickly push into his rear and
entrap him, he inclined to the opinion that Howe's final object was
to move on his works at Kingsbridge, and that to that end he would
presently be supported by a second expedition, to be landed lower
down, probably at Morrisania. On the other hand, he was by no
means unmindful of the contingency that the grander project might
be meditated; but he was convinced that so long as Howe stayed on
Throgg's Neck he could afford to wait for actualities. His confidence
in his ability to repel a mere movement against Kingsbridge is well
reflected in the following extract from a letter written from head-
quarters on the loth of October by Lieutenant-Colonel Tilghman to
the committee of correspondence of the State convention:

The Grounds leading from Frogs Point towards our Post at Kingsbridge are as defensible
as they can be wished, the Roads are all lined with Stone fences and the adjacent Fields
divided off with Stone likewise, which will make it impossible for them to advance their
Artillery and Ammunition Waggons by any other Route than the great Roads, and I think
if they are well lined with Troops, we may make a considerable slaughter if not discomfit
them totally. Our Ride Men have directions to attend particularly to taking down their
Horses, which if done, will impede their March effectually. Our Troops are in good Spirits
and seem inclined and determined to dispute every Inch of Ground. Our Front is now so
well secured that we can spare a considerable Number of our I>est Troops from hence if they are
wanted.

If we are forced from this post we must make the best Retreat we can, but I think this
Ground should not be given up but upon the last Extremity.1

The cheerful remark in this letter that the commander-in-chief had
matters so well in hand as to be able to spare a considerable number
of his best troops for purposes other than his own defense against
Howe received practical application on the same day by the send-

" I approve much of selling at a dear Price
every foot of Ground; but if the Enemy should.
by their Manoeuvres, contrive to encircle our
Army, and as I before Observed Occupy these
Mounts [the Highlands], while their Vessells
obstruct the Navigation of Hudson's River and

ard a battle. Wants of Supply would, I fear.

1 This letter 0

f Ti

Ighman's was replied to on

the 14th, by Wi

i Duer. from the citations

made in previo

US ]l

ages from the Duer-Tilgh-

man correspond

once

. the reader will doubtless

have been impi

■esse

d with tiie perspicacity of

burr's views of

the

military situation; and the

following c(,inni

(•lit

made by him in his letter

of the 14th, upi

m oi

ie of Tilghman's optimistic

expressions, is i

i fm

■ther instance of his discre-

370 HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

hiU off of Colonel Tash's regiment of New Hampshire militia to Fish-
kill " for the assistance of the committee of safety in holding the dis-
affected in check." By recurring to the consecutive extracts from
the Duer-Tilghman correspondence printed on pp. 359-362, it will
he seen that Duer, on the 12th of October, communicated to Wash-
ington's headquarters information (or supposed information) which
the State convention, by "several examinations " of Tories had ob-
tained, of a concerted plan for a -rand British movement upon both
thinks of the American army "by means of Hudson's and the East
River," in which enterprise "their partisans in this State" were to
CO-operat( — "Thursday next" (the 17th of October) being fixed for
the united undertaking. In almost every letter written by Duer to
Tilghman during the eventful month from the 22d of September to
the- 21st of October, mention is made with much particularity and
in the bitterest terms of the very numerous Tory conspiracies then
rife.1 Moreover, Washington was constantly apprehending conspir-
ators and suspects, and no one had a keener appreciation than he
of the need of strict measures against the seditious Tories. The de-
tachment of a whole regiment from his army for the local purposes
of the committee of safety in such critical circumstances as prevailed
on the 13th of October is a peculiarly interesting incident. Wash-
ington seems also to have been considerably impressed by Duer's in-
telligence of a general British plan for the 17th of October. The pre
diction was evidently treasured up at headquarters, for Tilghman,
writing to Duer on the 15th, remarks: "The information you fur-
nish concerning the intended operations on Thursday next deserve
our highest thanks; it may be false, if it is, there is no harm done, hut
we shall be better prepared for them if true. It will effectually pre-
vent surprise, the most fatal thing that can befall an Army." And
on the 17th he takes occasion to remind his correspondent that "the
17th October is come and nearly passed without the predicted

i September 28, he writes that "A Discovery of Justice hang two or tin- >f the Villains

was made sometime ago of a Battalion of you have apprehended. They will certainly

Rangers, which was raising in Westchester come under the Denomination of Spies." Octo-

County to be commanded by Major Rogers, ber 8, he says: "I am sorry to tell you (for

who is for that Purpose commissioned by Lord the Credit of Uiis State) that the Committee

Howe"; also of the discovery of a company 1 belong to make daily fresh Discoveries of the

enlisting in Dutchess County, whose muster- infernal Practices of our Enemies to excite In-

roll contained fifty-seven names, "Twenty-five surrectious amongst the Inhabitants of this

already apprehended." Oc- State. To-morrow one Company actually en-

that thirty-two of the latter listed in the Enemy's Service will be march'd

been taken into custody, to Philadelphia, there to be confined In jail

her conspirators, says: "I till the Establishment of our Courts enables us

be so managed that two or to hang the Ringdeaders." And on October 10

cipal Miscreants who have (see p. 3(d) he goes so far as to declare that

hanged as Spies." October unless vigorous measures are instantly taken

Tory conspirators captured a revolt will surely supervene in Westchester

? exclaims: " In the Name and Dutchess Counties.

whom
ber 1 1

ion

rpe Matters

iree of

the

■en tak'

■n n

;:.

referri

ng 1

,' Wash

i 1 1 g i

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 371

Blow." Evidently Duer's prophecy for the 17th was one of the
various conjoining things which influenced Washington to suspect
that Howe's movement to Throgg's Neck was but a part of the
enemy's plan, and accordingly to allow a full week to pass by with-
out inaugurating any new plan of his own.

On the morning of the loth Washington issued a stirring address
to the army, probably as characteristic a specimen of his writings
of this nature as his career affords: "As the enemy seem mew to
be endeavoring to strike some stroke before the close of the cam-
paign," said he, "the General most earnestly conjures both officers
and men, if they have any love for their country and concern for
its liberties and regard to the safety of their parents, wives, children,
ami countrymen, that they will act with bravery and spirit becoming
the cause in which they are engaged; ami to encourage and animate
them so to do. there is every advantage of ground and situation, so
that if we do not conquer it must be our own faults. How much bet-
ter will it be to die honorably, lighting in the held, than to return
home covered with shame ami disgrace, even if the cruelty of the
enemy should allow you to return! A brave and gallant behavior
for a tew days, and patience under some little hardships, may save
our country and enable us to go into winter quarters with safety ami
honor."

General Washington lost no time in strengthening Heath's com-
mand, which made the force above Kingsbridge the major part of
the American army; and troops were posted at all important points
so as to check any possible advance of the enemy. On the 14th Major-
General Charles Lee arrived from the South, and was assigned by
Washington to the chief command in Westchester County — an assign-
ment not to take effect, however, "until he could make himself ac-
quainted with the post, its circumstances, and arrangements of duty,"
General Heath in the interim retaining tin1 authority which In1 had
administered so conscientiously and ably. At that period Lee was
still generally estimated at his own enormous valuation of himself;
and it is amusing to note in the public and private correspondence
of the time the satisfaction with which the coming of this littlest of
little souls, most vile of marplots, and most heinous and despicable
of willing though impotent traitors was hailed on account of his
supposed majestic genius and scientific qualifications for the

Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.

"I beg my Affectionate Compliments to Genl. Lee," wrote the im-
pressionable but, as we have seen, eminently sensible Duer, in one
of his letters (October 15), "whom I sincerely congratulate on his
arrival in Camp — partly on account of himself, as he will have it in

. -_ - -

. -

3 3 ST 3 "Unt

- -Apostles oi

- . - - ? "".-■' shingtoi

- - — c at this peri

«>k tvv tlie A 3 ■" -- "■- ■ '. palling

" ~ *T - ' ■

r. which pass ■ . :

" - :--: ^

- ...- - - ring The ch the

- :nenT.

- ; - fter the battle

.-_-_■_ ST

siOD

■ .. - ■ - -■ --
-
.

- L

-
. -

■i
.

CAMPAIGN VND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 373

securing the withdrawal of the army. Orders were given for put-
ting the roads leading to the north, on the west side of the Bronx
River, in good condition. Washington thoroughly familiarized him-
self with the nature of the country above, and in that connection,
on the 16th, carefully examined the ground adjacent to Pelham Neck,
which proved to be the next stage in the progress of the enemy. At
(his early date considerable bodies of troops were advanced as far
northward as Valentine's Hill and the Mile Square, both in the
present City of Yonkers; and during the subsequent few days de-
tachments were gradually sent forward to establish a line of tem-
porary intrenched camps on the high grounds bordering the west
bank of the Bronx all the way to White Plains.1 Besides, Washing-
ton was not unmindful of the chance of danger from the Hudson
River. On the 15th two regiments of Massachusetts militia were
sent up to Tarrytown to watch the British ships of war lying oppo-
site that place and oppose any attempt to land men from them; and,
notwithstanding the previous failure of the clievaux dc [rise at Fort
Washington to bar the navigation of the river, and the large expense
incident to an attempted completion of that barrier, the work upon
it was energetically continued. " We are sinking the Ships as fast
as possible," wrote Tilghman to Duer on the 17th; "200 Men are
daily employed, but they take an immense Quantity of Stone for the
purpose."

Although the ultimate necessity of quitting Manhattan Island and
Kingsbridge was not decided on until the Kith, and the beginning
of the formal movement was delayed several days longer, the objec-
tive point in the coming northward march of the army was well in-
dicated by circumstances beforehand. It happened that the prin-
cipal magazine of provisions had been accumulated at the village of
White Plains, a place not too far removed from the Harlem Heights
headquarters and yet at a sufficient distance in the interior to be
deemed safe. Moreover, there was a considerable magazine at Rye
on the Sound — a decidedly unsafe locality in view of the complete
control of that coast by the British tleet; and the removal of the
Rye stores to White Plains as the most available spot of safety was
therefore a manifest necessity as soon as the general situation be-
came menacing. And finally White Plains commanded the whole
country below, and equally the country above, since all the roads
centered there; while directly in its rear rose the range of North

' In most historical references to Washington's Dawson's remarks on this point (Scharf, i.. 427.

march through Westchester County the Irnpres- note) seem, to our mind, to establish beyond

sion is given thai the intrenched camps along question thai these defensive works were pre-

tlie Bronx wer nslrneted by detachments pared in advance by pioneers detailed for the

from the army during its actual progress. But special pin-pose.

374

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Castle hills, where the army could be made secure against almost
anv possible attack in case it should be necessary to fall back farther.
These various conditions positively indicated White Plains as the
essential point for Washington to reach— even before his actual
movement was inaugurated. The stores at White Plains were under
the guard of a militia force of some 300 men.

Before proceeding farther in our narrative, Ave think it indispensa-
ble to briefly point out the true character of Washington's move-
ment from Harlem Heights and Kingsbridge to White Plains. It
is generally characterized by loose and hasty writers— and not in-
frequently by more careful ones — as a retreat. This is a strange mis-
conception of its nature. It was not a retreat in any proper or ad-
missible sense of the term, but really a deliberate conntermove for
position, fearless and almost aggressive in its fundamentals.^ So far
from retreating upon the appearance of his foe at Throgg's Neck,
Washington did not even retire. He calmly held his original posi-

tion for days, and, in fact, until
it being apparent that Howe w;i
took measures to countertlank
most admirable judgment and
of his circumstances. Regarde<
Washington's movement to W
of -,\ retreat or retirement. If
beyond his enemy's reach, he wo
a comparatively exposed locali
the North Castle hills, which v
force he had. lint with those
of need, he was satisfied to oil
with the conditions of ultimate
it expedient to tirst tight a bat
Eventually it was Howe and n.
era! battle at White Plains, \A
inary operations, had accepted
enemy at Throgg's Neck.

Howe himself went forward. Then,
s marching to think him, he promptly
Howe, and executed them with the
great dispatch and success in view
1 strictly in its ultimate complexion,
hite Plains was indeed the reverse
his object had been simply to retire
aid not have stopped at White Plains,
ty, but would have gone at once to
ere practically impregnable with the
hills at his back to resort to in case
Vr battle at White Plains, because,
position favorable to him, he deemed
tie thai he had a fair chance to win.
>t Washington who declined the gen-
hich Washington, by all his prelim-

in advance. We now return to the

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 375

The 18th of October was the day chosen by General Howe for ex-
posing his further intentions. Up to that Time he had neither done
nor attempted anything but the transportation of his army, with its
artillery, equipments, and stores, from New York City to Throgg's
Neck. After finding, upon his arrival there on the 12th, that his
progress from the Neck to the mainland was disputed by a de-
termined force of Americans, he refrained from all pretensions to
ground beyond his little island, but caused earthworks to be con-
structed, and during the succeeding days " the scattering fire across
the marsh continued, and now and then a man was killed." That
was all. Finally, at one o'clock on the morning of the 18th, he em-
barked a portion of his forces on flatboats and had them rowed
over to Pelham's or Rodman's Point, on the opposite side of East-
chester Pay. They were successfully landed in the darkness. This
was a preliminary movement to secure the ground for his main body,
which he put in motion at daylight; and simultaneously he caused
an embrasure to be opened in his earthwork facing Westchester
causeway, so as to give the Americans the impression that he was
preparing to force his way over under a cannonade. The Americans
readily concluded that such was his object; and strong re-enforce-
ments were speedily sent forward by General Heath, who soon after-
ward came to the spot in person to direct the operations. Washing-
ton himself presently arrived on the scene; and the course taken by
him is of much interest in connection with what our readers already
know about his strong and persevering suspicion that Howe's design
would eventually prove to be a direct advance on Kingsbridge, with
the support of a cooperating expedition from the quarter of Mor-
risania. Washington, says Heath in his "Memoirs," "ordered him
(Heath) to return immediately and have his division formed ready
for action, and to take such a position as might appear best calcu-
lated to oppose the enemy should they attempt to land another body
of troops on Morrisania, which he thought not improbable."

Having distracted the attention of the Americans by his pretended
plan of crossing the marsh from Throgg's Neck, Howe dispatched
his main body as rapidly as possible to Pell's Point on boats, and
the transfer was completed with promptness and in entire safety.
Meanwhile the presence of the British vanguard, which had been
ferried ovei in the night, became known to the American force sta-
tioned on the neck above, resulting in a series of lively encounters.
This American force consisted of the excellent brigade of General
James Clinton, which, at the time, was commanded by Colonel Glover.
It embraced four regiments, Shepard's, Read's, and Baldwin's, in ad-
dition to Glover's (the last being under the temporary command of

376 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Captain Curtis). Its total strength upon this occasion was about
750, and il was equipped with three field pieces, which, however, were
not brought into action because of the unevenness of the ground and
the nature of the tactics employed. The fact that the American
general had the discretion to place so relatively numerous and effec-
tive a body on Pell's Neck, despite his lingering belief that the
enemy's plans did not contemplate any movement thither, is one
among many exceedingly practical and convincing demonstrations
of the thoroughness and intelligence with which the patriot forces
were disposed from the very beginning of the Westchester campaign.
Colonel Clover was made aware of the presence of the enemy by
the sudden approach of his advance guard, lie immediately threw
forward a captain and forty men to meet them, and in the pause
which followed ambuscaded his regiments behind stone walls, lie
then personally took command of the forty men ami marched them
to within fifty yards of the place where the foe had come to a stand-
still. Both sides now tired, several rounds being exchanged. Four
of the British party were seen to fall, and of the Americans two were
killed and a number wounded. The British were soon re-enforced and
charged the Americans, who retreated in good order, leading their
pursuers up to where the first ambuscaded regiment (Colonel Read's)
lay. The concealed men rose from behind the stone wall and fired
with such effect that the advancing column broke and tied without
the ceremony of a reply. After a delay of about an hour and a half
the enemy again came forward along the roadway, " with what were
supposed/' says Dawson, " to have been 4,000 men, strengthened with
seven pieces of artillery." Colonel Head and his command, still oc-
cupying their original position, not only renewed the attack but
bravely "maintained their ground until they had thrown seven well-
directed volleys into the (dosed ranks" of the vastly superior enemy,
finally retreating across fields and taking up a new position in sup-
port of Colonel Shepard's regiment, which was concealed some dis-
tance farther along the road. Here the previous proceeding was re-
peated, seventeen volleys being fired by the Americans before they
were dislodged. Next the British came upon the third line of am-
buscade, under the command of Colonel Baldwin; but here the oppo-
sition offered by the Americans was not prolonged, the nature of
the ground permitting the British artillery to be effectively em-
ployed. The three regiments, having well performed the duties which
fell to them, then retired across Hutchinson's Kivei and up a slope
of ground to where the fourth, commanded by Captain Curtis, was
stationed, with the three field-pieces. This ended the fighting, al-
though the British cannon continued to belch thunderously at the

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 377

disappearing continentals. The brigade, reports Colonel Glover,
" after fighting all day, without victuals or drink," fell bark at dark
to a place three miles in the rear, where they bivouacked, and "lay
as a picquet all night, the heavens over us and the earth under us,
which was all we had, having left all our baggage at the old en-
campment we left in the morning." Early the next day they joined
the American command quartered in the Mile Square in the Town
of Vonkers.

This interesting action, or rather series of actions, occurred on
Pelham soil. It served a two-fold purpose — first, to engage and re-
tard the van of the invading army for an entire day; and second,
to give the British general a wholesome object-lesson of the mettle-
sonieness of the American troops and of the well-judged manner in
which they had been posted to harass his advance. Dawson, after
careful examination of all the known facts, concludes that the num-
ber of the enemy actually engaged by Glover and his men could not
have been less than 4,000; while the two regiments of Read and
Shepard, which sustained practically the entire attack of this army,
could not have exceeded 400 rank and file. The American losses,
according to official returns, were six men killed and Colonel Shepard
and twelve men wounded. The enemy's forces comprised both Brit-
ish regiments and German mercenary chasseurs. The losses to the
British regiments (as shown by the returns) were three men killed
and two officers and twenty men wounded. As for the mercenaries,
no official returns of their losses have been published. Regarding
this point we shall permit ourselves to quote at length the observa-
tions of Dawson, upon whose facts we have frequently drawn, though
usually (and we admit quite deliberately) without reproducing the
singularly precise and diligent concatenations of statement and re-
lated considerations wherewith he surrounds them.

The reports (he says) of the operations and the casualties of those [mercenary] troops were
made to the several sovereign princes, electors, etc., of whom these troops were, respectively,
suhjects ; and, except in some few instances, when individual enterprise has unearthed some
of them, the text of those reports and much of the official correspondence remain in their
original repositories, unopened and seemingly uncared for.

The reports of deserters, and other unofficial reports, made the total losses, hoth British
and German, from eight hundred to a thousand men ; and it is difficult to make one helieve
that four hundred Americans, familiar from their childhood with the use of firearms, sheltered
by ample defenses, from which they could fire deliberately and with their pieces rested on the
tops of their defenses, could have possibly fired volley after volley into a large body of men,
massed in a closely compacted column and cooped up in a narrow country roadway, without
having inflicted as extended a damage on those who received their fire as deserter after de-
serter, to the number of more than half a dozen, on different days, without any connection
with each other, severally and separately declared had been inflicted on the enemy's advance
on the occasion now under consideration.

Eight hundred to a thousand put hors de combat in a running

378 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

musketry fight by four hundred continentals, whose total casualties
were but nineteen! That was noble work indeed— it was magnifi-
cent, and also it was war. But it becomes our virtuous duty as an
honorable historian to decently caution the unwary reader here.
Dawson's extreme compassionate feeling for the miserable Tories of
Westchester County procures naturally from his magnanimous pen
a properly respectful reception of the British forces sent to their
relief by a gracious sovereign; and in this particular he goes so far
in several places as to express impatience at the traductions of Gen-
eral Howe as a military commander which so characterize the writ-
ings of American partisan critics.1 On the other hand, Dawson no-
where discovers any favorable conceit of the mission of the merce-
naries, which for aught that can be detected to the contrary he may
even regard in the conventional fashion as mere infamous butchery
business for pay. It hence occurs to us that while every way in-
capable of wronging the British troops by conjectures or suspicions
of battlefield losses disadvantageous to their prowess or to the in-
tegrity of their official reports, he has no such scrupulous concern
for the fair fame of the hireling arm of the army, and indeed is quite
indifferent how mercilessly the Hessians are peppered in the pages
of history. At least we can not otherwise account for his conclu-
sion that the loss suffered by the mercenaries, compared with that
of their British comrades-in-arms (who equally were "massed in a
closely compacted column and cooped up in a narrow country road-
way ")3 was in the ratio of thirty or forty to one. For ourselves, we
firmly disbelieve that there was any such slaughter of Hessians in
the Manor (let it therefore never be called the shambles) of Pelham
as Dawson inclines to think.

The gallant behavior of Colonel (Hover and his men was made the
subject of very complimentary observations in general orders issued
by Washington; and General Lee, to whose command they belonged,
paid a visit to them in their cam]) and tk publickly returned his thanks
for their noble-spirited and soldier-like conduct during the battle."

After the retreat of this obstructing American brigade, General
Howe, without encountering any further opposition, moved a por-
tion of his army forward to New Rochelle, and by degrees during
the next few days brought all his forces up to that point, also re-
ceiving additional troops from New York City.2 On the 21st of Oc-

1 Every true American should be most pro- and Sophia Kilmansegge.— Narrative and Crit-
foundly grateful that this incompetent general ical History of America, vi.. 291.
was placed at the head of the British army, - An expedition of 8,000 mercenaries, com-
mit for his own merits, but because of his con- manded by Lieutenant-General Knyphausen,
nection with royalty through his grandmother's was landed on the 22d at Myers's Point (now
frailty. His mother was the issue of George I. Davenport's Neck), near New Rochelle. This

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS

1379

tober he advanced his right and center to a situation about two miles
farther north, on the road to White Plains— Ms left continuing at
New Rochelle. Also on the 21st he detached a Loyalist corps known
as the Queen's Gangers, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Rogers,
to occupy Mamaroneck, which was successfully accomplished, the
American post at that place abandoning it apparently without any
attempt at defense. Thus as early as the 21st General Howe was
encamped with his whole army in a splendid strategic position on
the Sound, with a hue road before him leading all the way to White
Plains. This road, moreover, was quite unobstructed by the Ameri-
cans, who were well content to keep at a respectful distance, on the
western side of the Bronx River. And further, at that identical
time, the Revolutionary army was stretched in a thin line from the
southern part of Westchester County to its destination at White
Plains, toilsomely struggling to complete its maneuver before the
enemy should be ready to foil it. Yet Howe, with his accustomed
leisure, remained in this station for three days, after which he oc-
cupied two days in advancing a few miles to Scarsdale, where he
spent three days more; and during the period of eight days he never
undertook any strategic operation or even struck any incidental
blow at the onward moving column of Americans. Here we shall
leave him, to return to the animated and interesting progress of
events on the American side.

After the advance of the British on the 18th from Throgg's Neck
to Pell's Neck, and thence t<> New Rochelle, Washington put forth
his utmost exertions toward marching his army as quickly as pos-
sible to the north. The enterprise, aside from the extreme funda-
mental hazard attending it on account of the expected appearance
of Howe at any moment athwart the line of march, was beset with
embarrassing physical difficulties. The facilities for the transpor-
tation of the cannon and impedimenta of all kinds were distress-
ingly limited. There was an extreme scarcity of teams and wagons,
and the work of transportation had to bo performed mostly by the
soldiers. "The baggage and artillery," says Gordon, "were carried
or drawn off by hand. When a part was forwarded, the other was
fetched on. This was the general way of removing the camp equi-
page and other appendages of the army." Everything not absolutely
needful was left behind, together with much that could not well be
spared. The food supply of the army, for example, was dangerously
10W — so iow that on the 20th Tilghman wrote in the following press-

expedition sailed from England in sixty-five vantage of its eo-operation that General Howe

vessels on the 27th of July, but did not reach so long delayed his movement from New York

New Vork City until the 18th of October. It City to Throgg's Neck, and from the latter

was possibly due to a desire to have the ad- place forward.

380

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

in-;- terms to the State convention: "Upon a Survey of our Stores
we find we are not so fully stocked as we could wish. Flour is what
is most likely to be wanted. His Excellency therefore rails upon
your Convention in the most pressing maimer, and begs you will set
every Engine at work to send down every Barrel you can procure
towards the Army." Yet at the last some eighty or ninety barrels
of provisions had to be left at Kingsbridge for lack of means to
transport them.

By the 20th all of Washington's troops on Manhattan Island (with
the exception of the garrison of Fort Washington) had been trans-
ferred to Westchester County, and he now took up his headquarters
a( Kingsbridge. The most advanced American post on the 20th was
apparently that of General Lord Stirling, who, according to a private

letter of that date, written from
the ''Camp of Yonkers " by the
noted General Gold Selleck Silli-
man to his wife, lay " with a large
force of troops and three field-pieces
about six or seven miles north-
east " of Yonkers, " on the road
from New Kochelle to the North
River, at the distance of about two
or three miles from the seashore."
There was at this time no force
whatever at White Plains but the
militia guard of 300, already no-
ticed. On the morning of the 20th
Washington dispatched Colonel Ru-
fus Putnam, an able engineer and
very trustworthy officer,1 to recon-
noiter the country in the vicinity
of the enemy. Colonel Putnam proceeded to within two or three
miles of White Plains. From his observations of the easy accessi-
bility of that place to the enemy, he became profoundly convinced
of the immediate necessity of having it occupied by a respectable
body of men, so as to secure its large ami vitally important magazine
of provisions against attack. Returning with all haste to head-
quarters, he submitted the facts to the commander-in-chief, who gave
him a letter to Lord Stirling, ordering that general to march forth-
with to White Plains with all his command. Putnam reached
Stirling's camp at two o'clock the following morning (October 21).
The brigade was in motion before daybreak, and by nine o'clock it

i it ms under the snnprvision of Colonel Put nam that the fortifications of Port Washington

CKXKKAI, LOUD STIRLING.

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 381

had arrived at White Plains. At that time, it will be remembered,
the dilatory General Howe had advanced only slightly above New

Rochelle.

The 21st was a day of great and fruitful activity. Supplementing
his prompt action of the night before upon the receipt of Colonel
Putnam's report, Washington directed General Heath, then at
Kino-sbrido-e, to break camp, " if possible, at eight o'clock this morn-
ing," and take his division speedily to White Plains. He was him-
self in the saddle at an early hour, and rode to White Plains on a
tour of inspection. While there he issued a number of important
orders, including one to the officer commanding at Mamaroneck,
whom 'he instructed to make the best stand possible if attacked, little
thinking, savs Dawson, kk that at that very time the officer whom
he was thus addressing had shown himself to bo only a contempti-
ble poltroon. '• The marching order given Heath in the morn-
ing was executed by that faithful general as promptly as possible;
but the movement of his division, distributed along the southern
herder of Westchester County, which had to be consolidated, with
numerous preliminary details to be attended to, could not be accom-
plished so suddenly. Instead of moving at eight o'clock in the morn
ing, Heath did not get started until four in the afternoon. But once
on the way, he performed the maneuver with remarkable rapidity,
arriving in White Plains at four o'clock in the morning (October 22),
only twelve hours after his departure from Kingsbridge. It was
practically a forced march, for the immediate purpose of throwing
a strong body into White Plains— Stirling's single brigade being
manifestly insufficient to hold the place if a serious movement by the
enemy should be suddenly made thither; and naturally the men
were not encumbered with baggage, or obliged to draw heavy loads
after them, as was the case with the troops that followed. Vet the
division made the march in perfect order, taking its light and heavy
artillery, and was so arranged that in case of attack disposi-
tion for battle could be effected instantly. The withdrawal of Heath's
division from Kingsbridge left the whole southern line of Westchester
County denuded of defenders, except that a garrison of 600, under
Colonel Lasher, was spared for Port Independence on Tetard's Hill;
but even this was only a temporary measure, for, as we shall see,
Colonel Lasher's small command was withdrawn from that station
a few days later and joined the army at White Plains.

Since the Pelham affair of the 18th, there had been absolutely
no encounter between the Americans and British, even at their out-
lying posts, both sides having been engrossed with the business of
securing position. But on the night of the 21st a well-planned and

382 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

reasonably successful dash was made by an American force— sin-
gularly enough from the very extreme of the American position, at
White Plains, against the very extreme of the British position, at
Mamaroneck. We have seen that during the 21st Mamaroneck was
occupied by a British detachment, the Queen's Rangers, tinder Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Rogers, while on the morning of that day the Ameri-
can General Stirling occupied White Plains. The Queen's Rangers
was an exceedingly select body of American Loyalists, recruited in
New York and Connecticut, and embraced not a few voting men of
Westchester County Tory families. Later in the war they were com-
manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, whose memoir of them, en-
titled "Journal of the Operations of the Queen's Rangers," is an in-
teresting Revolutionary authority. They were ''disciplined not for
parade, but for active service. They were never to march in slow
time; were directed to fire with precision and steadiness; to wield
the bayonet with force and effect; to disperse and rally with rapidity.
In short, in the instructions for the management of the corps, its
commander seems to have anticipated the more modern tactics of
the Freneh army." The sending of this body to Mamaroneck— the
home, by the way, of the distinguished Tory family of de Lancey—
was the first enterprise of the British commander apart from his
main forward movement since his landing in Westchester Comity,
and undoubtedly was intended as a complimentary recognition of
the spirited Tory volunteers. General Washington, upon receiving
intelligence of the unopposed capture of Mamaroneck by the Rangers,
decided to give them a different impression of the quality of Revo-
lutionary troops than they had derived from their entry there.
Agreeably to his orders, General Lord Stirling, commanding at
White Plains, dispatched Colonel Haslet, with (500 Delaware troops,
and Major Green, with 150 Virginians, to attack the Rangers during
the night. It was hoped to surprise and capture the whole corps
of the enemy, which was only 450 strong; and this would undoubtedly
have been done had it not been for the foresight of Colonel Rogers
in extending his picket lines beyond expectation, and the blundering
of the American guides, who "undertook to alter the first disposi-
tion" of the attacking party. A surprise was thus prevented, and
a hand to hand fight ensued in the darkness, the Rangers, inspired
by the great courage and address of their colonel, defending them-
selves excellently. The Americans were finally forced to retire, sus-
taining a loss of three or four killed and about fifteen wounded, but
bearing with them thirty-six prisoners and a quantity of captured
arms and blankets. The number of the Loyalists killed and wounded
is unknown, but according to American reports was large, twenty-

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS

383

five dead being counted iu one orchard. "All of both sides;' says
Mr. Edward P. de Lancey in his " History of Maniaroneck," " were
buried just over the top of the ridge almost directly north of the
Heathcote Hill house, in the angle formed by the present farm lane
and the east fence of the field next to the ridge. There their graves
lie together, friend and foe, but all Americans. My father told me
when he was a boy their green graves were distinctly visible. The
late Stephen Hall, a boy of seventeen or eighteen at the time, said
that they were buried the morning after the fight, and that he saw-
nine laid in one large grave." General Howe promptly re-enforced
the shattered Rangers with the brigade of General Agnew.

On the 21st Washington advanced his headquarters from Kings-
bridge a distance of about four miles to Valentine's Hill, a promi-
nent ridge in the present City of Yonkers, upon whose brow Saint
Joseph's Seminary stands. From this place a number of documents
in connection with the movement then in progress are dated, and
here occurred an episode of sentimental interest. Valentine's Hill
was so called from the family of farmers who had tilled it for about
three-quarters of a century as tenants of the Manor of Philipseburgh.
The farmhouse,, though having no residential pretensions, was the
most substantial dwelling in that immediate locality, and was used
by Washington for headquarters purposes while directing opera-
tions from the hill, although the Valentine family was not dis-
turbed in its occupancy. One of the family at that time was Eliza-
beth Valentine, a young child, who died in 1854. It was frequently
related by her that one morning Washington, before beginning the
business of the day, surrounded by members of his official family
in the sitting room of the dwelling — she being present, — read from
the Bible the singularly appropriate text (Joshua xxii., 2): "The
Lord God of Gods, the Lord God of Gods, He knoweth, and Israel He
shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in Transgression against the
Lord (save us not this day)," and upon this sentiment delivered an
impressive prayer.

The following item appears in "Washington's Accounts with the
United States,'' under date of October 22, 177<5: " To Exp3 at Valen-
tine's, Mile Square — 20 Doll8."

It has been claimed that while in the vicinity of Yonkers, Wash-
ington availed himself of the hospitalities of the Manor House of
the Philipses, and the southwest room of the second story is said to
have been his bedchamber. In our opinion, it is not possible that
Washington was entertained at the .Manor House either during
the period under consideration or subsequently. Amid the consum-
ing anxieties and incessant labors incident to the great military

:;>}

HISTOR1 OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

operation in which ho was engaged, ho would hardly have turned
aside to accept the cold eourtesi< - ol a Cory fauiih resident ai a point
somewhat distant from tho lino of march. Besides. Washington's
appearance as a guest at tho Manor House at that time would have
boon a rather indelicate act. Ou the 9th of August, only ton weeks
before. ! i " ad caused the removal of Frederick Philipse, the head
tilv, to Nov Koehollo, and from there had ordered him to
a still more'romoto place of detention. Finally, a letter written by
\yas lljrtol --,,-. Valentine's Hill to Mrs. Philips? at this precis*
juncture is conclusive evidence that he could not have beeu a visitor
i roof. Mrs. Philipse had written to him in not too amiable
terms about seizures of cattle belonging to her family which had
been mad. foi American artny. His reply, dated " Headquarters

ai Mr. Valentine's, -- Oct., L77(>," is couclunl in strictly ceremonious
language. "The misfortunes of war," ho says, "and the unhappy
circumstances frequently attendant thereon to individuals, arc

. but it is the duty of every one to alleviate
> v as much as possible. Tar be it front me to add to the dis-
tresses of a huh who 1 am but too sensible i ust already have suffered
much uneasiness, if v. ii inconvenience, "it account of Col. Phillips'
bsence." He adds that tin seizure* eoi plained of were made not
at his - - at - . but at that of the State convention: and the onl>
satisf; • iv . ,rdsh r is the observation that as it was not meant
;,A -;.. conventioi to deprive families of their necessary stock, he
»'would no? withhold" ' :- consent to her retaiuiug such parts of
' • - \ as might be necessary to that purpose. In view of this
. .-- „-. ndence. and the connecting circumstances, the idea that
Wasliingioi could hav paid even a passing visit to the Manor House
- n<j his progress to Wl ite Plains is noi to be entertained. Fr« d
crick Philipse, as our readers know, never returned to I ;- home 01
. . \ • an, and the residence was permanently abandoned by

s at il\ in 1777, afterward being in the custody of a steward.
Vgain, froi tl fa ' ' '"",; to tl sin inn r of 17S1. Washington eer
lainb i rer speni a night in the lower part of YV< stchoster County.
H, u, tr; litions whicl associate him with tho last hospitalities

pi psos ai tin Manor House have not the slightest likely
U is unquestionable, however, thai on more than one
sioi luring the Revolution he was the guesi of the patriots
Colo? I James A at Cortlandt at the old Vau Cortlandt mansion in
" Liti > nkers."
Tl i ild V; ■ ii ' usi . from which Washington's Yonkers dis-
;. •, as ton down many years ago. Headquarters
■ Val< utine's Hill during the -1st and 22d. and on

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS

385

the 23d were removed to " the plain near the cross-roa<
Plains, the evacuation of the country below having by t
sufficiently accomplished to justify Washington in sti
self at the termination of the route.

On the 22(1 the continued inactivity of the British, w
ing news of the American raid on the Loyalist Ranger
neck, had a stimulating effect on the whole army, to
ington's personal presence, everywhere encouraging
superintending the work, contributed. There was now
column of moving troops all the way from Valentine's
Plains. A portion of the sick had been previously se

Is " at White
hat time been
ationing hini-

ith the pleas-
s at Mamaro
which Wash-
the men and
a continuous
Hill to White
■nt across the

IE MILLER HOUSE, WHITE PLAINS (WASHINGTON S HEADQUARTERS).

Hudson to Fort Lee, but a large number of these unfortunates re-
mained, who were given a position in the advance, being dispatched
early on Use 22d and reaching White Plains the next morning. Dur-
ing the night, of the 22d General Sullivan's division completed the
march, and from then until the close of the 26th the weary and be-
draggled battalions kept steadily tiling into the White Plains camp.
General Lee's division had the honor of bringing up the rear; and
the time occupied on the march by this body, commanded by an
officer of undoubted capacity (whatever may be said of him other-
wise), may be taken as a fair indication of the extreme laboriousness
of the army's progress. General Lee's command presumably started
from the lower part of the county on the 22d, or at any rate not later
than the morning of the 23d; it reached Tuckahoe early on the 24th,

386

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTEE COUNTY.

;m«! «»n the 26th arrived in While Plains— more than three days being
required to cover a lesser distance than the division of General Heath,
in light marching order, had traversed in twelve hours. Lee, how
evei-fiipon reaching the section where the British were encamped
(Scarsdalel, was apprehensive of attack, and by a forced niglll march
lefl the Tnckahoe Uoad ami gained the Dobbs Kerry road, by which
lie proceeded the rest of the way. There was no pursuit of the army
by the British forces remaining in New York City, and even Colonel
Lasher's little command of a few hundred men, which Washington
had left at fori Independence as a guard for Kingsbridge, safely
joined the main body at White Plains after being summoned to do

so on the 27th.]

( m, the mot inn- i^ the 28th of October, when Howe moved up from
Scarsdale to attack Washington, the only American force remain-
ing south <A' White Plains was the garrison at fori Washington on

Manhattan Island, retained t here, against the judgment of the com
mander in chief, in deference to the opinions of his subordinates and
the wish of congress. It may be said, we think without the possi-
bility of mistake, that for fully six days after General Howe's pas-
sage to Pell's Neck on the L8th it was abundantly in his power, with
ili«> forces at his disposal and from the positions successively occu
pied by him, to cut the Revolutionary army in twain by an easy flank
movement; and that, without speculating at all as to the probable
maximum results of such a movement executed at any time in that
period, its minimum results could not have failed to be either the
destruction or capture of a very considerable section of our army.
Ym in face of the tremendous peril to which the army in its very
integrity was exposed, not the minutest portion of it suffered harm
at Howe's hands; and, indeed, if any single American soldier was
killed, or wounded, or made prisoner on the march from Kingsbridge
to White Plains as the consequence of aggression by the enemy, the
fact is beyond our sources of information. Aside from the engage-
ment in Pelham on the 18th and the affair at the outlying Brit-
ish post of Mamaroneck on the morning of the 22d, both brought on
by the enterprise of the Americans, there were two or three skir-
mishes of some interest along the line ^i' inarch — which likewise
were precipitated by the Americans. On the 23d a scouting party
sent out by Colonel Glover attacked a party of Hessians, killing

morning of the 2Sth, first burning "the bar and the redoubts, and tore down King's Bridge

racks and went to White Plains by way of the ami the Free Bridge. General Knyphausen,

Vihnnv Post Road. After his departure, Gen- with a force of mercenary troops from New

eral Greene came over from Fort Washington, Rochello, occupied the abandoned ground on

removed to that place all the materials and the evening of the 29th.
supplies which had been left behind, completed

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS

387

twelve (among them a held officer) and capturing three, with a loss
of Inil one man; and on the 24th ;i detachmenl from General Lee's
division crossed the Bronx and al Ward's Tavern, near Tuckahoe,
fell upon 250 Hessians, slew ten of them, and bore away two into
durance. (The Hessians, it seems, were singularly marked Tor de-
struction by the wayside in this campaign, even eliminating Daw-
son's murderous pen.) The hitter performance provoked a slight
retaliating blow, ;i raid being made upon General Lee's column which
resulted in the capture of the general's wine and some other per-
sonal baggage, including thai of Captain Alexander I In mi I ton. This
appears to have been the only aggressive ad of the enemy. The re-
markable forbearance of the British general was duo, as he subse-
quently explained, to his settled policy "not wantonly to commit
His Majesty's troops where the object was inadequate." He ab-
horred skirmishes, and he despised such a merely partial issue as
the capture of ;i portion of Washington's forces or even the shatter-
ing of the whole — for his cautious mind saw only the minimum ad-
vantage to be derived by disturbing the movement after its van
|,;, <l passed him, and refused to believe thai Hie entire object of his
campaign would follow, lie was looking for a grand finale, a pitched
buttle with thousands engaged, to terminate in the rebel general's

I ible appearance before him and his glittering staff to deliver

over his sword and surrender the hist bleeding remnant of his host.
Even in his short advance from above New Bochelle to Scarsdale,
on the 25th and 20th, it is said thai he moved •• with the utmost cir-
cumspection, not to expose any pari which inighl be vulnerable,"
alt! gh there was no foe to the oust of him, and at the north Wash-
ington's main bod} was occupied in building its White Plains in-
irenehiiients, and .it the west, over across the Bronx Kiver, he could
see, almost without the aid of his field-glasses, the troops of General
Lee most painfully and tediously toiling on, rather in the character
of boasts of burden than of armed men. Hut the capital blunder
of Howe was his lazy movement in muss. According to his defini-
tion of his object, it was to make a master stroke which would end
the war. This he might have attempted by assailing Washington
in his intrenchments on Harlem Heights, which would have been
foolhardy because of the strength of the position. His whole pur-
pose in coming up to Westchester County was to surround thai posi-
tion from the north, and, by thus cutting off Washington's communi-
cations and supplies, force him either to surrender or to offer battle
in the open field. Notwithstanding his ubsurd disembarkation on
Throgg's Neck, he could still easily have realized that aim alter his
movement to Pell's Neck if he had then advanced steadily to a cen-

388 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

tral locality in the upper part of Westchester County. Instead he
loitered on the shores of the Sound until Washington had occupied
White Plains with a powerful body, and then lie -ranted his ad-
versary time to fortify his now station; so that, when he finally did
move forward to bring on the decisive engagement for which he was
longing, he was in precisely the same relative situation as he had
been in before the position on Harlem Heights— attacking an m-
trenched camp from below, with the whole country above left open.
The effective strength of Washington's army as finally concen-
trated at White Plains was in the neighborhood of 13,000. The
actual force which Howe brought against it is generally estimated
at about the same number or not many thousands greater— General
Knvphausen's entire command of not less than 8,000 having been
left at New Kochelle. The great advantage of the British troops in
regard to quality, discipline, and equipment is too well understood
by the reader to need renewed statement here. On the other hand,
the Americans had a certain advantage from the circumstance of
being intrenched, which, however, was by no means of a commanding
nature at the time of the appearance of the enemy before him. These
intrenchments, says Dawson, - had been hastily constructed, without
the superintendence of experienced engineers. The stony soil pre-
vented the ditch from being made of any troublesome depth or the
parapet of a troublesome height. The latter was not (raised. Only
where it was least needed— probably because the construction of it
elsewhere had been interfered with— was there the slightest appear-
ance of an abatis.*' The works had for their central feature a square
fort of sods built across the main street or Post Road; from which
the defenses extended westwardly over the south side of Purdy's
Hill to a bend of the Bronx River, and eastwardly across the hills
t«» Horton's Pond (Saint Mary's Lake). Directly across the Bronx
from the termination of the western line of defenses— that is, in the
territory of the present Town of < Jreenburgh— rose an elevated
height called Chatterton's Hill, which was to be the scene of the
entire impending battle. On the crest of this hill a breastwork had
been begun on the night of the 27th by some Massachusetts militia-
men, but it was not sufficiently advanced to prove of any value. There
were no American works or troops whatever west of Chatterton's
Hill. The easterly termination of the White Plains intrenchments,
as already said, was at Horton's Pond, and there were no supple-
mental works beyond that point; but off to the east, near Harrison's
Purchase, the brigades of Generals George Clinton and John Morin
Scott were stationed, and to the northeast, at the head of Kin-

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 389

Street, near live Pond, was posted a brigade commanded by General
Samuel H. Parsons.

From his cam]) at Scarsdale, four miles below White Plains, Gen
eral Howe marched early on the morning of Monday, October 2cS,
to fight what he supposed would be the decisive battle. He pro-
ceeded in two heavy columns, the right commanded by General Sir
Henry Clinton and' the left by General de Ileister. Upon arriving
at Hart's Corners (now Hartsdale) he was met by a body of New
England troops under Major-General Spencer, whose number Daw-
son carefully calculates at about 2,000. This force, which had been
pushed forward by Washington to check the enemy's advance, made
only a sorry endeavor, being promptly scattered. In its dispersal the
Hessians bore a conspicuous part, but obtained not much substantial
satisfaction for the hard blows they had suffered on previous days,
as the Americans made good their escape — in fact fled in every direc-
tion with the utmost diligence. Yet a noticeable loss was inflicted—
22 killed, 24 wounded, and one missing, a total of 47, or about half
as many as our side lost in the well-fought engagement on Chatter-
ton's Hill. The famous battle of Hart's Corners well merits the
more descriptive name— which we borrow with acknowledgments
from Dawson— of the Rout of the Bashful New Englanders.

Most of the fugitives tied across the Bronx River, whither they
were pursued by the Hessians. This trifling circumstance proved
a principal factor in determining the scene of the conflict historically
known as the battle of While Plains. The commander of the pur-
suing Hessian force was Colonel Raid, a gallant officer— the same
who fell two months later at Trenton. Raid, in his chase of the New
Englanders, approached Chatterton's Hill, and observing that that
summit was occupied by an American body, conceived it to be his
duty to turn his attention thither. He accordingly abandoned the
pursuit, advanced toward the hill (still moving on the west side of
the Bronx), and took a station commanding it, whence he opened a
cannonade of most pompous pretensions, whose only present result,
however, was the wounding of one member of the New England
militia regiment posted on the hill. That catastrophe so agitated
the comrades of the hapless man that it is related they " broke and
fled, and were not rallied without much difficulty." But the hill was
soon to have sturdier defenders.

The American troops on Chatterton's Hill who had engaged the
attention of Colonel Rahl were Colonel Haslet's Delaware regi-
ment (which participated in the raid on the Queen's Rangers), and a
regiment of Massachusetts militia commanded by Colonel John
Brooks. It is unknown whether Washington's original plans for de-

390

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

fending |fls position behind the White Plains intrenchments con-
templated any particularly formal operations from Chatterton's Hill.
Hat during Bald's artillery attack la- sent over a strong force, com-
manded by General McDougall, to occupy it in conjunction with the
men already there. This body consisted of the 1st regiment of the
New York line, Colonel Ritzema's 3d regiment of the same line, Col-
onel Webb's regiment of the Connecticut line, and the surviving rem-
nant of Colonel Smallwood's noble Maryland regiment which so
distinguished itself at the battle of Long Island— all well experi-
enced'and reliable troops; together with a company of New York
artillery (having two small field-pieces) commanded by Captain Alex-
ander Hamilton. The united force was about 1,800 and made a re-
spectable showing as its different regi-
ments took up their positions on the hill.
During these preliminaries the main
body of Howe's army, in its two
columns, continued to approach the
American intrenchments, as if to pro-
ceed forthwith to the general attack.
But at the distance of about a mile from
Washington's lines a halt was ordered,
and General Howe and his principal
officers held a consultation on horse-
back. They concluded that the force on
Chattel-ton's Hill was a serious menace
to their flank and that it must be dis-
lodged before moving on the principal
works. Thereupon a numberof the finest
regiments, both British and German, were ordered to storm the
hifl. In addition to Raid's battalion, already in action, there were
the 2d brigade of British (comprising the 5th, 28th, 85th, and 40th
regiments)^ a party of light dragoons, and the Hessian Grenadiers
under Donop— all commanded by General Leslie. Artillery was sta-
tioned at advantageous places, some twenty pieces altogether, and
furiously cannonaded the Americans on the hill. The total numerical
strength of the attacking party has been variously estimated at from
4,000 to 7,500. All authorities agree that it was overwhelming.

'The troops designated for the enterprise forded the Bronx, whose
banks at that time were considerably swollen, and undertook the
assault in three distinct movements.

The 28th and 35th British regiments, with Kahl's Hessians, and
another German regiment (which led the assault ), attacked the Ameri-
can position in front, where the regiment of Massachusetts militia, the

GENERAL MCDOUGALL.

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 391

Maryland regiment, and Ritzenia's 3d New York regiment were
posted. The Massachusetts militiamen, who had been so skittish
under the artillery lire, showed themselves equally disinclined to sus-
tain an infantry shock; and, although sheltered by a stone wall, " lied
in confusion, without more than a random, scattering tire;' when
Rain's troops, whom it was their duty to oppose, advanced upon them.
On the other hand, the Marylanders and New Yorkers awaited un-
flinchingly the onset of the other three regiments (one Hessian and
two British), and from the brow of the hill received them, when within
range, with a deliberate and effective fire, which caused them to recoil
in spite of their very superior numbers and admirable discipline. But
the desertion of their post by the militiamen exposed the brave re-
maining defenders of the position to a flank attack by Rahl's brigade,
which (especially as the check administered to the three regiments
was only temporary) rendered the ground untenable. The Ameri-
cans therefore fell back, though in good order, here and there making
a stand at favorable points. The number of the Maryland and New
York troops engaged in this quarter and thus dislodged from it was
about 1,100.

Meantime the right of the American position, occupied by Colonel
Haslet's Delaware men, about 300 strong, was moved on by the 5th
and 40th British regiments. Notwithstanding the notable weakness
of the American force, a most gallant defense was made. It seems
that before the ascent of the assailing party, while the enemy's can-
nonade was still in progress, one of the l wo field-pieces belonging to
Alexander Hamilton's company of New York Artillery was, upon
Colonel Haslet's application to General McDougall, assigned to his
l Haslet 'si command. This gun became, however, partially disabled
by a Hessian cannon-ball, and although several discharges were made
from it, the artillerymen who served it are said to have been remiss
in their duties and to have retired with it from the action unsea-
sonably. At all events, the essential work of defense done at this
point in the American line was that of the riflemen, and their re-
markable steadiness in maintaining their ground was no way due
to artillery support. Even after the 1,100 Maryland and New York
troops, courageous and stubborn though they were, had completely
abandoned their attempt to hold the center, this heroic Delaware
band persevered in the tight, finally taking a post behind a fence at
the to]) of the hill, where, with some fragmentary troops from Mc-
DougaH's 1st New York regiment, it twice repulsed the British
charge, in which both foot and horse partook. In fact, the crowning-
honors of the day were won by the Delaware men; they were the last
of all the American forces on Chattel-ton's Hill to stand against the

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

GEOKGE WASHINGTON

From the original cabinet-size Portrait by Peale, presented by John Quincy Adams to Carlo
Giuseppe Guglielmo Botta, author of " History op the War of American Independence." Purchased
from the Botta Family, with full credentials of authenticity, by Frederic de Peyster, LL.D., a
former President of the New York Historical Society, and presented by his son, Brev.-Maj.-Gen.
J. Watts de Peyster, New York, to the United States War Department Library, at Washington, D.C.

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS

:u\

enemy they helped to secure the retreat of the other regiments, and
when the time came for them to retreat they executed the maneuver

successfully.

The American left was but a trine stronger than the right, con-
sisting of the 1st New York regiment and Colonel Webb's Connec-
ticut regiment, both skeleton organizations whose united numbers
were some four hundred. Against them moved a formidable array—
Donop's Hessian Grenadiers in three regiments, besides a regiment
of ( German chasseurs. The second of Hamilton's field-pieces was sta-
tioned in this position, and according to most accounts of the battle
did good execution. Rut the seasoned mercenary troops came steadily
on up the hill, and the two American regiments, like their com-
patriots at the other points, were forced to retreat, which they did
in an entirely creditable manner. A feature of the fighting at the
left of the line was the spirited defense of a portion of the position,
against a force twice as strong as his own, by Captain William Hull
(afterward General Hull, distinguished in the War of 1812), who
commanded a company of the Connecticut regiment.

It has already been mentioned that a slight intreiichment was
thrown up (or rather begun) on Chatterton's Hill during the night of
October 27 by Brooks's Massachusetts militiamen. But this elemen-
tary work did not prove of the least utility to the defenders of the
hill. The action on Chatterton's Hill was not fought by the Ameri-
cans from behind intrenchments like Bunker's Hill, but on ground
fully exposed to the onrush of the enemy— or at least affording only
the incidental protection of a sheltering rock here and there and a
straggling stone fence or two. Before the charge of troops outnum-
bering them by three or four to one— troops as skilled and hardened
in the business of war as any that the armed camps of Europe could
supply, and operating under the gaze of their commander and the
whole army — it was humanly impossible to hold such a position.
Everything reasonably possible was performed by all concerned — if
we except the single regiment of undisciplined militia: the position
at every point was nobly defended, and in several instances with
signal brilliancy; the retreat, when nothing but retreat remained,
was performed with dignity as well as discretion and without
material loss; and finally the punishment visited upon the foe was
much more considerable than that inflicted by him. Regarding the
losses on both sides we accept Dawson's figures, which appear to
have been compiled with exactitude. The British regiments lost
35 killed, 120 wounded, and 2 missing, a total of 157; the mercenary
regiments 12 killed, C>2 wounded, and 2 missing, a total of 76 — making
a grand total on the enemy's side of 233. The American losses were 25

394 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

killed, 52 wounded., and 16 missing— 93 altogether; to which add the
47 lost at Hart's Corners— an American grand total of 140 for the
two fights. It is true the returns arc somewhat defective for both
sides; "but there is no reason for suspecting that the American un-
reported losses were disproportionately greater than the enemy's.
The Americans bore off all their wounded and their two field-guns,
and, by way of the Dobbs Ferry road, crossed the bridge over the
Bronx River and fell into position for farther services if necessary,
behind the White Plains intrenchments. No attempt was made to
pursue them.

It is probable that a good many of our killed and wounded fell
under the artillery fire which preceded the assault. This, although
not long continued, was very heavy for the time that it did last.
A participant on the American side, writing over the signature of
" A Gentleman in the Army," has left a truly epic description of it,
whereof we will not deprive our readers, especially as we shall hardly
have another opportunity to offer them anything so tine about the
spectacular aspects of war in Westchester Comity.

The scene (he says) was grand and solemn. All the adjacent hills smoked as though on
fire, and bellowed and trembled with a perpetual cannonade and fire of field-pieces, howitz,
and mortars. The air groaned with streams of cannon and musket-shot ; the air and hills
smoked and echoed terribly with the bursting of shells ; the fences and walls were knocked
down and torn to pieces, and men's legs, arms, and bodies mingled with the cannon and grape-
shot all around us.

There are differences of opinion about the value of the services
rendered the American regiments by the two field-guns at their dis-
posal. It is said that Alexander Hamilton, visiting Chatterton's Hill
many years after, remarked on this point: "For three successive
discharges the advancing column of British troops was swept from
hill-top to river," and in the writings of his son, John C, Hamilton,
much is made of the artillery phase of the American defense. Daw-
son, whose animus against Hamilton is strong, utterly discredits the
claims for the artillerymen and their young commander, and even
asserts that this arm of the defense was distinctly neglectful of its
duty, comporting itself almost as disgracefully as the Massachusetts
regiment of militia. But this is not a detail of any essential import-
ance. The two guns could not have been of more than minor con-
sequence in any case. The aggregate force detached by Washington
to Chatterton's Hill was not strong enough, even with the best sup-
port which a single company of artillery with two small pieces could
have given it, to retain that station against the tremendous attack-
ing power. The one essential thing is that it was strong enough to
alarm General Howe in his progress toward the American intrench-
ments at White Plains, to divert him from the main business of the

CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS 395

dav, and to cause him absolutely to dismember his army for the
purely incidental purpose of capturing an outlying post.

After expelling the Americans from Ohatterton's Hill, the attack-
ing party quietly occupied the ground thus taken, prepared dinner,
and rested on its arms. To that inert and irresolute attitude the
main body of the royal army also resigned itself. In the often-quoted
words of Stedman, the English historian of the Revolution, " the diffi-
culty of co-operation between the left and right wings of our army
was such that it was obvious that the latter could no longer ex-
pediently attempt anything against the enemy's main body/' That
is, in the storming and occupation of the hill Howe split his forces
into two remotely separated parts, which could not co-operate in a
general advance movement, whilst Washington with his entire body
lay in an advantageous position ready to resist any attempt with
satisfactory numbers. The original project of the British commander
was suspended for the day, no offer being made to engage the in-
trenched Revolutionaries, with the exception of one slight sporadic
effort which is thus described by Heath, against whose division it
was directed :

The right column, composed of British troops, preceded by about twenty light horse in
full gallop^and brandishing their swords, appeared on the road leading to the Court House,
and now directly in the front of our general's (Heath's) division. The light horse leaped the
fence of a wheat field at the foot of the hill on which Colonel Malcolm's regiment was posted, of
which the light horse were not aware until a shot from Lieutenant Fenno's field-piece gave
them notice by striking in the midst of them, and a horseman pitching from his horse. They
then wheeled 'short about, galloped out of the field as fast as they came in, rode behind a
little hill on the road and faced about. . . . The column came no further up the road, but
wheeled to the left by platoons as they came up, and, passing through a bar or gateway,
directed their heads towards the troops on Chatterton's Hill, now engaged.

This pitiful demonstration was the sole thing undertaken by the
enemy in the White Plains quarter.

But while there was no battle at White Plains, the whole engage-
ment having transpired on Chatterton's Hill in the Town of Green-
burgh, the name of the battle of White Plains, by which alone the
event is known in general histories, is a strictly appropriate one;
and indeed it would have been regrettable if this exceedingly im-
portant conflict— one of the most important and representative of
the struggle for independence— had received the merely local desig-
nation of the isolated, incidental, accidentally chosen, ami unpop-
ulated summit where it was fought. The strategic situation was at
White Plains exclusively, which was the place deliberately selected
by Washington days in advance for his final stand, and fully accepted
by Howe as the battle-ground: and up to the moment that Howe
arrived in sight of our lines the attention given to Chatterton's Hill
bv the American commander, even as a locality of incidental conse-

396 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

quence, was of the most informal nature, no defensive works of any
availability having been erected and not a single piece of artillery
planted upon it. That the action on Chatterton's Hill proved acci-
dentally to be the whole of the duly appointed battle of White Plains,
would have been no suitable reason for robbing the latter place of
the honor of the name. Moreover, as rural battlefields are always
named alter the most conspicuous and most familiarly known locality
of their vicinage, it would have been a peculiar departure from such
ethics not to dignify this very notable engagement with the name of
tin1 flourishing and widely known village beside which it occurred.

There exists no public memorial, either on Chatterton's Hill or in
White Plains village, commemorative of the battle. Upon the ap-
proach of the centennial anniversary of the day in 1876, arrangements
were made, under the auspices of the Westchester County Historical
Society, for a public celebration on Chatterton's Hill, to include the
laying of the corner-stone for a monument. This latter ceremony
was duly performed, but as the weather was exceedingly inclement
the public exercises were adjourned to the court house, where a
tit ting address was made by the Hon. Clarkson N. Potter, at that
time representative in congress from the district. Congress had pre-
viously donated three Revolutionary cannon as accessories to the
proposed monument, and the plans for the memorial did not con-
template any elaborate or costly structure. Yet the project ended
with the laying of the corner-stone and the speechifying. The futile
attempt is a decidedly painful reminiscence for the people of West-
chester County, and our readers will willingly spare us any further
remark upon it than this passing notice of the fact.

CHAPTER XVIII

fort Washington's fall — the delinquency of general lee

TIE divided British army, with its right resting on the road
from White Plains to Mamaroneck, and its left on the
Bronx River and Ghatterton's Hill, remained completely
inactive not only during the rest of the 28th of October,
but throughout the period of its continuance before Washington's
position. As we have seen, it was deemed inexpedient by General
Howe to move on the White Plains intrenchments with his forces
thus separated. But it has never been satisfactorily explained why
that separation of his army need have been protracted after the
taking of the hill, or why he might not have promptly reunited
the severed parts and fought the intended battle on the same after-
noon or the next morning under substantially the original conditions.
To hold Ghatterton's Hill after Inning secured it, only a small body
of troops was required, since Washington, expecting a general as-
sault upon his intrenchments, would not have dared weaken his army
for such a hazardous and profitless object as an attempted recap-
ture of a detached post. We think the only reasonable deduction
from the known facts is that Howe grew faint-hearted while facing
Washington after his halt; and indeed his personal explanation of
his conduct in declining a general battle strongly suggests such an
inference. In a letter to Lord George Germaine he accounted for his
failure to attack Washington the next morning by representing that
the Americans meantime had drawn back their encampment and
strengthened their lines by additional works, which made it neces-
sary to defer the purposed aggression until re-enforcements could ar-
rive. In other words, he sought counsel of his fears. It is true the
Americans did strengthen their lines to every extent possible, thank-
fully taking advantage of the respite granted them; but when Howe
marched from Scarsdale he was coming to assail intrenchments of
entirely uncertain strength, and if willing to venture against them
then he could hardly have changed his mind after the lapse of a
few hours from any other circumstance than newborn discretion. As
for his assertion that the Americans had drawn back their encamp-
ment by the morning of the 29th, it was entirely erroneous; although

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

they did begin as early as the night of the 28th to move back their
stoics as the first preliminary to their masterly withdrawal into the
impregnable Heights of North Castle — an ultimate movement which
Howe should have foreseen if he had possessed a grain of military
sense, and which he must have known would prove more and more
imminent with every hour that he frittered away before the White
Plains works.

During the 29th and 30th General Howe continued, with all the
sagacity he could command, to inspect the rising American intrench-
ments and to reflect upon the excellent uses to which the rebels were

THE PRISON SHIP.

thus putting the unexpected opportunity vouchsafed them. On the
afternoon of the latter day he was re-enforced by four regiments from
New York City and two from Maniaroneck, and, thus strengthened,
he resolved to tight the battle on the morning of the 31st, and made
preparations accordingly. But a violent rainstorm foil, and there
was another and last postponement. Between the hours of nightfall
on the 31st of October and daybreak on the 1st of November, Wash-
ington retired to his new position in the North Castle hills, about
a mile above his first stand, leaving, however, a tolerably strong
force on the lines at White Plains, which held them for a number
of hours on the 1st without suffering disturbance from the enemy,
and then abandoned them to a party of Hessians that came over from
Chatterton's Hill to occupy them. In the inquiry instituted by par-

FORT WASHINGTON'S FALL 399

liament concerning Howe's transactions as commander of his
Majesty's forces in America, one of the witnesses (Lord Cornwallis)

on the very last day when he might nave tougnt \\ asnington unaer
not extremely unfavorable conditions, Howe found it unpleasant to
do so because of rain, as on the preceding days he had found it in-
expedient because of fear. In such an emergency as the impending
retirement of an inferior adversary to an unassailable position, one
would think thai, oven if reduced to the necessity of ;i bayonet fight,
the attacking general, unless blindly indifferent to his reputation,
should not have hesitated to pursue that course rather than suffer
the campaign to come to a humiliating end.

finding that Washington had retired. General Howe, apparently
with some realizing sense of his previous delinquency, and despite
the continuance of the storm and the wretched condition of the roads,
followed him to the North Castle position on November 1 with a por-
tion of his artillery, and began to cannonade the American left, which
replied with vigor. Little resulted from this performance on either
side bin powder burning. Washington had already taken the pre-
caution of preventing any attempt of the enemy to cut off his re-
treal north of the Croton Liver. As tin- reader doubtless knows,
that stream, previously to the diversion of its waters for the uses
of New York City, had a decidedly wide channel for a considerable
distance from its mouth; and at the lime of the Revolution the only
structure affording passage over it to the north was Line's Bridge,
some live miles east of the Hudson River.1 There was a ferry at the
mouth of the Croton, but of course it was essentially important to
retain Line's Bridge. Washington consequently, on October 31, sent
General Rezin Beall, with three Maryland regiments, to that point;
and in addition he ordered General Lord Stirling with his brigade
"to keep pace with the enemy's left hank and to push up also to
Croton Liver should he plainly perceive that the enemy's route lays
thai way." Thus besides having gained a situation for the army on
the Heights of North Castle from which he could defy any further
attempts of Howe's, he had thoroughly secured his lines of com-
munication.

1 However, toward the end of the war a mil.' and a half from the mouth. This was
bridge was thrown across the stream about a known as Continental Bridge.

400 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Howe made no offer to dispute the possession of the country above
the No rt Castle hills, and it does not appear that he even attempted
o re ei noi er it. B it the brigade of General Agnew which was
ItioZatMamaroneck was pushed forward about two mile.be
v 1 Eye in order, if possible, to bring an American force at the
Sawpits to an engagement. Failing in this, Agnew returned to
M- ' oneok During the passage of the royal troops through live,
" they were warmly greeted by the loyalists of that Place,
"conScuons among whom was the Boy. Mr. AYery the [Episcopa-
lian 1 rector of the parish, who had been in correspondence with Gov-
™ , Cn beforeVe arrival of the British army ™*™J™^
had been veiw outspoken in his professions of sympathy for the Brit-
ish cause •' This Eev. Mr. AYery, according to Bolton, was a stepson
of the patriot General Putnam. He soon had cause to rue his mdis-
oet de— ration of enthusiasm. A few days later ,ns horses and
cattle wore seized by son,,, vindictive Revolutionaries Two days

after that he was found .load in the neighbor!. 1 of Ins house. It

has never been learned how he came to his end. So far as ,s known
no mark of violence were found on his body. The Tory clergyman
Seaburv of Westchester, writing to the Propagation Society about
hi, mentions the conjecture of some persons that he was mur-
. , tl e " rebels," but apparently gives preference to the opinion

;,;1:|;,,111;N,1;„| from „,„„,„ causes, superinduced by distress of nnnd
„,„!,. ,. the persecutions to which he was subjected,
'^fronted by the difficult conditions of the new situa ion, Genera
would hardl in miv ,,IS1. have persevered ong ,n 1 u . ctual
test of Washington's too evident strength m the location where In
,, now established himself. But the suddenness of his retirement
was almost us puzzling as had been the circumstances or his en

„, . npon the Westchester campaign. On the nigh of the 4
of November he broke up his encampment, and by daybreak of the
5th he was marching with all his army to Dobbs Ferry, where he
CoimikmI ;i new camp on the 6th. .

'"' novo of com-se implied that How,., abandoning ^designs

against Washington's forces at North Castle, and also leaving to
lri. opponent the undisturbed possession of the country above, had
concluded to transfer the scene of aggressive operations to some othei

,,.,.,, But it was difficult to determine just what he had m y,e
.1 "n,,, deSign of this manenver," wrote Washington to the president
„f eon-ress on the 6th, " is a matter of much conjecture and specula-
tion, and can not be accounted for with any degree of certainty
But there were three principal objects that Howe might contem-
plate:—first, to capture Forts Washington and Lee, so as to make

FORT WASHINGTON'S FALL 401

his mastery of the lower Hudson complete; second, to transport his
army to the west bank of the Hudson, and by a march through New
Jersey seize Philadelphia, the Revolutionary capital; or third, to
proceed up the Hudson River along its west bank and take posses-
sion of the Highlands. In the case of an intended capture of Forts
Washington and Lee it was manifestly impossible to do anything
more toward retaining those positions than had already been done,
as both of them were well garrisoned and it would have been inju-
dicious to deplete the army for their further protection. But it was
necessary without delay to provide for thwarting the other two pos-
sible objects of Howe. At a council of Avar held on the 6th it was
unanimously agreed to so distribute the army as to have a portion
of it available for confronting Howe whithersoever he might go —
to retain a part in the encampment at North Castle, to dispatch
another part into New Jersey, and to establish a third part in the
neighborhood of Peekskill as a guard for the Highlands. Conforma-
bly with this decision Washington on the 9th detached 3,000 men
under General Heath to Peekskill and removed 5,000 to New Jersey
under the temporary charge of General Putnam, intending to assume
this command personally within a few days, and on the 10th he com-
mitted to General Loo the command of the North Castle residue, at
that time about T.oOO.

In making this disposition ho had two fundamental purposes —
first, to keep Heath's body of 3,000 permanently in the Highlands,
without drawing upon it in any event for the re-enforcement of the
main operating army; and second, to have Lee remain at North
Castle only for the time being, until Howe's intentions should be de-
veloped. Upon (he latter point his directions to Lee were unmis-
takable. He directed that the stores ami baggage be removed north
of the Croton River into General Heath's jurisdiction, and closed
with this injunction: " If the enemy should remove the greater part
of their foreo to the west side of Hudson's River, I have no doubt of
your following with all possible dispatch." We shall see later how
Lee, in his commander's direst need during the retreat through New
Jersey, deliberately ignored this instruction and even assumed to
exercise independent authority and to reverse Washington's express
orders to Heath.

On the night of the 10th of November Washington, having taken
lu's departure from the remnant of the army at North Castle, went to
Peekskill, and on the 11th, accompanied by Generals Heath, Stirling,
George and James Clinton, and Mifflin, began a detailed inspection
of points on both banks of the river above, which was extended the
next morning into the defiles of the Highlands. This tour resulted

402 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

iii the issuance of definite instructions to Heath. About ten o'clock
on the morning of the 12th he crossed the river to embark upon his
ever memorable winter campaign in New Jersey.

Allusion has been made in a previous chapter to the burning of
the Westchester County court house by some soldiers of Washing-
ton's army. That deplorable event occurred on the night of the 5th
of November. It was an entirely wanton and irresponsible perform-
ance Throughout the Westchester campaign Washington had been
excessivelv annoyed by the bad conduct of the lawless element in
his ranks— men who pillaged and set fire to farm houses, and com-
mitted promiscuous outrages, lie repeatedly issued orders to re-
strain such practices. In general orders dated November 2 he said:
"The General expressly forbids any person or soldier belonging to
the army to set fire to any house or barn, on any pretense, Avithout
a special order from some "general officer." The burning of the court
house during the night of the 5th was therefore done in defiance of
a recent stringent prohibition by the commander-in-chief. The cul-
prits were a band of Massachusetts troops led by Major Jonathan
Williams Austin, and, besides destroying the court house, they burnt
the Presbyterian Church and several private dwellings at White
Plains. For this deed Austin was court-martialed, dismissed from
the service, and turned over to the State convention for further pun-
ishment. By the direction of that body he was put in jail at Kings-
ton, but managed to escape. Fortunately the county records did
not' perish in the flames, having been removed to a place of security
before the occupation of White Plains by the two armies.

This instance of the incidental outrages inflicted upon the people
of our county as a result of the military operations in the campaign
of 1770 might be enlarged upon by the introduction of local details
of destruction, devastation, violence, and plun.hu- almost innumera-
ble. The materials for such local chronicles obtainable from pub-
lished sources and from family records are so abundant that very
many of our pages might be filled with them ; but such minutiae hardly
belong to a general narrative history of moderate dimensions. It
is sufficient to say that, as in the cases of individual persecutions for
political belief, they were perpetrated with activity and mercilessness
by both sides— with the important distinction, however, that while
the offenses committed by the American soldiers were the acts of in-
dividuals or small detachments in defiance of very strict army regu-
lations the crimes of the invading troops were wholly unrestrained
if indeed they were not tacitly licensed. It was well understood, and
the fact is recognized by all historians (not excepting those of strong
British bias), that the German mercenaries, privates as well as officers,

FORT WASHINGTON'S FALL 4:03

in accepting the employment of the king of England were encouraged
to believe that they cm mid enrich themselves in America by plundering
the population, and wherever they went their excesses were unlimited.
The British soldiery were hardly less scrupulous or cruel; and both
British and Germans robbed, killed, burned, and devastated the land
with little discrimination between Tory and patriot where the object
was the gratification of their own greed or passions. In their vindic-
tive fury against the patriots the British went farther than their
German hirelings. The following, from a letter written from Peeks-
kill, January 19, 1777, reads like a chapter from the Thirty Years'
War:

General Howe has discharged all the privates who were prisoners in New York ; one-half
he sent to the world of spirits for want of food. The other he hath sent to warn their coun-
trymen of the danger of falling into his hands, and so convince them, by ocular demonstration,
that it is infinitely better to be slain in battle than to be taken prisoners by British brutes,
whose tender mercies are cruelty. But it is not the prisoners alone who felt the effects of Brit-
ish inhumanity. Every part of the country thro' which they have march'd has been plundered
and ravaged. No discrimination has been made with respect to Whig or Tory, but all alike
have been involv'd in one common fate. Their march thro' New Jersey has been marked
with savage barbarity. But Westchester witnesseth more terrible things. The repositories of
the dead have ever been held sacred by the most barbarous and savage nations. But here,
not being able to accomplish their accursed purposes upon the living, they wreaked their ven-
geance on the dead. In many places, the graves in the church-yards were opened, and the
bodies of the dead exposed upon the ground for several days. At Morrissania the family vault
was opened, the coffins broken and the bones scattered abroad. At Delancey's farm the body
of a beautiful young lady, which had been buried for two years, was taken out of the ground
and exposed for five days in a most indecent manner ; many more instances could be men-
tioned, but my heart sickens at the recollection of such inhumanity. Some persons try to
believe that it is only the Hessians who perpetrate these things, but I have good authority
to say that the British vie with, and even exceed the auxiliary troops in licentiousness. After
such treatment can it be possible for any persons seriously to wish for a reconciliation with
Great Britain ? l

Wo left General Howe on the 6th of November at Dobbs Ferry,
to which point he had fallen back after abandoning on the 4th his
position before Washington's lines on the Heights of North Castle.
His object in this move was made perfectly plain a few days later
by the concentration of all his forces for the reduction of Fort Wash-
ington. But his reasons for so abruptly retiring from in front of
Washington at North Castle, where he seemed to have established
himself with the serious intent of attacking him sooner or later,
remained none the less shrouded in mystery; and indeed for more
than a hundred years historical writers, in commenting on this
phase, were quite at a loss to reasonably account for his conduct —
although the subject was made a peculiarly inviting one for curious
inquirers by a remarkable statement of General Howe's during the
investigation of his American career by the committee of the House
of Commons. " Sir," said he on that occasion, " an assault upon the

i Freeman's Journal, or New Hampshire Gazette, February 18, 1777.

404

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

enemy's right, which was opposed to the Hessian troops, was in-
tended. The committee must give me credit when 1 assure them
thai 1 have political reasons, and no other, for declining to explain
whv that assault was not made. Upon a minute inquiry these rea-
sons might, if necessary, be brought out in evidence at the bar. The
s"ted proceedings were not taken, and the secret was success-
fully guarded until 1877, when, in an article in the Magtmne of Ameri-
can History bv Mr. Edward Floyd de Lancey, supported by docu-
mentary proof, it was fully exposed. The « political reasons alluded
b General Howe were that he was diverted from the attack on
the American camp to the attack on Fort Washington by intelligence

VICINITY OF FORT WASHINGTON.

furnished him by an American traitor, and that such a delicate fact
naturally could not be spread before a parliamentary committee.
The name of that traitor was WILLIAM DEMONT.

Dement was adjutant to Colonel Magaw, the commandant of 1 o it
Washington, and on the 2d of November he mad,- Ins way out of the
fort and conveyed to Earl Percy, the British commander in New
York City, complete plans of its defenses and information about the
arrangement of its armament and disposition of the garrison. These
,„.„/„» once communicated by Percy to Howe then lying before
the American works in the North Castle bills, and that generaMeemg
in the assured capture of the chief rebel fortress a good excuse foi

FORT WASHINGTON'S FALL 405

withdrawing from his hopeless campaign in the field, faced about
and with a celerity, skill, and success which had never characterized
his operations up to that hour proceeded to the investment and re-
duction of the betrayed stronghold.

Fort Washington, to which reference has so frequently been made
in these pages, barred all progress by land to and from New York
City, and with its fall Westchester County was completely laid open
to the enemy, remaining in that unhappy state until the signing of
the treaty of peace — a period of seven years. A particular descrip-
tion of it belongs, therefore, to this narrative. We quote from an
article by Major-General George W. Cullum in the "Narrative and
Critical History of America ":

It was built by Colonel Rufus Putnam soon after the evacuation of Boston, and occupied
the high ground at the northern end of Manhattan Island. It was a pentagonal bastioned
earthwork without a keep, having a feeble profile and scarcely any ditch. In its vicinity were
batteries, redoubts, and intrenched lints. These various held fortifications, of which Fort
Washington may be considered the citadel, extended north and south over two and one-half
miles and had a circuit of six miles. The three intrenched lines of Harlem Heights, crossing
the island, were to the south ; Laurel Hill, with Fort George at its northern extremity, lay to
the east ; upon the river edge, near Tnbby Hook, was Fort Tryon, and close to Spuyten Duy-
vil were some slight works known as Cockhill Fort ; and across the creek, on Tetard's Hill,
Fort Independence. The main communication with these various works was the Albany
Road, crossing the Harlem River at Kingsbridge. This road was obstructed by three lines
of abatis extending from Laurel Hill to the River Ridge.

With Fort Leo, <>n the opposite side of the river, it constituted the
military domain of General Nathaniel Greene. Greene had his head-
quarters at Fort Lee. In common with most of the other subor-
dinates of General Washington, he stubbornly insisted that it should
be held after the evacuation of Harlem Heights and Kingsbridge,
and this was the emphatic opinion of congress, which during tin1
early stages of the war was always meddling with Washington's
prerogative as commander-in-chief. Greene, in fact, regarded it as im-
pregnable, going so far as to declare that the place could be held
against the whole British army. Washington stood practically alone
in regarding the attempted retention of the fort as an inexpedient
measure. At the very first council of war on the subject, held at
Kingsbridge on the Kith of October, he advised its abandonment,
both because he was convinced that in the case of a siege it would
be taken, and because he foresaw that the whole theater of war would
soon be shifted from Manhattan Island and the lower Hudson, in
which event its usefulness would be ended. But he was loath to set
ins authority against the unanimous judgment of his officers and
congress, and while at every step personally favoring the with-
drawal of the garrison, he finally permitted the fort to be defended.

On the day of the Chattel-ton's Hill engagement (October 28) Howe

406 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

ordered General Knyphausen, then at New Rochelle, to take his
whole command of mercenaries to Kingsbridge, with the exception
of one regiment of Waldeckers, which was to be left at New Rochelle.
This movement was probably intended as a preliminary step toward
the general occupation of the lower portion of Westchester County.
Knyphausen encamped at Kingsbridge on the 2d of November. By
the 4th British troops had been stationed in the Mile Square, on
Valentine's Hill, and at West Farms, and the New Rochelle Wal-
deckers were transferred to Williams's Bridge. On the 6th, as al-
ready related, Howe, with the main army, was at Dobbs Ferry. From
there on the 7th lie dispatched his pack of artillery to Kingsbridge,
and immediately upon its arrival at that place the work of erecting
batteries along the Westchester shore was begun. These were
planted in conformity with the secret information about the Fort
Washington works which the traitor Demont had furnished; and it
was always a matter of astonishment to American officers in study-
ing the plans of the siege that in every particular the enemy's ar-
rangements were made with the most excellent judgment. Four
separate lines of attack on Mount Washington were chosen— three
of them proceeding from the Westchester shore. The first and main
one was by way of Kingsbridge, the second by boats across the Har-
lem River against Laurel Hill, the third by boats from a point farther
down against the lines of fortifications near the Roger Morris house,
and the" fourth from New York City against the southern exposure
of the works.

On the 13th Howe in person arrived at Kingsbridge, with all the
forces that he had had at Dobbs Ferry. On the 15th, his plans bemg
completed, he sent to Colonel Magaw, in command at Fort Washing-
ton, a summons to surrender, signifying that if obliged to carry the
fort by assault he would put the garrison to the sword. To this san
guinary threat Magaw replied that it was unworthy of General Howe
and the British nation, at the same time declaring that he intended
to hold out to the last extremity. During the night of the 15th
numerous small boats for the transportation of the attacking troops
from the Westchester side were passed up the Hudson and through
Spuyten Duyvil Creek into the Harlem River. On the 16th the as-
sault was made at every selected point and was crowned with com-
plete success, although the enemy's killed and wounded were 458
against but 147 on the American side. The whole garrison, consist-
ing of 2,818 men, including officers, became prisoners of war, and
forty-three guns and a large amount of equipments and stores fell
into the hands of the British.

This was a dreadful blow to Washington, almost a deadly one in

DELINQUENCY OE GENERAL LEE 407

the circumstances which encompassed him. The fall of the fort, so
far from being a catastrophe, was a blessing in disguise. It was well
to have it oft his hands. But the loss of 3,000 men, at the moment
when he was engaging in a. new campaign having for its probable
object the defense of the capital, with but a meager force at his dis-
posal, which was rapidly moldering away in consequence of deser-
tions and the expiration of militia terms of service, was about as
disastrous a thing as could betide short of his own destruction. On
the 20th Fort Lee was taken by an expedition of 5,000, which landed
the night before opposite Yonkers. No resistance was attempted,
and although the garrison of 2,000 was promptly withdrawn, it barely
escaped capture. Then began Washington's famous retreat across
New Jersey, with Cornwallis and Knyphausen in hot pursuit. It
does not come within the scope of the present work 10 follow him in
detail in this movement and his subsequent operations. But the
very important aspect of Lee's disobedient, if not traitorous, conduct
in lingering in Westchester County despite the urgent orders of his
chief to join him in New Jersey, belongs to the essential Revolu-
tionary annals of our county.

On the 12th of November, upon taking command of the portion of
the army dispatched to the west bank of the Hudson from the North
Castle camp, Washington had at his bark only 5,000 men, of whom
more than half were militia whose periods of enlistment, were ex-
piring. Indeed, though he was strengthened eight days later by the
2,000 from Fort Lee, his ranks were so reduced by the departures of
militiamen and other causes that by the time he gained the west
shore of the Delaware on the 8th of December it is doubtful if he
had more than 3,000 soldiers effective for active purposes. Soon
after arriving in New Jersey lie appealed in pressing terms to the
governor of that State, to its legislature, and to congress for fresh
troops. But ins main reliance was upon Lee, whom he had left at
North Castle as a purely temporary matter until the principal object
of the enemy should be disclosed, and with definite instructions to
move at once to the other side of the Hudson if it should appear that
Howe's designs were in that quarter.

On the 16th, the day of the capitulation of Fort Washington, the
commander-in-chief wrote to Lee at length upon the subject of the
proper employment of his time so long as it should be expedient for
him to remain in Westchester County, plainly giving him to under-
stand that the North Castle position was no longer of any particular
importance, and that for the time being he should devote his energies,
in co-operation with General Heath, toward securing the Highland
passes on both sides of the river and erecting works in advantageous

408

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

places To this injunction Lee gave not the slightest attention. On
the other hand, in a letter written the same day to Colonel Heed, of
Washington's staff, he expressed directly contrary opinions regard-
in^ the "position at North Castle, concluding with the observation
that he intended to remain there, and that he wished - not to cede
another inch » to the enemy. Although this vainglorious boast was
made before the receipt of Washington's letter, it indicated a fixed
resolve in his mind to act an independent part. Indeed, from that
day until his fortunate capture by a troop of British horse, his whole
proceedings were those of a rebellious subordinate, arrogating to
himself authority co-ordinate with that of the chief commander.

After Fort Washington s
fall Lee wrote letters from
North Castle to various per-
sons filled with innuendoes
against Washington on ac-
count of that disaster. On
the 10th he had the impu-
dence to send to Washington
in person a letter reciting
his "objections" to moving
from North Castle. On the
20Th, when Fort Lee was
abandoned and there re-
mained no doubt that the
British would begin a cam-
paign in New Jersey, Wash-

NKW YORK STATE REGIMENTAL FLAG EMBLEM. illgton, tllOU at HaCkeil-

sack, dispatched an express
to Lee ordering him to move. This command was repeated
a<»ain and again during the succeeding days (sometimes twice
a&day). For five precious days Washington lay at Newark vainly
awaiting the troops from Westchester County, and when he finally
left that place on the 28th his rear had a narrow escape from the ad-
vance guard of the enemy. With his insignificant force he pushed
on to Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton, the Delaware, and across that
river without receiving any satisfactory assurance of the ultimate
obedience of Lee. One of Washington's master strokes was the se-
curing in advance of every boat along the Delaware and its tribu-
taries for a distance of seventy miles so as to prevent the enemy from
crossing; but deeming it of transcendant importance to receive Lee's
troops at the earliest practicable moment, he caused a large fleet of

DELINQUENCY OF GENERAL LEE 409

the boats to be kept in constant readiness for Lee at a point on the
east bank of the stream.

Lee's defiant behavior in tarrying in Westchester Connty was ag-
gravated by everv circumstance of formal pretension and presump-
tion. On the 20th he wrote the following astonishing words to Ben-
jamin Rush, a member of congress: " I could say many things— let
me talk vainly— had I the powers I could do you much good— might
I but dictate one week— but I am sure you will never give any man
the necessary power— did none of the congress over read the Roman
history9" On the 21st, upon receiving Washington's order from
Hackensack, Lee not merely ignored it, but with unparalleled
effrontery directed General Heath, commanding at Peekskill, to de-
tach 2 000 men from his force and send them to the commander-in-
chief ' Heath refused, quoting his own explicit instructions from
Washington, whereupon Lee (November 20) wrote: "The comman-
der-in-chief is now separated from us. I, of course, command on this
side of the water, and for the future I must and will be obeyed.
Washington was obliged to notify Lee in a positive communication
that not a man must be taken from Heath. In a letter to Bowdom,
then at the bead of the Massachusetts government, Lee characterized
Washington's instructions to him to move from North Castle as
« absolute insanitv," and complacently added that for himself, should
the British move toward his quarter, he would entertain no expecta-
tion of being succored by the « western army "-implying that there
were now two distinct armies, a western commanded by Washington
and an eastern headed by himself. In a confidential letter of the
24th to Reed he alluded to an enterprise which he wanted to com-
plete before moving, after which, he said, - 1 shall fly to you, for to
confess a truth 1 really think our chief will do better with me than

without me " 0 ,

Westchester County was at last evacuated by Lee on the od ami
4th of December. The movement was of course by way of Kings
Ferry Stopping at Peekskill on the way, he endeavored to persuade
and, failing in that, to browbeat Heath into a violation of Washing-
ton's repeated commands. He requested Heath to give him 2 000 o
his troops, and when that was refused, to let him take 1,000 The
latter bluntly declared that not a single soldier should march from
the post bv his order. Lee then assumed, as senior in command, to
issue the order himself, but Heath required him to sign a statemenl
certifying that he did this exclusively upon his own responsibility.
Lee thereupon detached two of Heath's regiments for his own use
but the next morning, after sober second thought, he concluded that
he was playing too bold a part, and ordered them back to Heaths

410 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

camp. On the 4th, while at Haverstraw, says Bancroft, he intercepted
3,000 men who had been hurried down for Washington's relief by
General Schuyler, of the Northern Army, and incorporated them in
his division. Later he ordered General Heath to send him three regi-
ments which had come from Fort Ticonderoga. He marched leis-
urely through New Jersey, still taking pains to have it understood
that he considered himself an independent commander. To a com-
mittee of congress he stated that it was not his intention " to join
the army with Washington," and to Heath he wrote, " I am in hopes
of reconquering the Jerseys." On the 13th of December, ten days
after passing the Hudson, he was made prisoner at Baskingridge,
N. J., by some British horsemen, having just completed a letter to
General Gates, in which he said: " Entre nous, a certain great man
is most damnably deficient." His troops, thus happily disencumbered
of him, presently joined Washington, although not in time to partici-
pate in the glorious victory of Trenton.

General Lee's occupation of the North Castle position for nearly
a month after the dismemberment of the army was not attended
by events or proceedings of any noteworthy character. But several
matters of some interest in this connection deserve passing notice.

According to Sparks in his biography of Lee, the number of troops
left by Washington in the encampment at North Castle was 7,500,
of whom 4,000 were militia about to return to their homes. It is
quite certain that upon Lee's departure he took with him hardly
more than 3,000. Indeed, the militiamen were constantly filing off,
glad to escape from the service before the rigors of winter should set
in. It is recorded that the ambitious general, who possessed decided
elocutionary gifts, industriously practiced his persuasive powers upon
them, haranguing them publicly on the gravity of the situation and
their solemn duty as American patriots. These impassioned appeals
were without avail, however. The condition of the men under Lee's
command was deplorable, most of them being without shoes, stock-
ings, blankets, or proper clothing, and this was instanced by him
as an excuse for not leaving the post, But he was no worse off than
Washington in that particular. When the latter, with his band of
heroes, attacked the Hessians at Trenton, the whole line of march
of the little army was stained with the bloody footprints of the shoe-
less soldiers.

The records of Lee's transactions while at North Castle show that
not only the whole upper portion of Westchester County, but the
central sections as well, were quite abandoned by the enemy during
that period. Two of Lee's official letters are dated from " Philips-
bourg" (probably Tarrytowu). As far south as Dobbs Ferry the

DELINQUENCY OF GENERAL LEE 411

Americans appear to have been in undisputed control. On the 26th
of November General Sullivan, in a report to Lee, alluded to an ad-
venture which the continental guard at Dobbs Ferry had had with a
party of supposed British horse, which made off upon being- chal-
lenged. Even Mamaroneck was deserted by the British. Writing
to Seed on the 21th of November, Lee mentioned a project he had
formed to cut off Rogers's corps of Queen's Bangers at that place,
together with a troop of light horse and a part of the Highland
(Scotch) and another brigade; but upon attempting to carry it into
execution he found that these hostile forces had been withdrawn.
But though the enemy for the time being occupied none of West-
chester Countv except the part immediately adjacent to Manhattan
Island, their ships— the - Phoenix," - Roebuck," and " Tartar "—still
continued in the Hudson River, preventing the use of the Dobbs Ferry
route for the transfer of the American troops to the other side.

Whilst dallying at North Castle Lee dispatched to the lower por-
tion of the countv a strong detachment to levy contributions on the
farmers— the first of the predatory raids to which the unfortunate
inhabitants of Westchester County were so frequently subjected
throughout the Revolution. On the 22d of November he issued orders
to General Nixon to proceed with two brigades and a party of light
horse "to Phillips's house," and, beginning at. that place, collect all
the stout, able horses, all the cattle, fat and lean, and all the sheep
and hogs, with the exception of such few milk cows and hogs as
should be necessary to the subsistence of the families, and drive them
up to the camp. Nixon was also directed to oblige the people to give
up all their extra blankets and (-overlings, reserving a single one for
each person. To the citizens thus dispossessed, however, certificates
were given which entitled them to reimbursement upon application
to the proper army authorities.

CHAPTEK XIX

THE STRATEGIC SITUATION — THE NEUTRAL GROUND

I Til the breaking up of the North Castle camp and the de-
parture of Lee, the military situation in Westchester
County assumed a very simple complexion. Only the two
extreme positions, Kingsbridge and Peekskill, remained in
the possession of any considerable body of troops.

The former place preserved, under British domination, all the im-
portance attached to it while held by the Americans. It was the key
to New York City, which, until the end of the war, continued to be
the principal and indeed only reliable base for the British forces in
America. It is true that Newport (K, I.) was taken in the winter of
177(5, Philadelphia in (he fall of 1777, and various important Southern
points at later periods. But all these were occupied only by isolated,
temporary, or shifting British commands. New York alone, from
the beginning to (he end of its possession by the enemy, was held
without incidental disturbance on the part of the Americans or in-
cidental loss of essential value to the British through the modifying
circumstances of changing events. Hence Kingsbridge was at all
times the primal outlying British post. After the retirement of the
last detachment of the American army in October, 177(5, and its seiz-
ure by the enemy, the place was fortified anew, the chief defensive
position on the Westchester sid<> continuing to be the old American
Fort Independence on Tetard's Hill. This fortress, although be
sieged by Heath in January, 1777, and several times threatened, never
yielded to the Revolutionary arms. On the other hand, the British
were content to abide at Kingsbridge as their most advanced perma-
nent establishment, never attempting to take a formal stand above
as an added feature of their basic position. Their occupation of
Westchester County beyond Kingsbridge was only for the minor busi-
ness of covering that place, controlling the territory to some extent,
cutting off occasional American detachments, and furnishing con-
stant adventurous employment for a few bodies of their troops,
mostly Loyalist rangers. There was never a second British move-
ment in force through Westchester County, although two expedi-

THE STRATEGIC SITUATION 413

tions of importance destined for forcing the entrance to the High-
lands were landed in the county. A few days alter Lee marched
away from North Castle our people residing along the Sound were
thrown into renewed consternation by the appearance of a fleet of
some seventy sail, which came up out of the East River. Bui it left
our shores undisturbed. This was the expedition to Rhode Island,
which was the means of securing for the British a prolonged lodg-
ment in that quarter. Rhode Island was too remote, however, for
any co-operating land relations with New York— especially as during
the British continuance in the former locality the field operations of
the contending armies did not once take a direction east of the Hud-
son River. And like the Rhode Island expedition, the various British
attacks on Connecticut (with one minor exception) proceeded by
water from New York, accomplishing nothing but local results. Con-
sequently although Westchester County was continually exposed to
the enemy at the south, and suffered terribly and without cessation
from his incidental occupation and aggression, it was nor similarly
exposed at the east, and, on account of the choice of other sections
of the country than New England for the formal military campaigns,
was almost wholly exempted, after the experience of 1776, from the
presence of the foe in any pretentious array.

Peekskill was no less clearly indicated as the vital post for the
Americans, to be maintained at all hazards, than Kingsbridge was
for the British. Lying just below the Highlands and just above the
point on the Hudson River where its waters, previously confined be-
tween closely approaching banks, suddenly spread out into a broad
sea, it commanded equally the passes into the mountains, the navi-
gation of the whole upper river, and the communication with the
western shore, and consequently with all the middle and southern
States. The lower river, all the way from New York Bay to Ver-
planck's Point, was controlled absolutely by the British ships, and
on account of its great width, as well as of the barrier from west to
east interposed by the wide expanse of the Croton, was utterly un-
available for American use after the removal of the army from Kings
bridge and the fall of Fort Washington. Consequently no point south
of Peekskill was to be considered for a moment as a suitable station
for the principal American counterpoise to the enemy's position
below Other points all the way down through the county were, of
course, occupied by guards. In this respect it was at first the Ameri-
can policv to push down advance posts as near as practicable to the
enemy's sphere, and at no time did the patriots retire their lines to
the northward of Pine's Bridge across the Croton. Yet Peekskill,
with the country immediately dependent upon it, always remained

414

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the seat of the serious American establishment for general purposes.
The choice of positions farther down by Washington during his sub-
sequent visitations of Westchester County (including that of Dobbs
Ferry for the united American and French armies in 1781) proved in
each case only a temporary expedient.

It can not, however, be said of the main American position at
Peekskill, as of the enemy's at Kingsbridge, that it was one upon
which its possessors could rest in calm and undisturbed confidence
and without reference to any of the ordinary possible developments
of general strategy. Because of the natural location of New York
City, with all its surrounding waters controlled by the fleet and only

the position at Kingsbridge
open to practicable attack, the
British could abide there in-
definitely without apprehen-
sion of any secret or sudden
American designs. In order to
make a formidable campaign
on New York City — which
could proceed only by way of
Kingsbridge, a point not to
be reached except by a long
march down the Westches-
ter County peninsula, and not
to be deliberately assailed
without the previous concen-
tration of all of Washington's
forces — the Americans would
have had to lay bare their
intentions weeks in advance.
How different the situation at Peekskill ! It could always be surprised
by a river expedition from New York City, with but the briefest possi-
ble foreknowledge on Washington's part. It was a point of supreme
importance, but only one among several. He therefore had to dis-
tribute his forces, uncertain where the enemy's next blow would fall,
but at all times convinced that he would seek sooner or later to push
up the Hudson River. The safety of the Hudson was Washington's
greatest concern, and with the beginning of each campaign he suf-
fered torments on that subject. There was an incessant marching
and countermarching of troops to and from Peekskill, and Washing-
ton himself, except when during his campaign in Pennsylvania,
in the southern part of New Jersey, and finally in Virginia, was
never more than a few days' march distant from the place. Indeed,

SIR HENRY CLINTON.

THE STRATEGIC SITUATION

415

in several of his main movements preliminarily to the unfolding of
the enemy's principal project for the impending campaign, he made
it the cardinal point of his programme to take a central station from
which he could with equal convenience march to Peekskill or to
other threatened points according to ultimate circumstances. To
the vigilance with which he watched the Hudson, his carefulness in
fortifying it, and his promptitude in counteracting British attempts
upon it, the final success of the devolution was unquestionably due
as much as to any single factor.

Peekskill itself was never a Revolutionary stronghold. The village
was the headquarters for the military commander of the district,
which embraced all of the Highlands. Later, upon the completion of
the defenses at West Point, the latter locality enjoyed this distinc-
tion, and Peekskill, with Yerplanck's Point, was attached to the West
Point command.

The fortification of the Highlands was begun under the auspices
of the New York convention shortly after the arrival of the British
invading expedition. At the time of Washington's visit to Peek-
skill, in November, 1770, the work had made tolerable progress. Wash-
ington, it will be remembered, spent one whole day and part of a
second in reconnoitering this locality and the Highlands above. After
indicating what should be done toward perfecting the defensive posi-
tions, he left his able engineer, Colonel Rufus Putnam, to carry out
his plans under the direction of General Heath. The situation as
finally developed was in detail briefly as follows:

On the east side of the river, just above Peekskill village, was a
work called Fort Independence.1 This was substantially completed
during the winter of 1770-77. There was at that time no other fort
on the Westchester shore, although later Fort Lafayette was built
at the extremity of Yerplanck's Point to protect the King's Ferry
route, and on a hill near Cortlandtville Fort Lookout was con-
structed. Above Peekskill the passes into the Highlands were pro-
tected by detachments of troops, the principal pass being at Robin-
son's Bridge. In this vicinity was located the celebrated Continental
Village, where the stores were stationed and extensive barracks were
erected. From Anthony's Nose to the west shore the chain designed
to obstruct the navigation was stretched. This contrivance, besides
being very costly, gave the American engineers a vast deal of trouble.
On November 21, 1776, General Heath reported that it had li twice
broke." Cables were stretched in front of the chain, says Irving,
to break the force of any ship under way before she could strike it.

1 Thus there were two forts of this name In f erred to in the preceding pages) having br< n
Westchester County, the other (frequently re- at Kingsbridge.

41(5 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

On the west side, beginning at the north, was Fort Montgomery.
This was located directly opposite Anthony's Nose and just above a
little stream called Poplopen's Creek. On the south side of the crook
was Fort Clinton. These two strongholds, with the co-operation of
Fort Independence below and the help of the obstructing chain, were
deemed adequate to the protection of the river. II was considered
impossible that the enemy would ever attempt to march through the
diffieull passes south of Fori Clinton and attack that place and Fort
Montgomery from the rear— although just such a contingency was
foreseen by Washington while at Peekskill, and he had recommended
the erection of a southerly fort on the west side. Still farther down,
opposite Verplanck's Point, rose an eminence called Stony Point.
This place, in common with Verplanck's Point, was not fortified at
the beginning of the Revolution; but some time after the building of
Fort Lafavette, on Verplanck's Point, works were begun on Stony
Point, which, before their completion, were seized by the British,
who then erected the famous citadel which Anthony Wayne stormed.
Finally, above the chain, on an island opposite West Point, was Fort
Constitution, to be depended on as a last resort in case the works
below should prove insufficient. This fort, like Montgomery, Clinton,
and Independence, dates from an early period.

After the ultimate disposition of the two opposing forces was
effected— the Americans at Peekskill and the British at Kingsbridge
—Westchester County assumed at once the character of a Neutral
Ground. Wherever the term, "the Neutral Ground," occurs in gen-
eral histories of the Revolution, it applies exclusively to Westchester
County— and to substantially the whole of the county. It is generally
considered that the Neutral Ground proper embraced only the dis-
trict between the Croton River at the north and a limit at the south
about identical with the present city line of New York— that north
of the Croton the Americans held undisputed sway, and in the south-
ern strip adjacent to Kingsbridge the British were unquestioned
masters. But in truth there was no Neutral Ground proper. Prac-
tically all of Westchester County was continually exposed to
alternate American and British raids, forages, and ravages, to depre-
dations by bands of irresponsible ruffians not regularly attached to
either army, and to acts of neighborhood aggression and reprisal
by the patriot upon the Tory inhabitants and vice versa. It is a fact
that several of the most formidable descents by the British in the
history of the Neutral Ground were upon American posts at or above
the Croton. A memorable expedition was made against an American
force at Poundridge in the summer of 1 T7i> ; Bedford was burned
upon the same occasion; Crompond, in Yorktown, was successfully

THE NEUTRAL GROUND 417

attacked; and in 1781 a large body of Americans guarding the Croton,
under the command of the brave but unfortunate Colonel Greene,
was surprised and many of them were killed. As late as 1782 Crom-
pond, though well above the Croton, was deemed a quite exposed
situation. On the other hand, daring assaults by the Americans
were frequently undertaken down to the very outposts of Kings-
bridge, and no part of the comity witnessed more animated scenes
than the present Borough of the Bronx. The command on the lines,
as the projection of the American position below Peekskill was called,
was uniformly intrusted to officers of approved courage and enter-
prise. Here Colonel Aaron Burr was for some months in charge,
highly distinguishing himself by his good discipline and efficiency.
The parties which reciprocally served for defense and offense on the
enemy's side comprised several well known bodies of horse and foot
— notably the Queen's Bangers under Simcoe, de Lancey's corps of
Westchester County Befugees, and forces led by Tarleton, Emmerick,
and others. The Americans were locally styled in Westchester
County the Upper Parti/, and the British the Lower Party. In addition
to the regular troopers on either side, there were numerous unau-
thorized and wholly illegal bands, organized principally for private
plunder, called Skinners and Cowboys, the former being of professed
patriotic and the latter of Tory affiliation. But both Skinners and
Cowboys were largely undiscriminating as to the object of their opera-
tions so long as they could derive any kind of private advantage from
them. Washington Irving's description is without doubt familiar to
all our readers:

This debatable land was overrim by predatory bands from either side ; sacking henroosts,
plundering- farmhouses, and driving off cattle. Hence arose those two great orders of bor-
der chivalry, the Skinners and Cowboys, famous in the heroic annals of Westchester County.
The former fought, or rather marauded, under the American, the latter under the British
banner ; but both, in the hurry of their military ardor, were apt to err on the safe side and rob
friend as well as foe. Neither of them stopped to ask the politics of horse or cow which they
drove into captivity ; nor, when they wrung the neck of a rooster, did they trouble their
heads to ascertain whether he were crowing for congress or King George.

Numerous graphic accounts of the awful conditions prevailing in
the Neutral Ground have been printed from the pens of contem-
porary narrators, both military and civil. kk From the Croton to
Kingsbridge," says one writer, " every species of rapine and lawless-
ness prevailed. No one went to his bed but under the apprehension
of having his house plundered or burnt, or himself or family massa-
cred, before morning.-' The following picture of the times is from
the " Bevolutionary Services and Civil Life of General William Hull,"
who was an officer on duty in Westchester County during a portion
of the war:

41^ HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

The Cowboys and Skinners ravaged the whole region/" The first, called Refugees, ranged
themselves on the British side. They were employed in plundering cattle and driving them
o the city ; their name is derived from their occupation. The latter, called Skinners, while
professing attachment to the American cause, were devoted to indiscriminate robbery, mur-
der and every species of the most brutal outrage. They seemed, like the savage, to have
learned to enfoythe sight of the sufferings they inflicted. Oftentimes they left then- wretched
victims, from whom they had plundered their all, hung up by their arms and sometimes by
tneir thumbs, on barn doors, enduring the agony of the wounds that had been inflicted to
wrest £1 them their prop'erty. These miserable beings were frequently relieved M>y our
patrols who every night scoured the country from river to river. But unhappily the military
force IT too small to render the succor so much needed, although by its vigilance and the
infliction of severe punishment on the offenders, it kept in check, to a certain extent, tins law-
less race of men.

The fmures of comparative population in Westchester County be-
fore during and after the Revolution are exceedingly significant. In
1756 the population of the county was 13,257, and at the next census,
in 1771 it was 21,715— an increase of 8,148 in fifteen years. After
1771 no' enumeration was taken until 1700, when the total inhabitants
of the county were 21,003, only 2,258 more than nineteen year s pre-
viously, before the war started. In the ten years from 1,90 to 1800,
on the other hand, the population rose to 2<,34,, a gam ot dgiA.
After the peace (1783) special inducements were ottered to settlers
bv the confiscation of Tory estates and the disposition of these valua-
ble lands under State auspices at low prices. Even under such favor-
ing conditions the population in 1700, after seven years of peace was
but slightly larger than in 1771. The decline during the Revolution
must have been considerable. .

Dr. Timothy Dwight, in his « Travels," has left a most circumstan-
tial description of the disconsolate and desolate condition to which
Westchester County was reduced at an early period of the Revolu-
tion Nothing we could hope to write could possibly present so in-
forming a view of the whole subject as Dr. Dwight's simple narra-
tion; ami though it has been frequently quoted its citation here is
quite indispensable:

Tu the autumn of 1777 I resided for some time in this county The lines of the British

THE NEUTRAL GROUND 419

yourself. Both their countenances and motions had lost every trace of animation and feeling.
The features were smoothed, not into serenity, but apathy ; and, instead of being settled in
the attitude of quiet thinking, strongly indicated that all thought beyond what was merely
instinctive had fled their minds for ever.

Their houses, in the meantime, were in a great measure scenes of desolation. Their fur-
niture was extensively plundered, or broken to pieces. The walls, floors, and windows were
injured both by violence and decay, and were not repaired because they had not the means to
repair them, and because they were exposed to the repetition of the same injuries. Their
cattle were gone. Their inclosures were burnt where they were capable of becoming fuel,
and in many cases thrown down where they were not. Their fields were covered with a rank
growth of weeds and wild grass.

Amid all this appearance of desolation, nothing struck my eye more forcibly than the sight of
the high road. Where I had heretofore seen a continual succession of horses and carriages, life
and bustle — lending a sprightliness to all the environing objects, — not a single, solitary trav-
eler was seen from week to week or from month to month. The world was motionless and
silent, except when one of these unhappy people ventured upon a rare and lonely excursion
to the house of a neighbor no less unhappy ; or a scouting party, traversing the country in
quest of enemies, alarmed the inhabitants with expectations of new injuries and sufferings.
The very tracks of the carriages were grown over and obliterated ; and where they were dis-
cernible resembled the faint" impressions of chariot wheels said to be left on the pavements
of Herculaneum. The grass was of full height for the scythe ; and strongly realized to
my own mind, for the first time, the proper import of that picturesque declaration in the
Song of Deborah : '• In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Joel, the high-
ways were unoccupied, and the travelers walked through by-paths. The inhabitants of the
villages ceased ; they ceased in Israel."

The fearful depredations in the Neutral Ground were viewed by the
higher military authorities on the British side with entire approval,
and on the American side, it must be admitted, generally without
any acute disapprobation. The command of the American troops
" on the lines " was always particularly coveted by officers of un-
scrupulous inclinations, because of the opportunities it afforded for
plundering transactions, which their superiors were pretty certain
not to discountenance. When Aaron Burr took command on the
lines, in January, 1770, his first official duty was to deal with a
" scouting party,*' which, on the same day, under the lead of his pred-
ecessor, had gone below for no other purpose than to seize private
property; and the principal condition of unsatisfactory discipline
which he had to correct was the extreme fondness of the soldiers for
such " scouting " enterprises. It is but fair to say, however, that the
American commanders on the lines were usually men of good per-
sonal antecedents, and it does not appear that any very notorious
person on our side was ever intrusted with authority in Westchester
County. But while the American commanders were well-intentioned
as a rule, they generally allowed their subordinates and men much
license. Burr's stern administration in this particular was excep-
tional. The circumstance of the continued existence during the
Revolution of the quasi-patriot organization of " Skinners," who were
fully as merciless and rapacious as the British "Cowboys," is con-
clusive proof of a studied disinclination on the part of the American

420

HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Philipseburg]

officers to specially exert themselves for the protection of the in-
habitants.

The chief British authorities in New York have left various docu-
mentary evidences of their express sanction of the most unlicensed
practices of their partisans in the Neutral Ground. The spirit by
which they were actuated is very candidly expressed in a remarkable
letter by Governor Tryon, dated " Kingsbridge Camp, Nov. 23, 1777."
The American General Samuel II. Parsons, commanding at the time
at Mamaronee.lv, had written to Governor Tryon quite indignantly
about the conduct of some British soldiers— entirely unprovoked— in
burning the dwelling of a Westchester County committeeman on
•oh Manor; also intimating that such outrageous deeds, if
continued, might provoke retaliation.
Governor Tryon, in his reply, said: "I
have candor enough to assure yon — as
much as I abhor every principle of in-
humanity or ungenerous conduct — I
should, were I in more authority, burn
every committeeman's house within my
reach, as I deem those agents the wicked
instruments of the continued calamities
of this country; and in order sooner to
purge the country of them, I am willing
to give twenty-five dollars for every ac-
tive committeeman who shall be de-
livered up to the King's troops."

That popular romance, Cooper's
" Spy " (the earliest of its author's
novels of American life), is, as its title states, a " Tale of the Neutral
Ground." Cooper's hero, who goes in the novel by the name
of Harvey Birch, was a real personage, whose true name was
Enoch Crosby, and who became a respected citizen of our county
after the Revolution, dying at Golden's Bridge in 1835. It is widely
known that Cooper was mainly indebted to Chief Justice John Jay
for the facts of Crosby's career which led to the writing of the " Spy,"
but it appears that Jay was in error in supposing that Crosby's opera-
tions took him occasionally within the British lines in New York
City. The fact is, he devoted himself quite exclusively to the coun-
try districts. Mr. Joseph Barrett, the well known local historian of
our Town of Bedford, in an address delivered before the Westchester
County Historical Society in 1879, gave a very thorough account of
Crosby's life and patriotic services. The great and permanent m-

l^sx/h &r<hS^y

THE NEUTRAL GROUND 421

terest of the subject justifies the following extended reproduction,
copied from the digest of Mr. Barrett's address in Seharfs History:

Crosby was born in Harwich, Barnstable Comity, Mass., January 4, 1750, and at the break-
ing out of the Revolution was a shoemaker at Danbury, Conn. He had previously been a
tanner and currier. He was an ardent patriot, and enlisted before the battle of Lexington in
Benedict's company, of Waterbury's regiment, which was attached to that branch of the
Canada expedition of August, 1775, commanded first by Schuyler and then by Montgomery.
His term of enlistment expiring, he returned to Danbury after the occupation of Montreal,
and then traveled over Dutchess and Westchester Counties as a peripatetic shoemaker. Thus
he not only acquired that intimate knowledge of the country that was to prove so valuable to
the American cause, but also was brought into contact with the Whigs and Tories, the bum-
mers, raiders, Cowboys, and Skinners "who infested the Neutral Ground between the lines of
the opposing armies.

His first work as a spy was accidental. Determining to re-enlist, he tramped southward
toward the American forces, through Westchester County, in September, 1776, and on the
way met a Tory, who fell into the belief that Crosby was one of his own stamp. Crosby did
not undeceive him, and, as the stranger had a loose tongue, the young American was soon put
in information of all the Tory secrets in that part of the country. Having learned so much,
it occurred to him that he might as well prosecute the adventure which fortune had placed in
his hands, and asked to be taken to a meeting of Tories, which his companion had told him
was to be held near by, to raise a company for the king's service. He must have played his
part admirably, for he gained audience with all the important royal sympathizers of the
neighborhood, including the secret enemies of the patriots, and laid a most admirable plot for
their discomfiture.

Learning that a meeting of the Tory band was to be held on a certain night, lie slipped
away on the previous morning and by a forced march across the country reached at midnight
the house of a Mr. Youngs, eight miles from White Plains, whom he knew to be a true Am-
erican. Prevailing on this man to accompany him, they aroused Messrs. Jay, Duer, Sackett,
and Piatt, the committee of safety at White Plains, and Crosby gave them the news which
he had gathered with so much daring and adroitness. They ordered out Captain Townsend's
company of mounted rangers, who swept across the country under Crosby's lead, surprised
the assembled Tories, and ere daylight dawned had every man of them prisoners and on their
way to White Plains.

The fame of this exploit went everywhere through the American lines. Crosby, then a
strapping fellow of twenty-seven years, nearly six feet tall, broad and muscular, talked to
Mr. Jay about re-enlisting, but that sagacious gentleman represented to him that in no
way could he do so much for his country as by continuing in that line of duty for which this
one achievement seemed to mark him as specially fitted. " Our greatest danger," said Mr.
Jay to him, " is our secret foes. We know how to guard against our enemies in the field, but we
have no defense against secret enemies, who profess to be friendly to us and plot their trea-
son in midnight cabals. One who can counteract these infiuences is entitled to more credit
than he who&fights in the ranks." Crosby demurred at first, but finally accepted the employ-
ment of a spy on the condition that if he should die in their service the committee would see
that his name was vindicated. Witli much feeling Mr. Jay and his associates gave him this
solemn assurance, and Crosby consecrated himself to his dangerous and arduous task.

Carrying a pass from the committee, which was to be used only in cases of extreme
necessity, and disguised as a traveling cobbler, he set out on his secret mission to discover and
entrap the bands of Tories forming under cover. This was in the late fall of 1776. Very
shortly he applied for a shoemaker's job at a farm-house, and discovering that a royalist com-
pany was being enlisted in the vicinage, professed a desire to enlist, but declined to give his
name because the roll might fall into the hands of the rebels. He gained the confidence of
the Tory leaders so completely that he was allowed to examine the roll, and was shown an
immense haystack in a meadow near the captain's house, which proved to be a framework
covered with hay and capable of concealing forty or fifty men. A meeting of the company
having been arranged for the next evening, he left his bed in the captain's house during the
night ^previous, reported to the committee at White Plains, and was back in his bed before

422 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the family were stirring. The hand was duly surrounded and captured, Crosby among them,
byTownsend's Rangers, and marched to confinement in the old Dutch Church at Fishkill,
where they were examined by the committee. By collusion, Crosby escaped from the church,
but was compelled to rush past the sentinels in the dark. They fired at him, hut he escaped
unhurt.

By agreement with the committee he was known as John Smith. Twelve miles northwest
of Marlborough he wormed out of a Tory farmer the information that an English captain was
hiding in a cave near by, and trying to recruit a company. Repeating his ruse of a desire to
enlist the spy discovered that a meeting was to he held on Tuesday, November o, 177b, at a
barn on Butter Hill. Suggesting to the captain that they had best leave the cave separately,
he departed and sent word to the committee. Crosby arrived at the barn m due time with
the Tories and laid down with them in the hay. Presently he heard a cough outside, the
signal agreed upon, which he answered, and the barn was quickly filled with the rangers.
Colonel Duer, of the committee of safety, had come with them for the express purpose of
protecting Crosby, and, indeed, had given the signal. The English captain was ordered to
call his roll, but Crosby did not respond to his name. Townsend, who was not in the secret,
prodded him out with a bayonet from the hay, and, recognizing the man who had escaped him
at Fisbkill, promised to load him with irons. He shackled the spy, took him to his own
quarters, and confined him in an upper room. But when Townsend had drunk after dinner
plentifully of wine which the maid, instructed by the committee of safety, had enriched with
a gentle opiate, and was sleeping soundly, she unlocked the door with the key which she took
from Townsend's pocket, and led Crosby forth to freedom.

By such methods Crosby was instrumental in the capture of many Tory bands. He spent
several weeks in the family of a Dutchman, near Fisbkill, where he was known as Jacob
Brown. He had numerous fictitious names, of which Harvey Birch was one. In December,
1776, he was sent to Bennington, Vt., by orders of the committee. The object of his journey
was accomplished, for, besides apprehending a number of secret enemies of the country in
that reoion, he obtained such information as enabled him to surprise a company of them much
nearer home. This was at Pawling, Dutchess County, and, fearing to trust himself again to
the vengeance of Captain Townsend, he arranged with Colonel Morehouse, a VV hig of the
neighborhood, to raise a body of volunteers and capture them. When their rendezvous was
surrounded, Crosby, he having again made a false enlistment, was dragged out from under a
bed, where he had taken refuge, and complained that his leg was so much injured that he
could not walk. The accommodating colonel took him on his horse, and, of course, he soon
got away.

For three years Crosby continued in the employ of the committee of safety, but at last the
Tories, marveling much at the detection of their covert undertakings, fixed suspicion upon
him A band traced him to the house of his brother-in-law in the Highlands, and beat him
until they left him for dead. They were followed by a company of Whigs who pursued them
to the Croton River, where some were killed and others driven into the stream. It was
months before Crosby recovered, and it was then plain that his days of usefulness as a spy
were past. He ioined Captain Philip Van Cortlandt's company, and was appointed a sub-
ordinate officer. ' While on duty at Teller's Point, in the spring of 1780, he decoyed a boats
crew from a British ship in the stream to the shore by parading on the beach a soldier dressed
in Lafayette's uniform. He had his ambuscade set for them and captured them all In the
following; fall his enlistment expired and he retired to private life. His whole pay from the
government was but two hundred and fifty dollars, so that any remuneration he received
from the committee of safety must have been very little. In October, 1/81, m partnership
with his brother Benjamin, he bought three hundred and seventy-nine acres of the forfeited
Roger Morris estate, near Brewster's. A part of this tract is now covered by the Croton
Reservoir. He erected a frame house on the east branch of the Croton River, a short distance
east of the upper iron bridge at Croton Falls, where he lived a epiiet life many years Ihe
property is now owned by Joel B. Purdy. Later, Crosby built the house now owned by Ins
granddaughter, Mrs. S. E. Mead, of Gulden's Bridge. It stands north of the old house In
this house Crosby passed the later years of his life, and died June 25, 1835. He was interred
in the old Gilead burying-ground, near Carmel, Putnam County.

He married the widow "of Colonel Benjamin Green. Colonel Green was also a soldier of

THE NEUTRAL GROUND 423

the Revolution, and after the close of the war settled near the present Somers Centre depot.
After the Colonel's death his widow remained in the house until her marriage with Crosby,
which was brought about by Dr. Ebenezer White. In the course of conversation on one
occasion, Crosbv asked the doctor if he would not find a wife for him. The doctor promised
to try and do so. He finally bethought him of the Widow Green in her lonely state. I he
widow was apparently pleased with the recommendation of Crosby, as set forth by the doctor,
and an introduction took place, followed shortly afterward by marriage.

He was justice of the peace nearly thirty years. His exploits became known to the public
through the Astor trials and the publication and dramatization of Cooper's novel. When it
was produced at the Lafayette Theater, Laurens Street, New York, he was induced to sit in
a stao-e box. The crowd rose and cheered him with great enthusiasm, to which he responded
with a bow. He was so modest that the world would never have known from him of his serv-
ices to his country.

From the foregoing biography of Enoch Crosby it is clear that he
fully merits the celebrity conferred on him by Cooper. But there
were other spies and guides of the Neutral Ground, unknown to
general fame, whose faithfulness was equally conspicuous and whose
deeds were hardly less meritorious. Of one of them, Elisha Holmes,
who was bom in Bedford and died there about 1838, a most inter-
esting story is told. Holmes enjoyed the implicit conhdence of Wash-
ington, who caused him to take a command under Sir Henry Clinton
and confided to him occasionally information about minor military
movements, which Holmes communicated to the English in order
to demonstrate the value of his services. His real business was to
send word from New York of everything important that he should
be able to find out. Shortly before Tarleton's raid on Ponndridge and
Bedford (1779), Holmes sent certain intelligence to Major Tallmadge,
the American commandant at Bedford, signed " E. H." The latter,
being unfamiliar with the handwriting, forwarded the note to ^Yasll-
ington, who indorsed on it the following comment, " Believe all that
E. H. tells you. — George Washington," and returned it. One of the
consequences of Tarleton's raid was the capture of all the baggage
and personal papers of the American officers at the two places at-
tacked. Washington, when he heard of the fact, was so much con-
cerned that he wrote as follows to Major Tallmadge:

The loss of your papers was a most unlucky accident, and shows how dangerous it is to
keep papers of any consequence at an advance post. I beg you will take care to guard against
the like in future. .

The person who is most endangered by the acquisition of your letter is one H., wlio lives
not far from the Bowerv, on the Island of New York. I wish you would endeavor to give
him the speediest notice of what has happened. My anxiety on his account is great It he
is really the man he has been represented to be, he will in all probability fall a sacrifice.

A few days after Tarleton's expedition, says the authority from
whom this story is taken, Elisha Holmes was -summoned by Sir
Henry Clinton, who, after asking several questions in a general way,
suddenly presented the note and inquired if he knew the handwriting,
and who E. H. was. < It is Elijah Hadden, the spy you hanged yester-

424: HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

day at Powles' Hook,' was the quick answer. His coolness and ready
wit saved his life."1

Another Westchester spy of more than common note was Luther
Kinnicutt, of the vicinity of the present Town of Somers. Charles
E. Culver, in his History of Somers, relates some incidents of his
career. k* Luther Kinnicutt," he says, " was the compeer of Crosby
in his dangerous work, and although it is not known that they worked
together, the character of the novelist was evidently drawn from
both these men. Kinnicutt frequented the town after the close of
the war, and is remembered by some of our old residents as a tall,
straight, spare man, of dark complexion, keen, gray eyes, solemn
visage, sharp-witted, and eccentric. ■" Like Crosby, he " used to fre-
quent the British camp as a peddler of small notions."

The Westchester guides of the Revolution are justly celebrated.
Prominent among them were Abraham Dyckman, who came from the
vicinity of Kiugsbridge, and after a heroic career fell in the service
of his country just at the close of the struggle; his brother, Michael
Dyckman; Andrew Corsa, bom on the Manor of Fordham in 1702 and
died at Fordham in 1852; Cornelius Oakley, of White Plains; Brom
Boyce, of the present Town of Mount Pleasant; Isaac Udell, of Yon-
kers; and William Davids, of Tarrytown.

1 From an address, " Tarleton's Raid Through Chester County Historical Society in 1878. by
Bedford in 1779," delivered before the West- the Rev. Lea Luquer, of Bedford.

CHAPTER XX

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778

EXERAL HEATH, placed in command at Peekskill on the
9th of November, 1770, had with him on the 21st of that
month a force of about 4,000. On the 9th of December he
was ordered to join the army in Xew Jersey with a portion
of his troops, and went as far as Hackensack, but he was soon sent
back, arriving in Peekskill on the 23d. The winter passed without
any British movement being- attempted against him— on the con-
trary he took the aggressive and boldly assailed the enemy at Kings-
bridge in a siege of old Fort Independence and its supporting works
which lasted twelve days. On the night of the 17th of January he
moved down in three divisions— the right under General Lincoln
from Tarivtown, the center under General Scott from below White
Plains, and the left under Generals Wooster and Parsons from New
Rochelle and Eastchester. The attacks on the outposts were so suc-
cessful that a report (which Washington prematurely communicated
to congress) gained currency that the fort had surrendered. The
undertaking "was very well conducted from first to last, and re-
flected high credit on General Heath. By the ruse of lighting numer-
ous campfires along the Morrisauia shore the British were made to
believe that a formidable American force was collecting with the
intent of proceeding against Xew York City by way of Harlem; and
in alarm they burned the buildings on Montressor's (Randall's)
Island, and abandoned that place. The operations involved but
slight losses, which wore abundantly compensated for by the actual
damage done the enemy and by the excellent moral effect of so bold
an enterprise as a sequence to the transactions of the main army in
Xew Jersey.

After Washington's magnificent return movement from across the
Delaware, resulting in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, he went
into winter quarters at Morristown (X. J.), and the British also
brought the campaign to a close. General Howe, who had expected
to make a triumphal march to Philadelphia, returned to Xew York
City, where he set up a gay and glittering court, of which the Tory

42(3

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

refugees from Westchester County were conspicuous members. As
the spring approached many were the speculations indulged on the
American side as to the probable intentions of the enemy. There
were rumors of a formidable invasion from Canada, but it was some
months before these became substantiated by intelligence of the ex-
pedition of Burgoyne. In this uncertain state of things Washington
manifested a decided conviction that Peekskill was the natural center
for the concentration of troops pending actual developments. In
March he transferred Heath from Peekskill to the command of the
Eastern department, with headquarters at Boston, and soon after-
ward he instructed him to send on to Peekskill eight of the Massa-
chusetts battalions, explaining that at Peekskill "they would be

well placed to give support to
any of the Eastern or Middle
States, or to oppose the enemy
should they design to penetrate
the country up the Hudson, or to
cover New England should they
invade it. Should they move
westward the Eastern and South-
ern troops could easily form a
junction, and this, besides, would
oblige the enemy to leave a much
stronger garrison at New York.
Even should the enemy pursue
their first plan of an invasion
from Canada, the troops at Peeks-
kill would not be badly placed to
re-enforce Ticonderoga and cover
| the country around Albany."

Heath was succeeded at Peeks-
kill by Brigadier-General Mc-
Dougall, who had commanded at the engagement on Chatterton's Hill.
McDougall had scarcely become installed in the post when he was
energetically attacked by the British— their first move of any im-
portance in the year 1777. Howe, being informed of the existence
of large depots of stores at and near Peekskill, decided to destroy
them, and on the 23d of March, the river having become freed of ice,
sent iip Colonel Bird for that purpose with 500 troops and four light
field-pieces. Before the arrival of the expedition McDougall, being-
informed of its coming, removed a portion of the stores to Ports
Montgomery and Constitution. Bird landed his men and guns at
Lent's Covej near Peekskill Village, whereupon McDougall, having at

MARINCS WILLET.

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778 427

the time only about 250 men with him, burnt the barracks and store-
houses at Peekskill and retired to the neighborhood of Continental
Village in the mountain pass. The enemy did not think it wise to
follow him to this point. McDougall was re-enforced soon afterward
by a party from Fort Constitution under Lieutenant-Colonel Marinus
Willet. The next day there was a lively encounter between Willet
and the foe near the Van Cortlandt mansion,1 which resulted in the
rout of the latter. According to Irving the British lost nine killed
and four wounded before they were able to escape to their shipping.
The chief deposits at Continental Village were not touched. Thus
the first attempt on the American position about the Highlands,
although made at a moment when our forces were ill prepared for it,
and having in view only the destruction of stores, was a failure.

In this same month of March, 1777, occurred the capture of the
eminent Judge John Thomas, at his home in the " Rye Woods," by
a British expeditionary force sent for that special purpose. Judge
Thomas, one of the ablest, most zealous, and most influential patriots
in Westchester County, had always been peculiarly obnoxious to the
British, and a price had been placed upon his head. He was taken
ou Sunday morning, March 22, conveyed to New York, and cast into
prison, where he died on the 2d of May following. His remains were
interred in Trinity Churchyard. A year and a half later his equally
distinguished son, Colonel (afterward Major-General) Thomas
Thomas, was secured, also at the Thomas home, by a similar party.
This happened November 13, 1778.2 He was subsequently exchanged.
The two events illustrate how well served the British were in our
county by spies. Both Judge Thomas and his son were exceptionally
cautious in their movements. Upon the occasion of the son's cap-
ture it was the first time he had slept at his home in many months.

The affair of March at Peekskill greatly agitated the State con-
vention, which caused a portion of the militia of Orange, Dutchess,
aud Westchester Counties to be called out, sent to the Highlands, and

iThe Van Cortlandt mansion, near Peekskill, sultingly asked her: 'Are you not the daugh-

was built about 1770. In consequence of the ter of that old rebel Pierre Van Cortlandt?'

firm adhesion of Pierre Van Cortlandt. the She replied: ' I am the daughter of Pierre Van

head of the family, to the patriot cause, the Cortlandt. but it becomes not such as you to

Manor House at Croton became an unsafe nab- call my father a rebel.' The Tory raised his

itation. and the Van Cortlandts were obliged musket, when she, with great calmness, re-

to take up their residence in the Peekskill proved him for his insolence and bade him be-

house. Cornelia, the second daughter of Pierre gQne The cowara turned away abashed, and

Van Cortlandt, married Gerard G. Beekman, a ghe reniained uninjured." This house was

zealous patriot. Mrs. Beekman was the hostess QfteQ ugod by Washingttm as his official resi-

at the Peekskill house. The following inci- ^^ when Mg dutieg took nim t0 Peekskill, a

dent has been often quoted: " A P"% C'[ ™J; distinction which it shared with the noted
alists under Colonels Bayard and Fanning, . ,.,,.,,

came to the Peekskill house, and, commencing Birdsall house, m Peekskill.

their customary course of treatment, one in- 2 See Scharf, ii., 713.

428 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

put to work at various duties — notably the strengthening of the chain.
About the end of April several British transports advanced up the
river, but came no farther than Dobbs Ferry. In May Washington
dispatched Generals Greene and Knox to Peekskill, who, in con-
junction with Generals McDougall, George Clinton, and Anthony
Wayne, made a careful examination of the Highland situation and
submitted a joint report, in which the importance of the chain was
dwelt upon, but it was expressly urged that there was no need of
additional defenses on the west shore below Fort Clinton. A fatal
recommendation, as the event proved. Immediately after the inspec-
tion by the board of generals, Washington, regarding the Peekskill
command as too important to be held by an officer of the minor rank
of brigadier-general, removed McDougall and substituted for him
Major-General Putnam, having previously offered the position to
Benedict Arnold, who declined it. Putnam, though brave as a lion,
zealous, and despite his advanced years indefatigable, was not equal
to the administration of such a post, and the great catastrophe of
October, 1777, was largely due to his deficiency in the nicer qualities
of generalship. Under his superintendence the chain received the
most conscientious attention.

The organization of the civil government of the new State of New
York, born at White Plains on the Oth day of July, 177(5, was delayed
for many months on account partly of The protracted military opera-
tions and partly of the very methodical proceedings of the gentlemen
who had that important business in charge. On the 1st of August,
1776, the " Convention of Representatives of the State of New York v
appointed a committee of thirteen (our Gouverneur Morris being one
of its members) to prepare a kk form of government," and that body in
turn delegated the task to John Jay. Mr. Jay set to work conscien-
tiously to draft a State constitution, which, having been approved
by the committee, was reported to the convention (then sitting at
Fishkill) on the 12th of March, 1777. The instrument was adopted by
the convention on the 20th of April following. It provided for the
election of a governor, senate, and assembly by the people. Al-
though the New York constitution of 1777 is regarded by all authori-
ties as the most satisfactory and judicious measure of government
framed in any State during the Revolution, it was in certain essen-
tial particulars quite conservative, showing plainly the continuing
force of the old colonial institutions. It sought to make the senate
a peculiarly select body, and to that end prescribed a property qualifi-
cation for voters in the selection of senators. Over both senate and
assembly it placed a third, and non-elective, body— the " governor's
council/' to consist of a number of members of the senate, who were

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778 429

to be chosen by ballot by the assembly. All judges and numerous
other officers, now elective, were made appointive. An earnest en-
deavor was made by Gouverneur Morris to have a clause inserted in
the constitution providing for the gradual abolition of slavery; but
the convention declined to institute such an innovation.

The old State convention reserved to itself the authority to appoint
the first judges, and designated as chief justice our John Jay, who
opened the first session of the Supreme Court at Kingston in Septem-
ber, 1777. He held tin1 office, however, for only two years, being suc-
ceeded on the 23d of October, 1779, by Richard Morris, also a son of
Westchester County.1 Chief Justice Morris remained at the head
of the judiciary of the State until 1790.

At the first election held under the constitution, General George
Clinton was chosen governor. By the provisions of the constitu-
tion the senate had twenty-four members, chosen from four dis-
tricts only, called the Southern. Middle, Eastern, and Western.
Westchester County belonged to the Southern district. Its first
senators were Pierre Van Cortlandt and General Lewis Morris; and
upon the organization of the senate (June 30, 1777) Van Cortlandt
was elected its presiding officer and also lieuteant-governor of the
State. As General Clinton, after his choice as governor, still con-
tinued to be much occupied by his command in the field, the actual
duties of the governorship were performed for a considerable time by
Van Cortlandt. lie held the office of lieutenant-governor from 1777
to 1795, a period of eighteen years. By the original apportionment
for the assembly (which continued in force until 1791), Westchester
County had six representatives in that body out of a total of seventy.
Our county's members of the first assembly held under the State
government were Thaddeus Crane, Samuel Drake, Robert Graham,
Israel Honeywell, Jr., Zebadiah Mills, and Gouverneur Morris.

The first county judge under the constitution was Lewis Morris
(appointed by the State convention, May S. 1777); he was succeeded,
February 17, 177S, by Robert Graham, who served during the re-
mainder of the Revolution. The first surrogate was Richard Hatfield
(appointed March 23, 177S); the first sheriff, John Thomas, Jr., (ap-
pointed May S. 1777); the first county clerk, John Bartow (appointed
May 8, 1777). These were the only county officers of general import-
ance. Of course their functions were of a very limited character in
a count v where scarce any semblance of public order obtained.

1 Chief Justice Richard Morris was a grand-
son of the provincial Chief Justice Lewis Mor-
ris, and a brother of Lewis Morris, the signer
of the Declaration of Independence. He owned

roport\

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lis soi

the

Tonipki:

us estate of

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property he

Maji

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am Popham.

430 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Throughout the Revolution, and for several years subsequently,
there was no attempt made to reorganize the civil divisions of West-
chester County. Previously to the war these divisions, as repre-
sented in the board of supervisors, were the Manor of Cortlandt,
Ryck's Patent [Peekskill], White Plains, Bedford, Rye, North Castle,
Westchester Town, Mamaroneck, Poundridge, Philipseburgh Manor,
Scarsdale Manor, Eastehester, Salem, Pelham, and New Rochelle.
The board of supervisors had only a nominal existence during the
Revolution.

The spring of 1777 glided by without the slightest manifestation
by the enemy of their fundamental plans for the coming campaign.
The rumors of an approaching invasion from Canada became increas-
ingly definite, but meantime the purposes of the great British army
at hand, still commanded by General Howe, remained unfathomable.
Washington was still encamped behind strong intrenchments in New
Jersey, this side of the Delaware, and the British army also con-
tinued on New Jersey soil. At last, in June, Howe began certain
offensive movements, as if intending to resume his march to Phila-
delphia. These demonstrations were purely deceptive, to draw Wash-
ington out of his intrenchments and bring him to battle. They occa-
sioned some active skirmishing, but that was all. Seeing that the
patriot general was not thus to be lured to his ruin, Howe, on the
30th of June, withdrew all his forces to New York, by way of Staten
Island.

Now followed more than two months of anxious suspense for Wash-
ington. Positive news was received about this time of the descent
of Burgoy ne's splendidly appointed host from Canada. Burgoyne,
of course, would be dealt with by the Northern Army under Schuyler,
assisted by the militia of the section through which he passed; but
what were the intentions of Howe with his large New York com-
mand? Would he co-operate with Burgoyne by ascending the Hud-
son River? If so, would he use all his forces to that end, or only a
portion, employing the remainder for an expedition by sea against
Philadelphia or Boston? The more Washington studied the problem,
the more he became convinced that in any event an attempt up the
Hudson would follow. On the other hand, he could not bring his
mind to believe that this would be the only thing undertaken by
Howe. He soon rejected the idea of a possible attack on Boston, and
came to the firm conclusion that Philadelphia was the point in view.
In this he was strengthened by a decoy letter, which Howe allowed
to fall into the hands of Putnam at Peekskill, announcing that the
army at New York would be dispatched to take Boston. The ruse
was too transparent, and Washington made all his arrangements on

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778

431

the theory of a double design on the Highlands and Philadelphia.
His calculations proved entirely correct.

His first care was to strengthen Putnam at Peekskill. He sent
thither two brigades, commanded by Parsons and Yarinim, and later
General Sullivan with his division, also ordering Generals George
Clinton and Putnam to call out more militia; and meantime for-
warded troops and artillery to re-enforce the Northern Army. From
his own southern position in New Jersey he fell back to the Clove,
a defile in the Highlands on the west side of the river, so as to be at
hand for the defense of that region. But he did not remain there
long. Sure that Philadelphia would be attacked, he began to move
toward the Delaware before intelligence came of the appearance of
Howe's fleet off the Capes. Then,

after the disappearance of the fleet :> %_ -

for ten or twelve days — a most Jp?^

strange and perplexing circum-
stance— he apprehended that a
feint might have been executed to
draw his forces away from the Hud-
son River and thus permit an ex-
pedition to force its way through
the Highlands. Yet he took a po-
sition with his main army near the
capital, leaving a strong body in
proximity toPeekskill, which could
be ordered there in case of neces-
sity. On the 10th of August all
uncertainty was ended by the reap-
pearance of the fleet below Phila-
delphia. From that time until his
retirement to winter quarters at

Valley Forge, he was engaged in a tremendous struggle with Howe
around Philadelphia. This campaign included the battles of the
Brandywine (September 11). and Germantown (October 4), and the
fall of' Philadelphia, which Howe entered on the 25th of September.
After Washington, resolving his doubts, marched off to Philadel-
phia, Putnam, commanding at Peekskill, was let alone by the British
for two months. This did not suit the old lighter's temperament.
He longed for action, and if the enemy would not come after him,
he saw no reason why he should not go after the enemy. He planned
a variety of chimerical attacks— on New York, Long Island, Paulns
Hook (Jersey City), and even Staten Island; and doubtless he felt
much aggrieved at the coldness with which Washington viewed his

GENERAL PUTNAM.

432 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

aggressive ideas. The latter, before Howe's object was revealed, had
seconded a scheme of Putnam's for a night expedition against Kings-
bridge by way of Spuyten Duyvil Creek; but after the campaign was
begun he deemed it the height of folly to employ the forces at Peek-
skill in any mere diversions.

But the humdrum life of these two months at Peekskill was re-
lieved by one sensational incident, for which the pages not only of
history but of literature are the richer. Early in August a spy,
Edmund Palmer by name, was detected furtively collecting informa-
tion as to the forces and condition of the Peekskill post. Putnam
granted him a court-martial trial, which resulted in his conviction
and condemnation. Sir Henry Clinton, whom Howe had left in com-
mand at New York, hastily sent up a ship of war, from which, upon
its arrival at Verplanck's Point, a message was forwarded to Putnam
under a flag of truce, claiming Palmer as a lieutenant in the British
service, and intimating that reprisal would be made if harm befell
him. Putnam returned the following characteristic reply:

Headquarters, 7th August, 1777.
Sir • Edmund Palmer, an officer in the enemy's service, was taken as a spy lurking with-
in the American lines. He has heen tried as a spy, condemned as a spy, and shall be executed
as a spy ; and the flag is ordered to depart immediately. PTn\m

P. S. — He has heen accordingly executed.

Palmer was a Tory of Yorktown (this county)— one of the offensive
class. He was well 'connected and had a wife and family. It is said
he was taken into custody by a party of his patriot neighbors. Bolton
o-ives a pathetic account of the unavailing appeal made by his wife
to Putnam for mercy.1 He was hanged on a little hill in the northern
part of Cortlandtown, a great assemblage of country people being
gathered to witness the event. The place still bears the name of
Gallows Hill. .

Another spy was executed by Putnam during his Peekskill admin-
istration—one Daniel Strang, who, when arrested, had on his person
a paper drawn by Colonel Rogers, of the Queen's Rangers, and dated
" Valentine's Hill, December 30, 177(5," which authorized the bearer
to bring recruits for the British service. Strang also was tried by
court-martial, condemned, and hanged, the sentence receiving Wash-
ington's approval. He suffered on a spot now comprised within the
grounds of the Peekskill Academy. His gallows was an oak tree.
The locality has ever since been called Oak Hill, in memory of the
occurrence.

The document found on Strang is of much interest, as showing
the inducements given to Tory recruiting officers and volunteers,

1 Bolton's Hist, of Westchester County, rev. ed., i., 153.

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778 433

so many of whom were contributed by Westchester County to the
British cause. After reciting that "his Majesty's service makes it
absolutely necessary that recruits should be raised/' it continues:
-This is 'to certify that Mr. Daniel Strang, or any other gentleman
who may bring in recruits, shall have commissions according to the
number he or they shall bring in for the Queen's American Rangers.
No more than forty shillings bounty is to be given to any man, which
is to be applied toward purchasing necessaries; to serve during the
present Rebellion, and no longer. They will have their P™portmn
of all rebel lands, and all privileges equal to any of his Majesty s
troops The officers are to be the best judges in what manner they
will get their men in, either by parties, detachments, or otherwise as
may seem most advantageous; which men are to be attested before
the* first magistrate within the British lines."

While Washington and Howe were contending for the possession
of Philadelphia, Burgoyne was coming down from the north, and as
he progressed he was getting into difficulties. It was the plan of the
British ministry, as Washington at once suspected when he heard
of the northern invasion, for a co-operating expedition to ascend the
Hudson from New York about the time that Burgoyne should be far
enough advanced in his march to descend it, and thus to effect a
junction. Combined with Howe's simultaneous movement on Phil-
adelphia, which drew off Washington's army to the west, the project
was a most admirable one; and who can doubt that, with Washing-
ton beaten in Pennsylvania, and both New York and Philadelphia
in the hands of the British, the success of the startling enterprise
would either have ended the Revolution or reduced it to mere insur-
rectionary proportions? The plan had two weak points: first, due
consideration was not given to the armed strength and varied re-
sources of the Americans in the country which Burgoyne had to
traverse; and second, the co-operating force from New York had an
undertaking far too serious to be entered upon lightly or with any
chance of prematureness. That undertaking was the forcing of a
passage up the Hudson River, which could be done only by reducing
several forts splendidly situated for defense and supported by a con-
siderable body of troops posted below for the protection of the moun-
tain passes No one can inspect the ground at Peekskill and above
without a vivid realization of the severity of the task which the ex-
pedition from New York had to perform. Yet it was accomplished
with perfect ease and slight loss.

This business fell to the part of Sir Henry Clinton, upon whom the
command in New York had devolved when Howe sailed for Philadel-
phia. It is said that Sir Henry's reason for delaying the movement

434

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

on the Highlands was the necessity of waiting for re-enforcements
from England, which were three months on the way. If this is true,
the re-enforcements came just in the nick of time— not, it is true,
for Burgoyne's salvation, but for a judicious attack in the Highland
quarter. When Sir Henry was prepared to move, Burgoyne was
already doomed. On the other hand, if Sir Henry had moved a month
earlier, when he might have boon of real service to Burgoyne, he
would have boon confronted by a formidable instead of an insignifi-
cant force at Peekskill, and probably would have been baffled. His
re enforcements could not have been large— could hardly have been

worth waiting for, indeed,— since he
took with him only 3,000 men. It
seems to us that an important con-
tributing reason, if not the chief
reason, for his delay was a discreet
resolve to wait until Washington,
battling against great odds around
Philadelphia, should, by his emergent
necessities, summon to his own army
the better part of Putnam's com-
mand at Peekskill, and thus leave
the Highlands in as weak a condition
as possible. The facts are that he did
not move until Washington had been
reduced to such straits as to take to
himself 2,500 of Putnam's best
troops, — but did move shortly after-
ward. At the selected moment Put-
nam had only 1,100 continentals and
400 militiamen at Peekskill, and the
total garrisons of Forts Clinton and
Montgomery were not in excess of (500, mostly New York militia
hastily gathered by Governor George Clinton and his brother, Gen-
eral James Clinton — the former commanding at Fort Montgomery
and the latter at Fort Clinton.

On the 4th of October the expedition up the Hudson got under
way. Its advance consisted of two ships-of-war, three tenders, and
a large number of flatboals, and a second division followed com-
prising one large man-of-war, five topsail vessels, and numerous small
craft. A stop was made at Tarrytown, where troops were landed
and marched several miles into the country. But this maneuver,
says Irving, was only a feint to distract attention. At night the men
were re-embarked, and the next morning the whole force of some-

GENERAL JAMES CLINTON

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778 435

thing more than 3,000 was set ashore at Verplanck's Point. This
was the morning of the 5th of October — one year, lacking seven days,
from the date of the first British enterprise in Westchester County
at Tkrogg's Point.

General Putnam, with his weak command at Peekskill, of course
could not advance to engage such a body. His ingenuous soul could
uot surmise any guile in the foe who thus in broad daylight had
lauded under his eye, and his valorous instincts rejected all doubt
that the knightly Sir Henry would come straight on and fight him.
He foil back to the passes, posted himself there, sent to Governor
Clinton at Port Montgomery for all the soldiers he could spare, and
awaited the convenience of the enemy, who meantime showed a sur-
prisingly leisurely disposition. There was no attack that day, night
fell, and Putnam looked for the morrow with hopeful expectancy.
Put before daybreak Sir Henry transported 2,000 of his force from
Verplanck's Point to the wholly unprotected west shore, leaving
1,00(1 behind to keep up the appearance of a meditated movement on
Putnam. Then, with his main body, he made the circuit of the
Dunderberg, marched without experiencing the least detention
through those mountain passes which Washington's board of gen-
erals in May had reported were so exceedingly difficult that they
would never be attempted, easily overcame the small corps sent to
check him, and, in two divisions of a thousand men each, fell upon
Forts Clinton and Montgomery from the rear. He stormed them with
the bayonet, and though the forts were heroically defended, the
Americans prolonging their resistance until twilight, the overpower-
ing numbers of the British carried the day. The American killed,
wounded, and missing were 250. The two commanders, with the
remnants of the garrisons, escaped across the river. In the action
Colonel Campbell, heading one of the attacking parties, was killed,
and his command fell to Colonel Beverly Robinson, the Loyalist
son-in-law of the third Frederick Philipse. Fort Independence, on
the Westchester side above Peekskill, did not prove strong enough
to prevent the passage of the warships belonging to the expedition.
Two or three of these vessels ran by its batteries and co-operated
with the land force. Governor Clinton was informed somewhat in
advance of the coming of the enemy through the passes, and sent to
Putnam for help, but his messenger never reached the doughty gen-
eral. Irving says he turned traitor and deserted to the enemy.

Putnam had been completely outmaneuvered. Although the cross-
ing of a British force to the west side had been reported to him, he
supposed this was only a detachment, and thought the main body
was still at Verplanck's Point, and would come upon him in due

436 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

time.1 He not only did not re-enforce the garrisons, but appre-
hended nothing of the truth until the guns of the forts boomed upon
his astounded ears. Added to his confusion as a duped general was
the mortification of a true soldier, ardent for battle but denied that
privilege by a specious antagonist; for his own position was not
assailed. Putnam, when in splenetic humor, was not over nice in
the choice of words; and it can be imagined but not printed with
what dreadful language he must have remarked upon the eventuality.
There was a display of fireworks that night in the romantic fast-
nesses of the Highlands never equaled before or since. Two
American ships and two armed galleys were stationed above the
chain, and when the fate of the forts was decided they were set on
fire to save them from the enemy. When the magazines were reached
they blew up with terrific explosions, which long reverberated among
the mountains.

Continental Village, with its barracks, storehouses, and a number
of loaded wagons, was burned on the 9th by a detachment under
Major-General Trvon. Westchester County below Peekskill was not
included in this Visitation, and before the end of October Putnam
was back in Peekskill with a force of 6,000. The whole Hudson being
open, the British ascended it and ravaged the country. To this period
belongs the burning of Kingston. Soon, however, came the wonder-
ful tidings of the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga (October 20).
and the invaders from below, finding their errand a profitless one and
unable to maintain their position in the Highlands, returned to New
York. Putnam, at Peekskill, resumed his sway over the entire post.
No further attempt was made against Peekskill or its important
jurisdiction until the summer of 1779, when Verplanck's Point, and
Stony Point opposite, were seized— to no other substantial end, how
ever,' than to give the name of Anthony Wayne to immortality.

The very large body with which Putnam resumed his station at
Peekskill was obtained from the Northern Army, which, after Bur
-oy ne's surrender, had been disintegrated. These troops and many
more, no longer needed at the North, should have been sent to Wash-
ington, who, after the evacuation of Philadelphia, continued the un-
equal struggle with Howe; but the jealousy of Gates deprived Wash-
ington of them, as a year previously the ambition of Lee had pre-

ilfter landing on Verplanck's Point, Sir of the river, but the state of the atmosphere
Henry re-embarked a portion of his force and was such that no estimate could be made of
moved the fleet up to Peekskill Neck. This was the number. From all the circumstances, Put-
one of his schemes to mask the proceedings of nam firmly believed that it was only a small
main body at King's Ferry All writers detachment to burn the American storehouses
an-ee "hat Putnam was informed betimes of on that side, and the appearance of a large
She transportation of a part of the British fire near Stony Point shortly afterward con-
army from Verplanck's Point to the west side firmed him in this opinion.

?lan oE Die Attack on
FORTS CLINTON &MONTGOMEI

"by the British fbTces under

SIR HESRYi CLIN TON . - . O c l! 1? 7 7.

Rahcei. from IhcBrteh Hap.

-*-'i: >^W^3^|; *** ^j2^-'j i i? A *~ ~1 ^ M'-l'^O.Pfultum.&e.IoflnmpJfasUi^lcn.

Ariflumy's Nose s , *?
Ktrpcnaiailarliaglit ^

^ ■'&/~Jro"Ps "l^'tfi 'Oct .5'/' /

/^/' « ?""" ^ £"e"'-v i- alteniieiffnm 7?,e jf;
^ 1^,0.^ *lprSi-i/s & Fanning 0

•'V.*-^ ** *- i'ar/'S miuivieds" .'■"'='

THE ATTACK ON THE HIGHLAND FORTS.

438 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

vented his needful re-enforcement in New Jersey. Thus at two criti-
cal emergencies in two successive years Westchester County was
made the&scene of a large and idle military establishment to gratify
the personal spite of Washington's rivals. General Putnam, whose
nature was noble and who was entirely loyal to his commander,
was not a party to this petty and wicked meanness; but he had de-
signs of his own for the good of the cause. It was his dearly cherished
object to capture New York, and he felt that now was the appointed
time At this juncture Alexander Hamilton arrived at Peekskill on a
mission from Washington to dates, and in the name of Ins chief or-
dered Putnam to send on two continental brigades. lie then went to
Albany and interviewed Gates. Getting little satisfaction, however,
from that egotist and schemer, he sent an express to Putnam to for-
ward another thousand men to Washington. But upon his return to
Peekskill he found with astonishment and indignation that Putnam
had not obeyed either of his orders, but instead was beginning active
operations against New York, ami to that end had marched a force
to Tarrytown and had formally reconnoitered the enemy almost
as far down as Kingsbridge. Hamilton, under the advice of Governor
Clinton, now peremptorily commanded Putnam to dispatch to Wash-
ington all his continental regiments, retaining only his militia forces.
This order was obeyed. Hamilton was greatly enraged against Put-
nam, and advised Washington to make an example of him, saying:
- His blunders and caprices are endless." But Washington was un-
willing to too deeplv wound the sensibilities of the old general, and
contented himself with a mild reprimand. " I can not but say," he
wrote, -there has been more delay in the march of the troops than
I think necessary, and I could wish that in future my orders may
be immediately complied with, without arguing upon the propriety
of them. If any accident ensues from obeying them, the fault will
be upon me, not upon you."

During the winter of 1TTT-TS General Putnam and the two Clin-
tons, with Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Van Cortlandt, John Jay, and
others, reconnoitered the Highlands with a view to their refortifica-
tion and selected West Point as the most eligible place for the prin-
cipal works. A beginning was made there before Putnam's retirement
from the Peekskill post, which occurred on the Kith of March, 1778.
He was succeeded by McDougall— his immediate predecessor— now
become a major-general.

At this stage of the war American hopes mounted high. The
French alliance was signed in Paris on the (5th of February. Wash-
inoton still at Vallev Forge (Pa.), was in position to attack the
British in Philadelphia, and the arrival of a French fleet to co-operate

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778 439

with him against that city was expected monthly. It became im-
practicable for the enemy to continue there, ami the evacuation of
the place was decided on. Just previously to the event Howe re-
signed the chief command and was succeeded by Sir Henry Clinton.
The British army moved out of Philadelphia on the 18th of June
to make its way by land back to New York. It was pursued by Wash-
ington. On the 28th was fought the battle of Monmouth Court House,
where General Lee (who had been exchanged) so comported himself
that he was court-martialed and retired to private life. The British
effected their escape to New York, and Washington encamped in New
Jersey to bide the progress of events.

Here, on the 13th of July, he received the welcome intelligence of
the arrival off the coast of Virginia of a French fleet under the Count
d'Estaing. consisting of twelve ships of the line and six frigates,
and bearing a land force of 4,000. In the resulting correspondence
between the two commanders it was resolved to begin at once joint
operations against New York, and Washington forthwith broke up
his New Jersey camp, crossed King's Ferry into our county, and de-
scended to White Plains, where he spread his tents about the 20th
day of July. From this place, whither he had retired from New York
island under such perilous circumstances in the fall of 1770, he wrote
to a friend in Virginia: "After two years' maneuvering and the
strangest vicissitudes, both armies are brought back to the very point
they set out from, and the offending party at the beginning is now
reduced to the use of the spade and pickax for defense. The hand
of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this that he must be
worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked that
has not gratitude to acknowledge his obligations."

The army remained at White Plains for about two months. In
September, Washington, as shown by an entry in his accounts with
the United States, reconnoitered " the country about the [White]
Plains between the North and East Rivers," disbursing for that pur-
pose out of his private purse the sum of $133.

But it was not ordered •that the arrangement for the taking of
New York, whose successful execution would doubtless have ter-
minated the war, should be carried out. The French fleet sailed up
to Sandy Hook. The British naval force in New York Bay at thai
time comprised only six ships of the line, four 50-gun ships, and a
number of frigates and smaller vessels. D'Estaing, however, was
informed by pilots that the depth of water on the Sandy Hook bar
was not sufficient to permit the passage of his largest vessels, one
of which carried eighty and another ninety guns. He therefore
abandoned the enterprise and proceeded to Newport to capture, in

440 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

function with an expedition headed by General Snllwan, the

I5rii.li force of 6,000 which was stationed there. I his plan also
1 ont The British fleet came np the Sound to engage the
Cnch which went to meet it, but an inopportune storm dispersed
U eTh tT and the French commander afterward went tc .Boston to
refit leaving General Sullivan in a dangerous situation from which
he had much difficulty in extricating himself. The behavior of the
French in this first test of the practical value of the alliance excited
o'reat disgust throughout the country.

b The departure of the French to Boston was followed in September
bv a o-reat stir of British preparations in New York for some un-
known obiect. Washington, at White Plains, feared an attack on
the rlrghhamls, which, in the elementary condition of the West Point
defenses, were ill prepared for resistance; but he equally eared an
expedition against Boston. In this uncertainty he proceeded as he
had done the year before while waiting for Howe to unfold his
projects He largely re-enforced the troops at Peekskill and above,
and stationed Putnam with two brigades near West Point, mean-
while removing his own camp from Westchester County to a pose
tion farther north on the Connecticut border, from where he
move either to Boston or to the Hudson River, as the result should
require. But the new enterprise of Sir Henry Clinton proved to have
only local purposes. He sent an expedition to Little Egg Harbor
,N J ) which had been used by the Americans as an important base
for privateering operations, and, to cover it, threw 5,000 men under
Cornwallis into northern New Jersey and 3,000 under knyphausen
into Westchester County. - The detachment on the east side of the
Hudson ( we quote from Irving's Life of Washington) made a predatory
and disgraceful foray from their lines at Kingsbridge toward the
Americans at White Plains, plundering the inhabitants without dis-
crimination, not only of their provisions and forage, but of the very
clothing on their backs. None were more efficient in this ravage
than a party of about a hundred of Captain Donop's Hessian yagers,
and thev were in full maraud between Tarrytown and Dobbs Ferry
when attachment of infantry under Colonel Richard Butler, and
of cavalrv under Major Henry Lee, came upon them by surprise,
killed ten of them on the spot, captured a lieutenant and eighteen
privates, and would have taken or distroyed the whole had not the
extreme roughness of the country impeded the action of the cavalry
and enabled the yagers to escape by scrambling up hillsides or plung-
ing into ravines/'

It svas duriim the summer of 1778, and while Washington was still
in camp at White Plains, that the tragical event referred to m our

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442 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

chapter on the Indians transpired. A band of about sixty so-called
Stockbridge Indians (descendants of the Mohican tribe which orig-
inally possessed what is now Westchester County), under the com-
mand of the Chief Nimham, was detached to the south from Wash-
ington's army. On The 20th of August the Indians attacked and
drove down to Kingsbridge a force of the enemy under Lieutenant-
Colonel Emmerick. During the next few days they continued in the
lower part of the Town of Yonkers. Here, on August 31, they were
surrounded and surprised by the Queen's Rangers under Simcoe, the
Chasseurs under Emmerick, de Lancey's 2d battalion, and the Legion
Dragoons under Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton. Forty of their num-
ber, including their chief and his son, were killed or desperately
wounded. Tins slaughter was one of the most considerable result-
ing from any single encounter on Westchester soil during the Revo-
lution. An extended account of the affair, from which the various
notices in Bolton's and Scharf's Histories are mainly drawn, may
be found in Simcoe's Journal.

Not many other events of local importance happened in West-
chester County during the year 1778. The principal ones were the
burning of Ward's house at Tuckahoe, and the " Babcock's House
Affair " in Yonkers.

Ward's house, which stood on the site of the residence of the late
Judge Gilford, was the property of Judge Stephen Ward, a very
prominent and respected citizen of the Town of Eastchester. He was
one of the leaders of the patriot party in our county before the war, sat
in the assembly in 1778 and in the State senate from 1780 to 1783, and
was appointed county judge in 1784. His home, on the Tuckahoe Road,
was the post for a detachment of Revolutionary troops dependent
upon the " lines" above, and as such it was attacked several times.
Upon one occasion the American force stationed in and around it
was attacked by a strong British expedition under Captain Campbell.
The American commander was ready to surrender, when an unlucky
shot was fired from one of the windows, and Captain Campbell fell
dead. Many Americans were slaughtered in revenge, and twenty-
seven were taken away prisoners. But the place was again gar-
risoned, and it was then decided by the enemy to burn the house.
This was done in November, 1778, the sidings, doors, windows, and
shutters being hist removed. They were transported to Kingsbridge
and used in building barracks for the British troops.

The ''' Babcock's House Affair " is one of the most interesting Revo-
lutionary episodes connected with the history of Yonkers. A strong
and pleasing element of romance attaches to it. " Babcock's House "
was none other than the parsonage of Saint John's (Episcopalian)

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778 443

Church, and the Rev. Luke Babcock, from whom it took its name,
was the same clergyman who signed the Tory manifesto of April,
1775, and whom Colonel Lewis Morris scornfully characterized as
" the Reverend Mr. Luke Babcock, who preaches and prays for Colonel
Philips and his tenants at Philipsburg." Like his compatriots, the
Reverends Samuel Seabury, of Westchester; Epenetus Townsend, oi
Salem; and Ephraim Avery, of Rye, the Yonkers parson was per-
severing in his devotion to the British cause, and suffered accordingly.
Soon after the removal of the lord of the manor, Mr. Babcock was
apprehended by a Revolutionary committee, his papers were ex-
amined, and the interrogatory was propounded to him, -'Whether
he considered himself bound by his oath of allegiance to the King? "
He replied affirmatively, and thereupon was sent to New Haven
under guard, where he languished until February, 1777. During his
confinement his health declined. Being released on parole, he re-
turned to the Yonkers parsonage, and presently died there, leaving
a youthful widow, who continued to reside in the parsonage, where
Miss Williams, a sister of Mrs. Frederick Philipse, bore her com-
pany.

Now, these two ladies of the parsonage were either not very fero-
cious Loyalist partisans, or else held their political principles quite
subordinate to the gentle inclinations of their hearts. The widow
Babcock was wooed by a gallant American officer of the Westchester
lines, Colonel Cist. She at least did not discourage this devotion,
and it has even been surmised that she reciprocated it; and the com-
panion of her loneliness, Miss Williams, apparently regarded the
romantic affair with a kindly interest. The ardent Colonel Gist,
during his occasional warlike employments below the lines, made his
rendezvous at the foot of Wild Boar Hill, opposite the parsonage;
and here, with his light corps, he was surprised early one morning
by a formidable force of the enemy. A careful plan had been laid
by Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, of the Queen's Rangers, to surround
and capture his whole command. In this enterprise Simcoe had the
co-operation of Tarleton, Emmerick, and other able officers. The ac-
companying map shows how the different corps of the enemy were
to have been disposed, and actually were disposed, with the single
important exception of a detachment that was to have been sta-
tioned north of the Nepperhan River for the purpose of cutting off
(list's retreat that way. But owing to some blunder this line of
retreat was left open. The attacking force surprised Cist's men
according to programme, and gave them a sharp fire; but the latter,
led by the colonel, escaped across the Nepperhan and were soon be-
yond pursuit. "In the meantime," says a narrator of the affair,

444 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

"Mrs. Babcock, having stationed herself in one of the dormer win-
dows of the parsonage, aided their escape, wherever they appeared, by
the waving of a white handkerchief." Our salutations to the shade
of the gentle, gracious, and (we doubt not) beauteous Mrs. Babcock!
During the years 1777 and 1778 a very useful " whaleboat " service
was organized and developed in the hamlets of our county along the
Sound. The whaleboats, propelled with oars, "would dart across
the Sound under cover of the night, and run into the inlets of the
Long Island shore, landing near the house of a Tory family, some-
times to plunder and sometimes to take prisoners. Small British
vessels cruising in the Sound were occasionally captured. Market-
sloops, loaded with provisions for the British army, were favorite
prey. Great quantities of forage and other stores belonging to the
enemy were destroyed. The whaleboat service was pursued with
greatest activity in 1780 and 1781."1 Thomas Kniffen, of Bye, is
mentioned by Baird as one who was especially energetic in this dar-
ing work. The capture of the British guardship " Schuldham " (1777)
at the mouth of Eastchester Creek— a very brilliant performance-
was effected by some whaleboatmen from Darien, Conn., who first
seized the market-sloop which plied regularly between Eastchester
and New York, and then took her alongside the " Schuldham " on the
pretense of desiring to sell some of their truck; whereupon a party
of armed men, concealed in the sloop's hold, clambered on board
the war-vessel, overpowered the crew, forced them to navigate the
prize, and ran her into the port of New London.

In this connection a word should be said also about the excellent
services of the "water guards" in the various communities on the
Hudson. The constant presence of the enemy's ships in the river
rendered it peculiarly necessary to keep vigilant watch on the Hud-
son's banks, and the organization effected for the discharge of the
duties thus involved came to be very efficient. It was never safe
for a rowboat from a British ship to venture to the shore; and even
the war-vessels themselves had to keep steadfastly to the middle of
the stream, else the wide-awake patriots were likely to improvise
batteries and open on them with uncomfortable effect. The capture
of Andre and the consequent foiling of Arnold's treason was made
possible by no other contributing circumstance so much as the well-
understood vigilant surveillance of ships in the river, and of all hold-
ing communication with them, which was maintained at every point
on the shore.

As during the latter half of the year 1778 the enemy in New York

Baird's Hist, of Rye (Seharf, ii., G7

MARCH of ik* i

Emj7ier?.ck,s Corps tfie Cavalry of fr

The, wJwle commanded 6yZl Col:Simcoet

Explana

A . Jfarc& of iMlnfaitry oflfa Rangers and £mmericks toYft . w?iere iJvey.

E . 7%eyfyers at Fhifyis Bridget. Ca/U. Vredenk deZatkment. Qr.T'keJbutiy*'

% THE BABCOCK'S HOUSE SUEI

yj?7i/ under L ?Col ' Tarlelorz, a*zd< a, delaafoneszt of tht Yager s
irizea Cot/is of Re bel Light Troo/is unde/^Cal Gist.

wi/tfze Recu- of the E7iej?vy, and marcJzed to C . (?ist'sGzsyz> Unl ih Cavalry
tesca/ut<£YS..7AePositw7Z' Wuek tkeYat/ers were mtendeel to hare occu/ued/.
Y- FROM SIMCOE'S JOURNAL).

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778 445

City attempted nothing either against New England or the High-
lands, Washington drew the army down from the northerly station
where he had temporarily posted it, and distributed it in canton-
ments extending from Connecticut across Westchester County as far
as Middlebrook, N. J. This was its situation throughout the winter
of 1778-79. All expectation of early assistance from the French was
now given up, d'Estaing's fleet having sailed to the West Indies.

CHAPTEB XXI

FROM JANUARY, 1779, TO SEPTEMBER, 1780

ROM the middle of January to the middle of March, 1779,
the command "on the lines" in Westchester County was
held by the youthful Colonel Aaron Burr; and never in
the history of the Neutral Ground before or after did that
distressed region enjoy conditions of order and quiet in the least
comparable to those which obtained during Burr's brief rule. His
administration of the delicate and difficult duties of the command
in our county constitute the most noteworthy chapter in his military
career, and even his severest biographers concur in regarding this
part of his public record with unmixed admiration.

Burr was just twenty-one when appointed by Washington to the
rank of lieutenant-colonel of the continental army, receiving his
commission at PeeksMU in July, 1777. He was at the time an aide
on the staff of General Putnam. He was soon afterward assigned
to a regiment in New Jersey, where he at once set to work to intro-
duce much-needed improvements in discipline and organization.
"Severe drills and vigorous inspections," says his charming biog-
rapher, Barton, " took the place of formal ones." Finding that many
of the officers were hopelessly inefficient, he presently " took the bold
step of ordering several of them home on the simple ground of their
utter uselessness. If any gentleman, he told them, objected to his
dismissal, he, Colonel Burr, held himself personally responsible for
the measure and was ready to afford any satisfaction that might
be desired." Yet he was no mere martinet. All his measures com-
mended themselves to the good sense of his troops, who became en-
thusiastically attached to his person. The great executive force
which he thus displayed, coupled with his reputation for exceptional
gallantry, led to his selection as the most available commander in
the Neutral Ground at a time when lawlessness and terrorism there
were at their height, lie entered upon his duties on the Westchester
lines January 13, 1770, succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel Littlefield. The
lowest American posts at that period extended "from Tarrytown
through White Plains to the Sawpits, or Rye," a distance of fourteen
miles. Colonel Burr made his headquarters at White Plains.

FROM JANUARY, 1779, TO SEPTEMBER, 1780 447

On the very morning of his assuming command, his predecessor left
White Plains with a large party on a characteristic "scouting" ex-
pedition to New Rochelle. This was an enterprise of promiscuous
plunder, pure and simple. The men returned at night loaded down
with spoils. Colonel Burr, astonished and indignant, at once took
steps to return the stolen articles to their owners. " Sir," he wrote
to General McDougall, the commander at Peekskill, " till now I never
wished for arbitrary power; I could gibbet half a dozen good Whigs
with all the venom of an inveterate Tory." lie announced in the
most emphatic manner that he purposed to protect all the peaceable
inhabitants without reference to their politics; that all marauders
would be punished with the utmost severity of military law; and
that " any officer who so much as connived at robbery he would send
up to the general's quarters with a tile of soldiers the hour the crime
was discovered." Shortly afterward a family named Gedney, living
below his lines, was plundered at night. The Gedneys were Tories,
but of the pacific description. Within twenty-four hours Burr had
secured all the culprits and much of their loot. He marched them
to Gedney's house, where he made them restore the recovered prop-
erty, pay Gedney in money for what had been lost or damaged, pay
him a further amount as compensation, crave his pardon for their
deeds, and promise good behavior for the future; and he also had
each of the robbers tied up and given ten lashes. " All these things,"
says Barton, " were done with the greatest deliberation and exact-
ness, and the effects produced by them were magical. Not another
house was plundered, not another family was alarmed, while Colonel
Burr commanded in the Westchester lines. The mystery and swift-
ness of the detection, the rigor and fairness with which the marauders
wrere treated, overawed the men whom three campaigns of lawless
warfare had corrupted, and restored confidence to the people wrho
had passed their lives in terror.'' It came to be believed among his
soldiers that Colonel Burr possessed occult powers, and could tell a
thief by simply looking in his face. He adopted the most thorough
system of classification of all the inhabitants, keeping secret lists
on which the character of everybody within his jurisdiction was in-
dicated. He also familiarized himself with the country in its physical
features, obtaining a minute knowledge of its hidden places. He
enlisted the co-operation of the respectable young men, whom he-
organized as a corps of horsemen, without pay, for the transmission
of intelligence. One of these was the noted John Dean, who the next
year was a member of the memorable expedition of eight volunteers
which had for its result the capture of Andre.

In his arrangements for the security of his lines against any pos-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

sible attack by the enemy, he was equally tireless, efficient, and suc-
cessful. Nightly, at unexpected hours and by unexpected routes,
he rode from post to post, and if he observed anything not in order
the responsible person was held to a strict accountability. In order
to keep the enemy's spies at a distance, lie issued and rigidly en-
forced an order that nobody from below should personally pass the
line of posts on any pretext, all who had business above being re-
quired to first communicate with headquarters by some well known
resident of the immediate country, especially designated for that serv-
ice. On the other hand, he always had the most perfect knowledge
of everything happening below. Only two attempts were made by

the enemy to surprise the American
guards while he was in command, and
both were total failures.

Yet Burr's system was not merely
defensive and precautionary. With-
out risking his men in foolish spec-
tacular enterprises, he grasped every
opportunity for profitable aggression.
Once, when Governor Tryon inarched
through our county with 2,000 men on
an expedition to Connecticut, Burr, hav-
ing previous knowledge of the move-
ment, sent word to Put nam in Connecti-
cut to proceed against him in front,
while he would fall upon his rear. This
well-laid plan, if it had been carried
out, would probably have resulted in
the capture of Tryon; but Putnam was
unable to co-operate properly. Burr, however, performed his part
so well that Tryon beat a hasty retreat, leaving most of his cattle and
other plunder behind.

The crowning achievement of Burr's command was the destruction
of a British fort and the capture of nearly all its garrison at de
Lancey's Mills (West Farms) — a feat performed, like Wayne's storm-
ing of Stony Point, without tiring a musket. This fort was a block
structure, built by Colonel de Lancey to protect his outposts at Mor-
risania. Burr, resolving to take it, reconnoitered it carefully, noting
every feature of the ground and measuring with his eye the height
of the port-holes, lie then prepared ladders, canteens filled with in-
flammables, rolls of port-fire, and hand-grenades. It was essential
to effect his work quickly and without noise, as there were strong-
British forces in the surrounding country, which, if alarmed, would

AAROX BURR.

FROM JANUARY, 1779, TO SEPTEMBER, 1780 449

cut off his retreat. He arrived with his attacking party at two o'clock
in the morning. He sent forward forty men under Captain Black,
who rushed past the sentinels, placed the ladders against the fort,
mounted them, hurled the combustibles (with slow matches attached)
into the port-holes, and then threw the hand-grenades inside. Almost
instantly the fort was on fire, and every man, except a few who
escaped, surrendered. Not an American suffered injury. When it
is remembered that West Farms is to the south of Kingsbridge, where
thousands of the British were encamped, and that there were other
posts of the enemy still farther above, the brilliant daring of this
exploit will be well appreciated.

The preceding brief account of Burr's memorable rCgime in West-
chester County is digested from Parton, who, in turn, derives his
facts mainly from a most interesting descriptive letter written in
1814 by Samuel Youngs, of our Town of Mount Pleasant, to K. V.
Morris! Youngs was a member of Burr's command. He sums up his
narration as follows:

The troops of whom he took command were undisciplined, negligent, and discontented.
Desertions were frequent. In a few days these very men were transformed into brave, hon-
est defenders — orderly, contented, and cheerful ; confident in their own courage and loving to
adoration their commander, whom every man considered as his personal friend. It was
thought a severe punishment, as well as a disgrace, to be sent up to the camp, where they
had nothing to do but to lounge and to eat their rations. During the whole of his command
there was not a single desertion, not a single death by sickness, not one made prisoner by the
enemy ; for Colonel Burr taught us that a soldier, with arms in his hands, ought never, in
any circumstances, to surrender — no matter if he was opposed by thousands it was his duty
to fight.

Richard Piatt, adjutant-general to General McDougall at Peeks-
kill, has left the following testimony:

A country which for three years before had been a scene of robbery, cruelty, and murder
became at once the abode of security and peace. Though his powers were despotic they were
exercised only for the peace, the security, and the protection of the surrounding country and
its inhabitants.

It was during Burr's three months in the Neutral Ground that his
romantic midnight visits to his sweetheart, Mrs. Prevost, at Para-
mus, X. J., occurred — expeditions celebrated in the annals of the
amours of historic persons.

Selecting nights when he knew that he could safely absent himself
from the lines, he left the headquarters at White Plains in his usual
manner, as though going on a tour of the posts, attended by several
of his men, upon whose secrecy he could depend. He rode across
country to Tarrytown, where a boat was waiting. His men threw
his horse, tied its legs together, and placed it in the boat. On the
opposite shore the faithful animal was released from its bonds, and
bestriding it Burr was soon in the arms of his love. He was back at
headquarters before dawn. He made two of these visits.

450 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

The severe labors which he imposed upon himself while command-
ing in Westchester County shattered his health, and on the 10th of
.March, ITT!), in a letter to Washington, he resigned his commission
in the army. The latter accepted it with the observation that he
" not only regretted the loss of a good officer, but the cause which
made his resignation necessary." It may be remarked that Wash-
ington and Burr were not congenial souls. The great commander,
while perfectly recognizing young Burr's abilities, had the penetra-
tion to see his defects as a man; and Burr had little love for Wash-
ington, and indeed was mixed up in the Conway-Gates cabal against
him, although too youthful an officer to play any active part in that
affair. Barton laments Burr's untimely retirement from the Ameri-
can army, and complains of Washington's cold treatment of him.
He declares that Burr's military character was such— especially as
demonstrated by his services in the Neutral Ground— that if his lot
had been cast in the armies of France under the eye of Napoleon
he would have become a marshal of the Empire. In a history of
Westchester County it would be ungracious to find fault with any
praise of him on soldierly grounds that his most ardent eulogists
have penned. He certainly came to Westchester County as a guar-
dian angel, and was the one shining military character among all
the commanders on the lines— though their number embraced several
officers of marked attainments. The brevity of his career here is
the only feature of it to be viewed with anything short of enthusiasm.
When lie departed, disaster after disaster befell the American posts,
and the reign of terror which had subsisted before he came was
shortly renewed. It was equally unfortunate for him and for Ameri-
can interests in our county that his command covered only the winter
months of 1779, when no general operations were going on. The
next summer occurred the most formidable and prolonged display
of armed force along the lines and above in our county's history.
It can easily be believed that Burr, with his splendid organization
in full flower, would have acquitted himself right gloriously in that
period of activity.

The expedition of Governor Tryon above referred to was for the
object <»f destroying the Revolutionary salt works at Greenwich,
Conn. It was the only continuous march of a quite considerable
British force through the entire extent of our county along the Sound
that occurred during the Revolution. There was some fighting at
Bye and above, where a small American party was put to flight by
the British. The retreating Americans passed over Byram Bridge,
taking up its planking to retard the progress of the enemy. But
Trvon got across without being interfered with by Putnam, pro-

FROM JANUARY, 1770, TO SEPTEMBER, 1780 451

ceeded to Greenwich, and accomplished his purpose. We believe
Byrani Bridge was never crossed on any other occasion by a British
force in connection with serious business.

Burr's successor in the chief command on the lines was Major
William Hull. Considering the heavy odds brought against him by
the enemy during the exciting campaign that followed, he made a
very creditable record.

In the rirst few months of 1770 Sir Henry Clinton confined himself
to ravaging the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Washington, whose
headquarters were at Middlebrook, was not disturbed by these pro-
ceedings, well knowing that the British general would soon turn
his attention northward. The work at West Point had now made
tolerably satisfactory progress, but Washington was dissatisfied with
the comparatively unprotected condition of the river below. He par-
ticularly desired to have the entrance to the narrow part of the
stream, from Haverstraw Bay, well guarded — the more so as the
important King's Ferry route from Verplanck's Point to the west
shore was comparatively unsafe so long as this entrance remained
unfortified. He therefore began the erection of two forts on the two
promontories — Verplanck's Point on the Westchester side, and
Stony Point opposite, which, when completed, "would form as it
were the lower gates of the Highlands, miniature Pillars of Hercules,
of which Stony Point was the Gibraltar." By the end of May the
work on Verplanck's Point, called Fort Lafayette, was finished, and
a garrison of seventy men was assigned to it. That on Stony Point,
however, was still in an inchoate condition, and had not yet received
any artillery. The American army was at this time on the west side
of the Hudson in the vicinity of the Highlands.

Sir Henry Clinton sailed up the Hudson on the 30th of May with
a formidable expedition. The fleet, under the command of Admiral
Sir George Collier, embraced about seventy vessels, great and small,
and a hundred and fifty flatboats, and there was a land force of 5,000.
The troops were landed in two divisions on the 31st. The principal
division, under General Vaughan, debarked on the Westchester
County side, seven or eight miles below Verplanck's Point, and the
other, led by Sir Henry in person, on the opposite side of Haverstraw
Bay, some three miles south of Stony Point. Nothing was done for
the time being by Vaughan, except to get in position to assail Fort
Lafayette. But Stony Point was promptly seized, the thirty men
occupied on its unfinished works decamping without resistance.
During the night of the 31st the British dragged artillery up its
steep sides, with which, at daybreak, Fort Lafayette was cannonaded;
and at the same time the ships in the river opened fire and Vaughan

452 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

prepared to assault the works. Against such overpowering force it
was useless to contend, and the garrison surrendered on conditions
guaranteeing the safety of the men and security of their personal
property. It is an interesting reminiscence that Major John Andre,
who a year and some months later passed that locality on the errand
that took him to his death, signed the articles of capitulation on be-
half of the British.

After the capture of the two promontories Sir Henry Clinton com-
pleted the works on Stony Point, fortified them in a powerful man-
ner (especially with reference to the approach from the land side),
and amply garrisoned both forts. Washington prudently refrained
from any offensive demonstrations, retiring to the vicinity of West
Point and bending all his energies toward the further development
of the defensive situation there. He ordered all the heavy cannon
at Boston and Providence to be sent to him, and recalled Heath from
Boston. That general arrived at the camp at New Windsor on the
21st of June.

General Sir Henry Clinton, seeing that he had no Putnam to deal
with on this occasion, showed himself suddenly disinclined to engage
in new exploits in the Highlands. He withdrew his forces, except
those necessary to retain the two forts, returned to New York, and
sent out the memorable expedition under Tryon which devastated
Connecticut. The results obtained were so " salutary," as reported
to him, that he determined to extend them by an attack on New
London. As a preparatory measure he went to Throgg's Neck, in-
tending to forward troops thence to New London on transports. But
while waiting there the great achievement of Anthony Wayne at
Stony Point compelled him once more to change his arrangements.1

The storming of Stony Point on the night of the 15th of July was
wholly planned by Washington. He intrusted the execution of it
to Wayne, who accepted the commission with the greatest alacrity,
signifying his willingness to storm hell itself for General Washing-

1 The following (furnished to the editor by liest intelligence of any collection of vessels

the late Dr. Plagg, of Yonkers, who possessed or boats or embarkation of troops on the oppo-

the original) is a copy of an interesting letter site shore. The enemy are now manoeuvering to

written bv Washington in this interval: the Eastward-it may be to divert a part of our

Headquarters [New Windsor]. July force that way-then to make a rapid niove-

12th, 1779. nifiit back— embark and push up to the forts.

Dr Sir. We are obliged to give a certain degree of

In mine to von of the 5th I requested you countenance and protection to the country

to attend to the movements of the enemy which will occasion a detachment of our force,

on the River below, and for this purpose to and this makes it the more essential that we

engage the country people as lookouts alonK should be upon our watch this way. Your ac-

the River— I could wish you to have such per- tivity and care I rely upon,
sons on whose fidelity and vigilance you can 1 am Dr Sir

depend stationed at different points as far Your Obedt. Servant,

down as Fort Lee. that we may have the ear- Go: Washington.

FROM JANUARY, 1779, TO SEPTEMBER, 1780 453

ton. We borrow the following description of Stony Point, as it then
was, from Irving:

It was a rocky promontory advancing far into the Hudson, which washed three sides of it.
A deep morass, covered at high water, separated it from the mainland, but at low tide might
be traversed by a narrow causeway and bridge. The promontory was crowned by strong
works furnished with heavy ordnance, commanding the morass and causeway. Lower down
were two rows of abatis, and the shore at the front of the hill could be swept by vessels of
war anchored in the river. The garrison was about 600 strong.

Washington's instructions to Wayne were to make the assault
about midnight, because, as he explained, the usual time selected for
such enterprises was just before dawn, when a. more vigilant officer
would probably be on guard. Wayne, with 1,400 men, came
down through the Highland defiles on the afternoon of the 15th,
made the circuit of the Dunderberg (around which Sir Henry Clinton
had swept when going to attack the American forts), and arrived
within a mile and a half of the Point by eight o'clock in the evening.
Here he halted until half -past eleven, when he sent forward a negro
of the neighborhood, accompanied by two men disguised as farmers.
The negro had the entree to the fort, having frequently supplied the
soldiers with fruit, and possessed the countersign. By this means
the sentinels were secured and gagged. Before being discovered the
Americans had arrived close to the outer works. Then, heedless of
shot and shell, they made the assault in two columns, which ar-
rived in the center of the works almost at the same instant. The
garrison surrendered at discretion. The heroic Wayne, leading one
of the columns, received a wound on the head, and, thinking he was
dying, said: "Carry me into the fort and let me die at the head of
my column." In his report to Washington he used these noble words:
" The humanity of our brave soldiery, who scorned to take the lives
of a vanquished foe when calling for mercy, reflects the highest honor
on them and accounts for the few of the enemy killed on the oeeasiem."
The enemy's killed were only 63. It will be recalled that in the storm-
ing of Forts Clinton and Montgomery the Americans lost 250 out of
a. total no larger than that of the British at Stony Point; and indeed
it is notorious that the victors upon the former occasion ruthlessly
bayoneted most of the defenders who failed to escape.

By this glorious exploit Wayne was exalted to the highest pinnacle
of fame, and to the present day the splendor of it has not faded
away. Probably no hero of a single military coup de main was ever
hailed with greater applause than was showered upon W7ayne. Even
the malignant, backbiting General Charles Lee wrote to him from
his disgraceful retirement a letter of glowing enthusiasm — although
at the trial of Lee Wayne had been one of the chief witnesses against
him. On the other hand, whilst the recollection of this prodigious

454 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

deed of valor was still fresh in men's minds, Major Andre, who
was to be the next central object of sentimental attention, found it
fitting to select Wayne, of all American generals, as the hero of his
Hudibrasian poem, "The Cow Chace." Wayne happened to be dis-
tinguished for unconthness of general demeanor no less than for
lion-like daring before the armed foe and woman-like tenderness be-
fore the vanquished. Andre, the little curled and perfumed drawing-
room darling, noted this uncouthness of the man, which indeed was
the subject of many a smart jest among the fashionable ladies of New
York, and discovered no artistic inconvenience in fitting the magnifi-
cent conqueror of Stony Point to his farcical verse. There prob-
ably is no more informing test of Andre's real parts, about which so
much amusing hysterical nonsense has been written, than this little
circumstance.

As the guns of the Stony Point fortress bore only on the land side
and northward (there being no occasion for the British engineers to
direct them athwart the river, since the Americans could not attack
from below), it was impracticable to reduce the Westchester Fort
Lafayette from the captured height. Moreover, Washington con-
sidered it unprofitable to rearrange the Stony Point armament, or
even to hold the place, exposed as it was to attack by land and
water. It was estimated that a garrison of 1,500 would be required
for it, which could not be spared from the army. So after trans-
porting the cannon and stores to West Point, the works were de-
molished.1

The loss of Stony Point caused Sir Henry Clinton to give up his
design against New London, and that place was spared until Sep-
tember of 1781, when the traitor Arnold was sent against it and the
Fort Griswold garrison was massacred. Returning from Throgg's
Neck to the Hudson shore of Westchester County, Clinton hastily

1 Bolton (rev. ed., i., 1G1) quotes from an en- which, it was declared, had been brought up

tertaining writer, whose historical accuracy, from the vessel. The story was believed, a

however, does not very distinctly appear, an stock company was formed to procure the

incident of later years bearing upon the cap- treasures by means of a coffer-dam around the

ture of Stony Toint which is too enjoyable not sunken vessel. For days, weeks, and months

to be included in our pages. " Many years ago the engine worked on the coffer-dam. One New

:in iron cannon was, by accident, brought up York merchant put $20,000 into the enterprise,

by an anchor from the bottom of the river at The speculator took large commissions until

that point (Caldwell's Landing). It was sug- the hopes of the stockholders failed and the

ge'sted that it belonged to the pirate ship of work ceased. Nothing may be seen there now

Captain Kidd. A speculator caught the idea (1876) but the ruins of the works so begun,

ami boldly proclaimed, in the face of recorded at the water's edge. At that point a bateau

history to the contrary, that Kidd's ship had was sunk by a shot from the "Vulture" while

been sunken at that point with untold treas- conveying the captured iron cannon from Stony

nres on board. Tin- story went abroad that the Point to West Point after the victory by

deck had been penetrated by a very large Wayne. The cannon brought up by the anchor

auger, which encountered haul substances, and was doubtless one of these."
its thread was shown with silver attached,

FROM JANUARY, 1779, TO SEPTEMBER, 1780 455

strengthened Fort Lafayette and again drew his forces up the river
to that neighborhood. Washington meantime had undertaken a
separate project for the reduction of Fort Lafayette. He ordered
Major-Genera] Robert Howe, with two brigades, to march down from
the Highlands, by way of Peekskill, and besiege the fort. The latter,
in executing this command, came near getting into serious difficulty;
for Clinton by that time (July 17) had reached the north side of
the Croton, and there was danger that he would throw himself be-
tween Verplanck's Point and Peekskill, and thus cut Howe off. But
happily General Heath, who with a considerable force had just pre-
viously gone to the rescue of Connecticut, returned by a forced march
to the Hudson and posted troops so as to prevent Clinton's advance
at every point. Howe retired from Verplanck's Point, ami all the
American forces fell back to Peekskill. Clinton retained Fort Lafay-
ette, and also resumed possession of Stony Point, reconstructed its
works, and fortified it with a more powerful armament than before.
But Washington still declined to bring his army down from its High-
land position, and Clinton was too prudent to undertake anything
formal against West Point. Consequently there was no further em-
ployment for the British general on the Hudson, and indeed his
occupation of Verplanck's and Stony Points, involving two succes-
sive demonstrations with a loss of (500 men, proved to be an utter
waste of time and energy. In the fall (October 21) he evacuated both
the Points; for having, as it proved, permanently abandoned all
hope of gaining the mastery of the Hudson by force, he deemed if'
an unprofitable expenditure of his resources to retain these isolated
and exposed posts. Daring the rest of the war the British were
strictly confined to the portion of the river below Verplanck's Point,
in spite of the ignominious failure of this final endeavor of the
enemy to open the Hudson, the attempt was more serious than ap-
pears from ;i superficial view of it. It seems to have been Clinton's
principal plan for the campaign of 1771) to force Washington down
from the Highlands by a series of aggressions, of which the seizure
of the King's Ferry route was the most important. As the capture
of the two Points did not bring about the desired result, he withdrew
temporarily and carried fire and sword into Connecticut, expecting
by this process to entice Washington from his chosen station. The
latter sent General Heath, witli two brigades, to Connecticut; where-
upon Clinton prepared to follow up the former raids with a heavier
blow, which was prevented by the counter-stroke at Stony Point.
After that it looked for a time as though the northern part of West-
chester County was to be the scene of large military operations.
Washington detached Robert Howe to take Fort Lafayette on Ver-

456 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

planck's Point; Clinton, besides re-enforcing that place, threatened
the surrounding country; and then Washington recalled Heath from
Connecticut by forced marches. But, as we have seen, the American
tactics were to avoid any general engagement and compel the enemy
to come up into the Highlands if he really desired a regular trial of
strength. As this was disagreeable to Clinton, his whole plan of
campaign for 1779 went awry.

The British occupation of the fort on Verplanck's Point lasted
from the 1st of June until the 21st of October, a period of nearly
live months. Clinton's return in force to the northwestern section
of Westchester County after Wayne's recapture of Stony Point was
made by way of the " Xew Bridge " at the mouth of the Croton River;
and it was by the same route that Clinton fell back to Kingsbridge
after being foiled by Heath. By the 20th of July Clinton had re-
tired as far down as Dobbs Ferry. The British garrisons left at Ver-
planck's and Stony Points had a total of about 1,500. From the 20th
of July to the 21st of October, when the posts were evacuated, these
garrisons were wholly inactive. Heath, in his Memoirs, reports
almost daily desertions from them to the American army. On the
11th of October, he says, fourteen British seamen were taken prison-
ers at Teller's (Croton) Point by Captain Hallet's company of New
York militia.

From the time of the landing of the British expedition below Ver-
planck's Point on the 31st of May until the ultimate withdrawal of
Clinton to Xew York City in the latter part of July, our county suf-
fered much from ravages. The principal event of this period was
the burning of Bedford by Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton,
who had participated in the massacre of the Stockbridge Indians
in 1778. This was the same Tarleton who became famous by his
sanguinary doings in the South in 1780 and 1781.

A body of about ninety American cavalry, under Colonel Elisha
Sheldon, was quartered at Poundridge in and around the house of
Major Ebenezer Lockwood, one of the most noted patriots of West-
chester County,1 and in the same locality was a militia force of 120
men, commanded by Major Leavenworth. Tarleton, then encamped
at the Mile Square near Yonkers, was ordered to make a sudden
night march to Poundridge for the double purpose of surprising and

1 Ebenezer Lockwood was the foremost mon Pleas of Westchester County. He took a

Poundridge citizen of his times. He was for conspicuous part in the locating and building

many years a member of the board of super- of the new county court house. He was com-

visors, represented the county in the second, missioned major of Colonel Thomas Thomas's

third, ami fourth provincial congresses, in the regiment of Westchester County militia in

State convention of 1776-77. and in the assem- 1775, and at various times performed service in

lily during and subsequently to the Revolution, the field,
and in 17!)1 was appointed first judge of Com-

FROM JANUARY, 1779, TO SEPTEMBER, 17S0 457

capturing these Americans and securing the person of Major Lock-
wood, on whose head a price of forty guineas had been set. An
American spy named Luther Kinnicutt gave notice to Sheldon of
the intended' attack, but without being able to say on what day it
would occur. This timely information enabled Lockwood to escape.
Tarleton chose a very rainy night, and in consequence the Americans
were not well on their guard. He moved from the Mile Square about
half-past eleven on the night of July 1, with a mixed force of horse
and foot carefully picked from four different regiments. In his offi-
cial report he stated that his numbers were about 200, but accord-
ing to American estimates they were some 300. Going by way of
Bedford, he arrived at Poundridge early on the morning of the 2d.
After driving back a small detachment under Major Benjamin Tall-
madge, he put the whole of Sheldon's body to rout, capturing the
regimental colors. The American losses were estimated at from
eighteen to twenty-five in killed, wounded, and prisoners.1 Tarleton
pursued the fugitives, and after his return burned Lockwood's house,
maltreated his wife, and burned the Poundridge meeting-house. The
small body of militia under Leavenworth now began to harass Tarle-
ton's troopers, and upon the retirement of the latter through Bedford
they were much annoyed by the American riflemen, who fired at
them from houses. To this " inveteracy " of the militia, as he calls
it, Tarleton says his burning of Bedford was owing. "I proposed
to the militia terms," he says, " that if they would not fire shots
from buildings I would not burn. They interpreted my mild pro-
posal wrong, imputing it to fear. They persisted in firing till the
torch stopped their progress, after which not a shot was fired." But
according to accounts left by residents of Bedford the burning of
the place was a quite wanton deed. The Presbyterian Church was
destroyed, and indeed the tradition is that only one house was left
standing. Thus the ancient settlement of Bedford was practically
swept out of existence. Barrett, in his History of North Castle, says
that many houses in that locality were burned by Tarleton on his
way down from Bedford. Certainly there was no inveteracy of
militia at North Castle.

It is curious that the responsibility for Tarleton's deed was by
manv of the Bedford people charged to Colonel James Holmes, their

1 Bolton (rev. ed., ii., 115) relates the follow- which hit his cap and perforated the scalp on

ing amusing incident: "John Buckhout, who the side of his head without further injury,

happened to be in the rear of Sheldon's regi- ' There.' says the dragoon. ' you damned rebel,

ment during the retreat, and closely pursued, a little more and I should have blown your

was accosted in the imperative tone of a Brit- brains out.' ' Yes, damn you,' replied John,

ish dragoon: 'Surrender, you damn rebel, or 'and a little more you wouldn't have touched

I'll blow your brains out!' John, not heeding me.' John continued his speed, and escaped

the threat, was saluted with a pistol shot, without further injury."

458 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

recreant townsman. Holmes was descended from one of the original
Bedford proprietors, and the family had always been a promi-
nent one in the town. He served in the French and Indian War, and,
as related in a previous chapter, was an active patriot partisan at
the beginning of hostilities between America and Great Britain,
being a member of the New York provincial convention, one of the
committee which made the first inspection of the heights at Kings-
bridge with a view to their fortification, and colonel of one of the
first four regiments raised in the Province of New York. But on
account of private grievances he resigned his commission in 1777
and retired to his farm at Bedford. Here he soon became known as
one of the disaffected, and in 1778, at the instance of some of his
neighbors, he was arrested by the committee of safety. Escaping
from custody, he joined the British in New York. His name thus
became an odious one in Bedford, but his connection with the burn-
ing of the village by local report was unjust to him. He certainly
was not with Tarleton's party. Soon after this event he was seized
while on a visit to Bedford occasioned by the death of his brother,
was thrown into prison, escaped, was again taken, and again es-
caped. Then, his estate having been confiscated, he accepted the
appointment of lieutenant-colonel of the Westchester County Refu-
gees in the British service. This was in the summer of 1781. It is
but just to say that Colonel James Holmes was a type of the un-
fortunate rather than the bloody-minded Westchester County Tories
who ultimately took up arms against their country.

Just previously to his raid on Poundridge and Bedford, Tarleton,
in conjunction with Simcoe's Bangers, successfully attacked an
American militia force at Crompond, in the present Town of York-
town. This was on the 21th of June. About thirty of the Americans
were killed or taken prisoners, the captives being conveyed to New
York and incarcerated in the notorious Sugar House. This was the
second raid on Crompond within a month. A former British party
came there from Verplanck's Point under Colonel Abercrombie,
guided by Caleb Morgan, a Tory of Yorktown, and burned a store-
house and the parsonage. In fact, the country above the Croton
River, which up to this time had been comparatively secure against
British incursions, was now pretty generally visited by hostile troops,
and the numerous Tories of Cortlandt Manor were in high feather
consequently.

To the same general period belongs an attack made by Colonel
Emmerich's men on a continental guard at Tarrytown, which, though
a small affair — in fact only one of a vast number of minor occur-
rences unrelated to the main current of events. — is memorable for

FROM JANUARY, 1779, TO SEPTEMBER, 1780 459

the incident of the inhuman killing of Sergeant Isaac Martlingh.
Martlinoli was a one-armed man. With Emmerich's troop from be-
low came a certain Nathaniel Underhill, of the vicinity of Yonkers,
■I T«»ry who it is said, harbored bitter animosity against Martlingh
because on one occasion the latter had caused his arrest. Martlingh
had been to a nearby spring for a pail of water, and was just about
to re-enter his house when Underhill approached him from behind
and smote him dead. The act was considered so heinous that it was
commemorated on the dead man's tombstone, which, with its grim
record, is still standing. The inscription is as fellows: - In Memory
of Mr Isaac Martlings, who was Inhuminely slan by Nathaniel Under-
hill May 2(5 A D 1779 in the 30th Year [of his age]." On the same
occasion, according to a local Tarrytown authority, a woman named
Polly or Katrina Buckhout was "killed by a yager rifleman ' be-
longing to the Emmerich party. " She imprudently appeared at the
door of her house with a man's hat on, when two hostile parties
were near each other, and was killed by mistake for an enemy. The
yager fired without orders, and Emmerick made an apology, being
much mortified at the occurrence."

Another incident of the summer of 1779 which deserves passing
mention was a notable running fight between Captain Hopkins, of
the American Light Horse, and Emmerick, with a much larger body
of British cavalry (about 500 strong). This happened on the borders
of the Town of Greenburgh. Hopkins was lying in ambuscade in
the vicinity of Youngs's House, hoping to surprise a party of the
enemy under Colonel Bearmore, when Emmerick came up. A
spirited encounter followed, in which numbers were killed and
wounded on both sides. According to Bolton, the British killed were
twenty-three. Hopkins conducted himself with great credit m this
engagement, retiring successfully at the end.1

Although most of the fighting in our county during the summer
and fall of rhis year occurred in the northern and central sections,
as the result of British aggressions, the Americans attempted oc-
casional counter-strokes in the territory of the present Borough of
the Bronx, two of which are described by Heath. On The 5th of

i The interested reader mav And detailed par- Chester County. In the compilation of the
ticulars of this fight, as of numerous other present History, both the author and editor
Revolutionary episodes for the Towns of Green- . have found frequent occasion to appreciate the
burgh and Mount Pleasant, in the " Souvenir general thoroughness, accuracy, and intelli-
of the Revolutionary Soldiers' Monument Dedi- geuce of Mr. Raymond's local historical writ-
ration at Tarrytown, October 19. 1894" (com- ings as published in his newspaper and other-
piled by M d' Raymond, editor of the Tarry- wise: and they take satisfaction in acknowl-
town Irnus) This little book, although mod- edging their indebtedness to his published ar-
estly claimed by the compiler to be chiefly of tides for not a few of the facts contained in
•• a personal character." is invaluable to the these pages,
student of the Revolutionary annals of West-

460 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

August " about oue hundred horse, of Sheldon's, Moylan's, and of
the militia, and about forty infantry of Glover's brigade, passed by
de Lancey's Mills to the neighborhood of Morrisania, where they
took twelve or fourteen prisoners, some stock, etc. The enemy col-
lected and a skirmish ensued, in which the enemy had a number of
men killed and wounded; our loss, two killed and two wounded."
And on the 3d of October " Lieutenant Gill, of the dragoons, patrol-
ing in Eastchester, found a superior force in his rear, and no alterna-
tive but to surrender or cut his way through them. He chose the
latter and forced his way, when he found a body of infantry still
behind the horse. These he also charged, and on his passing them
his horse was wounded aud threw him, when he fell into the enemy's
hands. Two of the lieutenant's party, which consisted of twenty-
four, were killed, and one taken prisoner; the rest escaped safe to
their regiments."

General Heath resumed his old headquarters at Peekskill on the
24th of October, three days after the final evacuation by the British
of the forts at Verplanck's and Stony Points. Here, on the 28th of
November, he received from Washington the appointment of com-
mander of all the posts and troops on the Hudson River.

About the same time that Sir Henry Clinton definitively aban-
doned his schemes on the Hudson he also withdrew the large com-
mand which, since the winter of 1770, had been in occupation of
Rhode Island. One of his reasons for this move, as well as for his
withdrawal of the garrisons from Verplanck's and Stony Points, was
his apprehension that the French fleet of d'Estaing, which had sailed
from the West Indies, would now unite with Washington in a siege
of New York. But d'Estaing stopped at Savannah to assist General
Lincoln in his effort to recover that place, and afterward, the joint
operation having failed disastrously, returned to France. Clinton
next carried his arms southward and besieged and took Charleston.
He was occupied in the South from the beginning of 1780 until June.

The winter of 1779-80 was the severest ever known in this part
of the country. Not only the whole North River, but much of New
York Bay, was frozen solid,1 and if the army under Washington
had been in any condition to assume the aggressive New York, with
its relatively small garrison, must probably have succumbed. But
never was Washington's army in a more deplorable plight than dur-
ing that terrible winter. It was encamped in two divisions, one

1 General Heath relates in his Memoirs, un- and the Seventh British regiment, came over
der date of February 7, 1780, that " A body from Long Island to Westchester on the ice."
of the enemy's horse, said to be about 300,

FROM JANUARY, 1779. TO SEPTEMBER, 1780 461

under Heath at Peekskill and in the Highlands, the other and prin-
cipal part under Washington at Morristown.

The principal event of the winter in Westchester County was the
so-called " Affair at Youngs's House," a considerable and very disas-
trous engagement, in which some 250 men were concerned on the
American side and more than twice that number on the enemy's.
This house, owned by Joseph Youngs, was situated about four miles
east of Tarrytown and about the same distance northwest of White
Plains, at the intersection of an east and west road from Tarrytown
and a north and south road from Unionville; and the locality was
hence called " The Four Corners.'' As a result of the conflict there
the dwelling was burned, and during the remainder of the war the
place was known as " The Burnt House/' After the Revolution the
Youngs farm was purchased by Isaac Van Wart, one of the cap-
tors of Andre, who built upon it the historic "Van Wart House,'"
which subsequently, with the whole property, was owned for many
years by his son, the Rev. Alexander Van AYart. The house was in
the present Town of Mount Pleasant, just beyond the Greenburgk
border.

" Youngs's House,'' being at an important cross-roads and on
elevated ground, and having a number of outbuildings attached to it,
which, with the dwelling, afforded accommodation for many men,
was a principal station for the American troops quartered " on the
lines " — the lines at that time being maintained as far south as
Dobbs Ferry. Lieutenant-Colonel Thomson, at the period of which
we write, was in chief command on the lines, subordinate, of course,
to General Heath at Peekskill. His orders were " to move between
Croton River and the White Plains, Hudson's River and Bedford;
never to remain long at any one place, that the enemy might not be
able to learn their manner of doing duty or form a plan for striking
.them in any particular situation." During this winter, with 250 men,
he took a position at the Youngs House, and, contrary to instruc-
tions, stopped there so long that the enemy conceived and executed
the precise project that General Heath apprehended. On the night
of February 2, 1780, " a force of between four and five hundred in-
fantry and one hundred horsemen, composed of British, Germans,
and Colonel de Lancey's Tories, set out from Fort Knyphausen (for-
merly Fort Washington), south of Spuyten Duyvil," to attack him,
the whole expedition being commanded by Colonel Nelson, of the
Guards. The weather was intensely cold, and deep snow covered
the ground. The attacking party arrived about nine o'clock on the
morning of February 3. Thomson's men offered a brave resistance,
but were overpowered by numbers. The American loss in killed

462 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

and wounded was between thirty and fort}', about half the total
number being killed on the spot or dying of their wounds. The enemy
acknowledged losses of five killed and eighteen wounded. Lieutenant-
Colonel Thomson and six other officers, with eighty-nine privates,
were taken prisoners. The killed of both sides were buried together.
" 1 have ploughed many a furrow over their graves," said the Rev.
Alexander Van Wart.

In consequence of this unfortunate affair, all attempt by the
Americans to hold the country south of the Croton River was aban-
doned, and from that time until the restoration of peace our lines
.lid not extend below Pine's Bridge and Bedford. In September,
1780 (eight months after the Youngs House disaster), when Major
Andre was taken at Tarrytown, his captors had to travel a distance
of more than ten miles to the nearest American post.

Our Westchester County novelist, James Fenimore Cooper, in
ki The Spy," locates at the " Four Corners " the famous hotel of Betty
Flanagan, a kt house of entertainment for man and beast/' before
which" hung the sign, "Elizabeth Flanagan, her hotel," written in
red chalk. To Betty Flanagan Cooper accredits the immortal honor
of the invention of "that beverage which is so well known at the
present hour to all the patriots who make a winter's march between
the commercial and political capitals of this great State, and which
is distinguished by the name of ' cocktail.' "

About two weeks before the melancholy occurrence at Youngs's
House a party of Americans descended to Morrisania and at dead
of night attacked the quarters of the British Colonel Hatfield.
This party, says Heath, was made up of troops from Horseneck and
Greenwich, Conn., about eighty in number, commanded by Captains
Keoler and Lockwood. Several British were killed, the quarters
were burned, and Hat field, three other officers, and eleven men were
taken prisoners. Another raid on Morrisania, on a larger scale and
much more effective, was made in May. It was led by Captain dish-
ing, of the Massachusetts line, with one hundred infantry. More
than forty of de Lancey's troopers were killed or made prisoners.
The object of the expedition was to capture de Lancey himself, but
he was absent. On this occasion Abraham Dyckman, the guide, dis-
tinguished himself by capturing Captain Ogden in Emmerick's
quarters at the Farmers' Bridge, although a British sentry was
within musket shot at the time.1

At the beginning of May, f ISO, says Bancroft, the total continental
troops between the Chesapeake and Canada did not exceed 7,000,
and in the first week of June those with Washington and fit for

■v. (Ml., ii., 525.

FROM JANUARY, 1779, TO SEPTEMBER, 1780 463

duty were only 3,760, who, moreover, were unpaid and almost unfed.
Knyphausen now invaded New Jersey with a large force, but soon
afterward Sir Henry Clinton, returning from the South, put an end
to that enterprise, which he regarded with dissatisfaction. Once
more Washington was reduced to conjecture as to the purposes of
the enemy, and once more he moved up toward the Highlands.

On the 10th of July a new French expedition arrived on our shores,
this time at Newport. The fleet was commanded by Admiral de
Ternay, and the land force (5,000) by the Count de Rochambeau, the
instructions of the latter being to act subject to the orders of Wash-
ington as commander-in-chief. Three days later Clinton, at New
York, was re-enforced by the fleet of Admiral Craves, which gave him
a naval superiority. He now decided to attack the French at New-
port, and as a preparatory measure (says Irving) marched 6,000 men
to Throgg's Neck in our county, intending to dispatch them from
there on transports. Washington, taking advantage of this great
weakening of the British force in New York, and feeling that the
French were able to hold their own, immediately made ready to
proceed against Kingsbridge. By the end of July he had moved all
his forces across King's Ferry into Westchester County, and, making
his headquarters in the Birdsall house at Feekskill. was energetically
completing his plans. At this Sir Henry, still at Throgg's Neck, re-
considered his Newport project and returned to Manhattan Island.
It was supposed at the time that his erratic action was occasioned
partly by the delay in the arrival of his transports, partly by Wash-
ington's sudden move, and partly by information which he had re-
ceived of the strengthening of the French troops by large bodies of
militia. But the principal cause was undoubtedly the change in the
command at West Point, made just at his time, which seemed to as-
sure him of the early realization by treachery of his long-cherished
dream of getting control of the Hudson.

CHAPTEE XXII

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE1

^PjSpJXTIL 1778 West Point was a solitude, thickly covered with
iilllii trees an<l nearly inaccessible. During 1778-79 it was cov-
iJfgKfc: ered by fortresses, with numerous redoubts, and so con-
"'•'••'• "^ nected as to form a system of defense which was believed
to be impregnable. Here were the stores, provisions, and magazines
and ammunition for the use of the entire American army. It was
the key of the military position and stronghold of the Americans.

The British saw that the possession of the valley of the Hudson
on their part would divide and weaken the power of those who were
striving for liberty, that it would obstruct intercourse between the
American forces in New England and those in New Jersey and to
the northward, that it would open communication between the Brit-
ish forces in Xew York and Canada, and that the capture of the
stores and ammunition collected there would so cripple the Ameri-
cans that they would be obliged to give up the contest.

In 17S0 a change was needed in the command at West Point. Gen-
eral "Robert Howe, then in command, was thought to be inefficient.
Having knowledge of this fact, General Benedict Arnold (who had
for several months been in traitorous correspondence with Sir Henry
Clinton, the commander-in-chief of the British forces in America) re-
solved to solicit the appointment to the command to this post in
order that he might make it the subject of barter for British gold.
From the time when officers who stood below him Avere promoted
over him, discontent had rankled in his breast and found expression
in vague threats of revenge, and it is probable that his base crime
was primarily due to this cause.

On the last day of July, Arnold, who had been on a visit to Connec-
ticut and was now returning to Philadelphia, met General Wash-
ington on horseback at Verplanck's Point just as the last division of
the American army was crossing the Hudson from the west side
preparatory to the contemplated attack on New York City, and asked

i The consecutive narrative nf Arnold's trea- whole mat tor— wo append incidental dotails and

son and Andre's capture which here follows is comments of our own writing, mainly of local

by Franklin Couch, Esq.. of Peekskill. To Mr. Westcbester County intorost.
Couch's narrative— a concise account of the

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE

465

him if any place had been assigned to him. The commander-in-chief,
who was a warm admirer of Arnold for his skill and bravery in the
northern campaigns, replied that he was to take command of the
left wing of the army. This was the post of honor, but still Arnold
did not seem satisfied, and Washington, perceiving it, promised to
meet him at his headquarters at the Birdsall house, Peekskill, and
converse further on the subject. Finding Arnold's heart set on West
Point, and having no suspicion of wrong, and believing, as Arnold
claimed, that his wounded left leg unfitted him for service in the
field, Washington complied with his request, and at Peekskill on
Thursday, August 3, 1780, he issued an order giving to him the com-
mand of West Point and its dependencies, in which were included
both sides of the Hudson from Fishkill to
the King's Ferry ( Verplanck's Point).

On the next day Arnold established his
headquarters at Colonel Beverly Robinson's
house, at the foot of Sugar Loaf Mountain
on the east side of the river nearly opposite
West Point. From this plare he continued,
in a disguised hand, and under the name of
Gustavus, his secret correspondence with
Major John Andre, adjutant-general of the
British army, addressing him as Mr. John
Anderson, merchant.

Correspondence having done its part, a
personal meeting was necessary between
Arnold and Andre for the completion of the
plan for the betrayal of West Point into the

hands of the enemy and the adjustment of the traitor's recompense.
Monday, September 11, at twelve o'clock noon, near Dobbs Ferry,
was the time and place fixed. On the afternoon of the day before,
Arnold went down the river in his barge to the western landing of
King's Ferry (Stony Point) and stayed overnight at the house of
Joshua Hett Smith,' about two miles above llaverstraw. Smith had
been introduced by General Howe to General Arnold, and recom-
mended as a man who could be useful in securing important news
of the enemy's plans. Early the next morning he started in his barge
for the place of meeting, but was fired upon and pursued by the
British gunboats stationed near Dobbs Ferry. He took refuge at
an American post on the western shore, remained until night, went
to Joshua Hett Smith's, where his wife and babe were, they having
arrived that day from Philadelphia, and returned to his headquarters
on the morning of the 12th. taking them with him. Learning that

BENEDICT ARXOLI

466 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Washington was soon to depart from his headquarters at Tappan
(Rockland County, N. Y.) for Hartford (Conn.), to hold a conference
with Count Rochambeau (the commander-in-chief of the French
allies, lately arrived), Arnold wrote to Andre on the 15th, agreeing
to send a person to meet him at Dobbs Ferry on the 20th, and to con-
duct hini to a place of safety where he could confer with him.

()u the 17th Arnold and his aide-de-camp, Colonel Richard Varick,
came to Peekskill, went to Stony Point, there met Washington, Mar-
quis de Lafayette, and Alexander Hamilton, conducted them in Ar-
nold's barge across the river to Verplanck's Point, and accompanied
them on horseback as far as Peekskill, where they passed the night
at the Birdsall house, and the next morning parted never to meet
again.

Washington and his suite proceeded up the Crompond Road, en
route to Hartford by way of Crompond, Salem, Ridgebury, and Dan-
bury. Arnold and his aide returned to his headquarters at the Robin
son house.

On the 20th Andre left New York, went by land to Dobbs Ferry,
and in the evening at seven o'clock' went on board the British ship
of war " Vulture," which had lain some days a little above Teller's
(Croton) Point in Haverstraw Ray.

Early on the1 morning of September 20, two residents of Cortland-
town, Moses Sherwood and John Peterson (a colored man, and a sol-
dier of Van Cortlandt's regiment of Westchester militia), who were
engaged in making cider at Barrett's farm (now of the John W. Frost
estate!, Croton, saw a barge tilled with men from the "Vulture"
approaching the shore. They seized their gnus, which they had taken
with them to their work, ran to the river, concealed themselves be-
hind some rocks, and as the barge approached Peterson tired, and
great confusion ensued. A second shot from Sherwood compelled
the barge to return to the " Vulture." The British returned the fire,
with no effect except to alarm the neighborhood.

This occurrence, when told Andre upon his arrival, suggested (o
him a method of notifying Arnold of his presence on board the " Vul-
ture." On the morning of the 21st he addressed a letter to Arnold
in his own handwriting (with which Arnold was familiar), signed by
Captain Andrew Sutherland and countersigned by J. Anderson, sec-
retary. This was the name assumed by Andre in his previous corre-
spondence with Arnold. The letter complained of a violation of mili-
tary rule in that a boat the day before had been decoyed on shore and
tired upon by armed men concealed in the bushes. It was sent by the
flag of truce to Verplanck's Point and delivered to Colonel James
Livingston, who was then in command of the American forces there.

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 467

Arnold rode through Peekskill to Verplanck's Point on the morn-
ing of the 21st, and Colonel Livingston handed him the letter which
he had just received from Andre. Arnold then crossed the river
and went to Joshua Ilett Smith's house. Prom Stony Point he dis-
patched an officer in his own barge up the river to Peekskill Creek,
and thence to Canopus Creek, with orders to bring down a row-boat
from that place, and directed Major William Kierse, the quarter-
master at Stony Point, to send the boat the moment it should arrive
to a certain place in Haverstraw Creek.

Near midnight, Smith, in the boat thus obtained, rowed by two of
bis tenants, Joseph and Samuel Colquhoun, with muffled oars, pro-
ceeded on ebb tide to the " Vulture " and brought Andre on shore,
where he found Arnold awaiting him in the darkness among the hr
trees at a lonely unfrequented spot at the foot of the Long Clove
Mountain south of Haverstraw village. He had ridden on horseback
from Smith's house to the place of meeting, attended by one of Smith's
negro servants. Here, in the gloom of night, and until the approach-
ing break of day, the conspirators conferred. The negotiations not
having been completed, they, in the gray of early morn, rode through
Haverstraw to Smith's house, three miles distant, Andre expecting
to return to the " Vulture" on the next night. Smith, his servant,
and the boatmen returned by water. Andre had scarcely entered the
house when booming of cannon was heard, causing him considerable
uneasiness, and with reason.

The Americans at Croton had not been idle. They had sent a
delegation to Colonel Livingston to inform him that the "Vulture"
was within cannon shot of Teller's Point, whereupon Livingston sent
a party with a four-pound cannon from Verplanck's Point in the
night. A small breastwork was erected at the west end of the point,
the gun planted, and a fire directed upon the " Vulture," which was
returned by several broadsides. The Americans fired with effect,
shivering some of the spars of the vessel, and compelled, her to weigh
anchor and drop down the river. One of the shots from the "Vul-
ture" lodged in an oak tree, where it remained for more than half
a century, when the oak tree, which had become decayed, was cut
down, the ball removed and presented by William Underbill to
George J. Fisher, M.D., of Sing Sing.

Andre had watched the cannonade with anxious eye from an upper
window of Smith's house, and after the " Vulture " had been obliged
to shift her anchor, Arnold and Smith, knowing well that she was
closely watched from both sides of the river, became convinced that
it would be unsafe to return Andre on board.

After breakfast the plot for the betrayal of West Point and its

468 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

dependent posts was completed, and the sum that Arnold was to
receive for his villainy agreed upon.

Immediately upon Andre's return to New York, the force under
Clinton and Admiral Sir George Rodney was to ascend the river.
The iron chain stretched across the river at West Point was to be
weakened by taking a link out of it and substituting a rope link.
The approach of the British was to be announced by signals, and
the American forces were to be so distributed that they could be
easily captured, and at the proper moment Arnold was to surrender
the works with all the troops, 3,000 in number.

Andre was furnished by Arnold with plans of the works and ex-
planatory papers, which, at Arnold's request, he placed between his
stockings and his feet, promising in case of accident to destroy them.
Arnold wrote the following pass for Andre, gave it to Smith, and
at ten o'clock departed in his barge for the Eobinson house:

Headquarters, Robinson House,

September 22, 1780.
Permit Mr. John Anderson to pass the guards to White Plains or below, if he chooses, he
being' on public business by my direction.

B. Arnold, Maj. Gen.

Andre passed a lonely day, and as evening approached he became
impatient and spoke to Smith about departure. Smith refused to
take him on board the kt Vulture," much to Andre's surprise and mor-
tification, but offered to cross the river with him to Verplanck's
Point and accompany him part of the distance to New York on horse-
back.

On Friday, September 22, at dusk, Andre, Smith, and a negro ser-
vant, with three horses belonging to Smith, crossed the King's Ferry
from Stony Point in a flat-bottomed boat rowed by Cornelius Lam-
bert, Lambert Lambert, and William Van Wart, Henry Lambert act-
ing as coxswain. Upon landing at Verplanck's, Smith called the cox-
swain into Welsh's hut near the ferry landing and gave him an eight
dollar continental bill, and then went to Colonel Livingston's tent.
a short distance from the road, and talked with him a few minutes,
but declined his invitation to take some liquor, and said that he was
going to General Arnold's headquarters.

They mounted their horses, rode over the obi King's Ferry Road
to the New York and Albany Post Road, and from thence north to
Peekskill, where they took the road leading easterly from Peekskill
to Crompond Corners. When about three miles east of Peekskill on
the Crompond Road they were stopped by a military patrol under
command of Captain Ebenezer Boyd. This event is best told by
Captain Boyd in his testimony on the subsequent trial of Joshua Hett
Smith for treason:

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 469

Last Friday, the 22d of September, between eight and nine o'clock at night, the sentry
stopped Mr. Smith, another person, and a negro. When the party hailed them they answered
" Friends." The sentry ordered one to dismount. Mr. Smith readily dismounted and
advanced till he came near the sentry and asked who commanded the party ; the sentry said
"Captain Boyd" ; upon that I was called for ; Mr. Smith came to me upon my calling for
him. I asked him who he was ; he told me his name was Joshua Smith and that he had a
pass from General Arnold to pass all guards. I asked him where he lived ; he told me. I
asked him what time he crossed the ferry ; he said "about dusk." I asked where he was
bound for ; he told me that he intended to go that night as far as Major (Joseph) Strang's.
I told him Strang was not at home, and he spoke something of going to Colonel Gilbert
Drake's. I told him that he had moved to Salem, and that as to Major Strang's, that his lady
might be in bed and it would incommode her much. I then asked to see his pass and he
went into a little house close by there and got a light and I found that he had a pass from
General Arnold to pass all guards to White Plains and return on business of importance.

I then asked him to tell me something of his business ; he made answer that he had no
objections to my knowing it ; he told me that he was a brother of (Chief Justice) William
Smith in Xew York, though very different in principle, and that he was employed by General
Arnold to go with that gentleman, meaning the person who was with him, to get intelligence
from the enemy ; that they expected to meet a gentleman at or near White Plains for the
same purpose. ' I advised Mr. Smith to put up there at one Andreas Miller's, close by where
we were, and to start as soon as it was light.

They went to Miller's house and passed a restless night. Andre
and Smith occupying the same bed. The Miller house was on the
southerly side of Crompond Road in Yorktown, about one-third of a
mile east of Lexington Avenue. It has been torn down, but the
cellar is still to be seen.

Saturday, September 23, they took an early departure. Passing
through Crompond Corners, and when at the junction of the Somers-
town Road, near Strang's or Mead's tavern, they were saluted by a
sentinel in the road and taken to Captain Ebenezer Foot, who was
in charge of a guard there. He examined their passes, and, being-
satisfied, they proceeded on tluur journey eastward about half a mile,
until they reached the road southerly to Tine's Bridge over the
Croton. Taking that road, they proceeded to the house of Isaac
Underbill, where they took breakfast of corn meal mush and milk.

They journeyed no farther together. Smith returned to Peekskill,
and then went to Fishkill, where his family was, stopping on his way
at the Robinson house to dine with Arnold and notify him of the
progress that Andre had made.

When Andre and Smith parted, it was understood that Andre
was to go to Xew York by way of White Plains, but, after passing-
Pine's Bridge, which was located about half a mile north of the
present bridge, he took the westerly road leading toward the Hudson
River. Captain Boyd had told Andre to avoid the river road, as
there were many British upon it. He was probably induced by this
remark to change his plans and take it, hoping thereby to fall in with
friends.

At this time there was a class of men known as Cowboys (mostly,

- -

" -■
-

■ - -

.. . _

■
-

■

- ;

- - " "

i >

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 471

cards. Then the party went to David's Hill, where they separated.
Dean, Romer, Yerks, See, and Abraham Williams remained on the
hill, and Paulding, Van Wart, and David Williams proceeded on the
Tarrytown Road about a mile and concealed themselves in the bushes
near a stream, and to the south of it, on the west side of the road
(where the monument erected to their memory now stands), and
commenced playing cards. The two parties were not far apart, and
it was agreed before separating that if either party should need the
aid of the other, a gun should be tired.

During the first half hour several persons whom they knew passed,
then Van Wart, who was standing guard while Paulding and Will-
iams played cards, discovered, at about nine o'clock, on the rising
ground directly opposite to where the Tarrytown Academy now
stands, slowly riding toward them, a man on a black horse. He said
to Williams and Paulding, k' Here's a horseman coming! We must
stop him." At that, Paulding, who was the master spirit of the
party, got up, stepped out into the road, leveled his musket at the
rider, and asked him which way he was going. Paulding at this time
wore the coat and cap of a German yager, green laced with red, and
it is very probable that his appearance deceived Andre, for, instead
of producing Arnold's pass, he said, " Gentlemen, I hope you belong
to our party." " What party? " asked Paulding. kt The lower party,"
said Andre. Upon that Paulding told him that they did. Andre an-
swered, " I'm glad to see you. I am an officer in the British service,
out in the country on particular business, and I hope you won't de-
tain me a minute; and to let you know that I am a gentleman "

he then pulled out his watch, upon which Paulding told him to dis-
mount, and that they were Americans.

Astonished to find into what hands he had fallen and how he had
betrayed himself, yet promptly recovering his composure, he laughed,
declared himself a continental officer going down to Dobbs Ferry to
get information from the enemy, and said, " My God, a man must do
anything to get along," and then produced his pass from Arnold and
handed it to Paulding, who read it. He then dismounted and said,
" Gentlemen, you had better let me go, or you will bring yourselves
into trouble."

Paulding then told him that he hoped he would not be offended,
as they did not mean to take anything from him, that there were a
great many bad people going the road, and they did not know but
he might be one, and then asked him if he had any letters about
him; to which Andre answered "No."

They then took down the fence and led him and his horse into
the woods. They told him to take off his clothes, which he did, and,

472 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

searching them, they found nothing- except eighty dollars in continen-
tal money, which had been given him by Smith. Paulding then told
him to take off his boots. This he was very backward about doing,
but when he had done so, Paulding felt of his feet and found the
papers which Arnold had delivered to him in his stockings. Upon
examining these, Paulding, who was the only one of the captors who
could read, said, " This man is a spy." He asked Andre where he
had obtained the papers, and he replied of a stranger at Pine's Bridge.
He was then ordered to dress himself. " While he was doing so,"
Williams says, " I asked him how much he would give to let him go;
he said any sum. I then asked if he would give up his horse, saddle,
bridle, watch, and one hundred guineas; he said yes. I asked him if
he would not give more, and he said he would give any quantity of
dry goods, or any sum of money, and bring it to any place we might
pitch on so that we might get it." Upon which Paulding answered:
" No, by God, if you would give us ten thousand guineas you shall
not stir one step! "

Andre was then ordered to remount his horse, and was taken by
bis captors to Sand's Mills, North Castle, the nearest American post,
and delivered with his papers to Lieutenant-Colonel John Jameson,
of the 2d Eegiment Light Dragoons, who, in the absence of Colonel
Sheldon, commanded the post.

The captors, according to military custom, retained his watch,
horse, and bridle, which they sold, and divided the money received
for them among the party of seven.

Jameson, who was bewildered by the discovery, injudiciously sent
a message by Lieutenant Solomon Allen to General Arnold at the
Robinson house, notifying him of the capture of Andre. Arnold,
who was at breakfast with his wife and aide-de-camp, Major David
S. Franks, when the messenger from Jameson arrived (it being about
0 a.m.), opened the letter, read it carefully, folded it, put it in his
pocket, finished the remark which was on his lips when the mes-
senger arrived, and excused himself to those at the table, saying that
it was necessary for him to go immediately to West Point, and for
the aides to inform General Washington on his arrival, which was
hourly expected, that he would very soon return. His wife, observ-
ing his slight agitation, followed him to their chambers, where all
was quickly revealed to her and she fell into an intermittent state
of swoon and delirium, which lasted several hours.

While up-stairs with his wife he was informed by Major Franks
that two aides had arrived, announcing that General Washington
would very soon arrive. He kissed his infant child, sweetly sleeping
in its cradle, and descended the stairs in great confusion. He ordered

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 473

a horse to bo saddled, mounted him, told Major Franks to inform
General Washington that he had gone to West Point and would
return in an hour, hurried down the steep road to the river, entered
his barge at Beverly Dock, and seating himself in the bow directed
his oarsmen to row to midstream. Then priming his pistols, he
ordered them to hurry down the river, stating to them that he had
to go with a ilag of truce to the kk Vulture," and must hasten back
to meet Washington. He tied a white handkerchief to a cane and
waved it as he passed Colonel Livingston at Verplanck's Point, and
that officer, recognizing the barge, allowed it to pass. In a short
time he was safely on board the " Vulture." where he wrote a letter
to Washington asking protection for Mrs. Arnold and proclaiming
her innocence and that of his aides. He afterward received the price
of his desertion, 0,315 pounds sterling, was made a brigadier-general
in the British army, and turned his sword against his countrymen.
At the close of the war he went to England, where his treason fol-
lowed him like an avenging Nemesis and brought upon him many
humiliations. In the United States his name became a byword and
reproach to mark the depth of human degradation and villainy. After
years of bitter disappointment, cares, and embarrassments his nerv-
ous system failed him, sleep became a stranger to his eyes, and at
London, on Juno II, 1801, he died, " unwept, unhonored, and unsung."

Not long after Arnold left the Robinson house Washington ar-
rived, and on being informed that Arnold had gone to West Point
took breakfast at about twelve o'clock and passed over with Generals
Lafayette, Knox, and aides to that post, where he was surprised not
to find Arnold.

While Washington was across the river, Lieutenant-Colonel Jame-
son's second messenger, Captain Jerome Hoogland, with the captured
papers and a letter written on the 21th by Andre at Salem to Wash-
ington, announcing who he was, arrived, and Alexander Hamilton,
left at the Robinson house by Washington, opened them as his confi-
dential aide. As soon as Washington's boat approached the shore
on his return from West Point. Hamilton went toward the dock to
meet his chief, whispered a few words to him, and both entered the
house and were closeted together. The plot was then revealed. Ham-
ilton and Major James McHenry. the aide of Lafayette, were hastily
dispatched on horseback by way of Peekskill to Colonel Livingston
at Verplanck's Point to head off Arnold in his escape, if possible, but
on reaching that officer's post it was found that Arnold's boat had
already passed down the river.

After dinner Washington took Generals Lafayette and Knox into
his confidence, and with choking voice and tears rolling down

474 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

his cheeks revealed to them the dark conspiracy. " Arnold is a
traitor and has flown to the British. Whom can we trust now?"
wore the words of the great commander.

At seven o'clock he wrote to Colonel Jameson to use every pre-
caution to prevent Andre from making his escape, and to send him
to the Robinson house by some upper road rather than by the more
dangerous route of Crompond.

Andre, with a strong cavalry escort under command of Major Ben-
jamin Tallmadge of the 2d Light Dragoons, left South Salem a little
after midnight on the morning of the 26th by way of Long Pond
.Mountain, North Salem meeting-house, Oroton Falls, Lake Maho-
pac, and Bed .Mills, where a halt was made at the house of
Major James Cox. When Andre entered the house he stepped
to a cradle where the infant daughter of the major was lying, and,
being greeted with a smile from the little one, said, in a tone of deep
melancholy tenderness, '' Happy childhood! We know its peace but
once." After a short stop the cavalcade proceeded by the same road
to Shrub Oak Plains, and from thence past the present residences
of Charles 1*. Welde and Jonathan Currey, down Grey's Hill, and
into the Peekskill Hollow Road, and from thence southerly to the
then public house at the junction of the Albany Post Road and the
Peekskill Hollow Road (now owned by Gardner Z. Hollman), where
a halt was made for a few minutes. They then proceeded over Gal-
lows Hill, where the spy Edmund Palmer was hanged three years
before by Putnam, through Continental Milage, northerly over the
King's Highway to the road leading westerly to Garrison's, then
called Nelson's or Mandeville's. On reaching the river road they
went southerly to the Robinson house, where, after having traveled
about forty miles, they delivered their prisoner about eleven o'clock
on the morning of the 2<>th. In the evening he was taken To Fort
Putnam, West Point, where he was confined until the morning of
the 2Sth, when he was taken, still in charge of Major Tallmadge, in
a barge down the river to Stony Point, and from thence on horseback
to Tappan, Rockland County, X. V., where the headquarters of the
American army were located. There, on September 29, he was tried
before a board of fourteen general officers: Major-Generals Stirling,
Lafayette, Robert Howe, Steuben, and Saint Clair, and Brigadier-
Generals Parsons, James Clinton, Knox, (Hover, Patterson, Hand,
Huntington, and Stark, Major-General Greene presiding, and upon
his own free and voluntary confession was unanimously found
guilty of being a spy, and that in their opinion he ought to suffer
death. On October 1 the commander-in-chief approved the findings
of the court and named a time for the execution.

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 475

On the 2d of October, twelve o'clock noon, a vast concourse of peo-
ple assembled, a large detachment of troops paraded, and amid a
scene of deep melancholy and intense gloom the procession, led by
the general and field officers (Washington, however, not being pres-
ent), marched to the spot where the execution was to take place.
The accomplished major, dressed in the full uniform of a British
officer, walked arm in arm with steady steps between two American
officers, Captains Hun and John Hughes. On the way to the gallows
he wore a pleasant smile and betrayed no want of fortitude. He
was thoroughly reconciled to his fate, though not the manner of it
(having earnestly requested to be shot instead of hung), and went
to his death with great firmness. On his arrival at the gallows he
was led to the wagon under it, raised himself into it, and said to those
near by, " Gentlemen, I pray you to bear witness that I meet my
fate as a brave man." He then took the noose from the hands of the
hangman, removed his hat and snow-white neckcloth, pushed down
the collar of his shirt, and, opening the noose, put it over his head
and around his neck, drawing the knot close on the right side directly
under his ear. He then took a handkerchief from his pocket and
tied it over his eyes; taking another he handed it to the hangman,
who pinioned his hands behind him. The wagon was then removed
from under him, leaving him suspended, and he expired instantly.

Dr. James Thacher, of the American army, a spectator, writing
of the event in his Journal, says : tk The spot was consecrated by the
tears of thousands."

Andre's remains were interred within a few yards of the place of
his execution, but in 1821 they were transferred to England and
buried in that sacred resting place of her mighty dead in West-
minster Abbey, near a monument erected to his memory.

Major Andre was the pride of the British army, and the valued
and confidential friend and aide of Sir Henry Clinton. He was but
twenty-nine years of age, tall, well proportioned, genteel, graceful,
and dignified; his countenance was mild, expressive, and prepossess-
ing, indicating a man of superior attainments. In his profession he
was ambitious, skillful, brave, and enterprising. His death was
regretted even by his enemies, but there was nothing in the execu-
tion that was not consistent with the rules of war, and his sacrifice
was necessary for the public safety.

Washington, writing to the president of the continental congress
from the Robinson house, September 2(3, 1780, says: " I don't know
the party who took Andre, but it is said it consisted only of a few
militiamen, who acted in such a manner upon the occasion as does
them the highest honor and proves them to be men of great virtue.

476 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

They were offered, as I am informed, a large sum of money for his
release, and as many goods as they would demand, but without effect.
Their conduct gives them a just claim to the thanks of their country;
and I also hope they will be otherwise rewarded. As soon as I shall
know their names! shall take pleasure in transmitting them to
congress."

October 7, 1780, Washington wrote to the president of congress:
" I have now the pleasure to communicate to you the names of the
three persons who captured Andre and who refused to release him,
notwithstanding the most earnest importunities and assurances of
a liberal reward on his part. Their conduct merits our warmest
esteem, and I beg leave to add that I think the public will do well
to make them a handsome gratuity. They have prevented, in all
probability, our suffering one of the severest strokes that could have
been meditated against us. Their names are John Paulding, David
Williams, Isaac Van Wart."

Congress took action on the recommendation of General Washing-
ton and adopted the following preamble and resolution:

In Cono-ress, November 3, 1780. Whereas, Congress have received information that John
Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wart, three young volunteer militiamen of the
State of New York, did on the 23d of September last intercept Major John Andre, adjutant-
general of the British army, on his return from the American lines in the character of a spy ;
and notwithstanding the large bribes offered them for his release, nobly disdaining to sacrifice
their country for the sake of gold, secured and conveyed him to the commanding officer of
their district, whereby the dangerous and traitorous conspiracy of Benedict Arnold was
brought to light, the insidious designs of the enemy baffled, and the United States rescued
from the impending danger ;

Resolved, That Congress, having a high sense of the virtuous and patriotic conduct of the
said John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wart,

In testimony whereof, ordered, That each of them receive annually out of the public
treasury two hundred dollars in specie or an equivalent in current money of these States,
during life, and that the Board of War procure for each of them a silver medallion, one side
of which shall be shielded with the inscription " Fidelity," and on the other the following
motto : " Vincit amor patriae," and forward them to the commander-in-chief, who is requested
to present the same with a copy of this resolution and the thanks of Congress for their fidelity
and the eminent service they have rendered their country.

Paulding, Williams, and Van Wart were invited to meet General
Washington at Verplanck's Point at his headquarters, on which oc-
casion the medals were presented to them with ceremony, and they
had the honor of dining with him. The State of New York also gave
a farm to each of the captors.

^~^UZsiA^£CtsUt (^^r-^x^

THE CAPTURE OV ANDRE 477

To the foregoing succinct narrative of the capture of Andre a
variety of particulars of incidental importance and interest require
to be added.

It was by the merest chance that the complot of Sir Henry Clinton
and Benedict Arnold was not brought to a successful issue on the
11th of September, the time first appointed for the interview of
Arnold and Andre. Arnold came down the river on the afternoon
of the 10th, spent that night at the Smith house near Haverstraw,
and the next day went farther down and waited till night at a place
opposite Dobbs Ferry. Andre did not come. Although the principals
to the transaction were the British commander in New York and the
American commander on the Hudson, it was not such an easy mat-
ter to bring about a meeting for purposes of treachery on the well-
watched shores of the river. Indeed the whole history of this affair
shows that the simple object in view, that of exchanging understand-
ings and substantial equivalents, was beset with great difficulties
aud embarrassments. It was an ill-starred enterprise from begin-
ning to end, the only lucky feature connected with it being the final
escape of Arnold from Washington's vengeance.

From the 12th of September, after Arnold's return from his first
attempt to meet Andre, a period of nine days elapsed before the sec-
ond and successful endeavor. It is noteworthy that Andre came up
through our county by land as far as Dobbs Ferry, preserving
throughout the journey his true character of a British officer. At
that time the country between Dobbs Ferry and Kingsbridge was
entirely controlled by the British. Andre was captured at Tarrytown,
just above — so near had he proceeded to a point of absolute safety.

The great enterprise shown by the Americans on the Westchester
shore in bringing a cannon down from Verplanck's Point and firing
on the " Vulture " from Teller's (Croton) Point probably had quite as
much to do with the ultimate capture of Andre and salvation of
America as any other circumstance, not excepting the formal arrest
by Paulding, Williams, and Van Wart. Originally Arnold had no
other intention than to return Andre by boat to the " Vulture." If,
during his night conference with Andre, he had foreseen the neces-
sity of sending him back overland, through numerous American posts
and a wide strip of neutral territory patrolled by vigilant American
bands, he certainly would have managed to bring the traitorous
transactions to an end before daylight. The aggressive conduct of
the Americans with their gun on Teller's Point demonstrated to him
that the " Vulture " was very closely watched from the river banks.
Moreover, the main body of the American army was encamped just

478 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

below at Tappan, and it was presumable that with the " Vulture"
(whose movements during the previous days had been rather sensa-
tional) lying at anchor in midstream in that immediate locality the
guards along the river would be exceptionally numerous and inquisi
tive. Hence the decision upon the fatal return journey by land.

Although Arnold departed from Joshua Ilett Smith's house at
ten o'clock on the morning of September 22, leaving passes for Smith
and Andre, it was not until dusk that the pair ventured forth. Andre,
the previous night, when coming ashore from the " Vulture/' had
not removed his uniform, merely taking the precaution of throwing
around him a blue great-coat. Rut on leaving Smith's house for
his hazardous journey he carefully disguised himself, took off his
uniform, and put on an under-coat belonging to Smith and a dark
oreat-coat with ik a wide cape and buttoned close to the neck." The
sufficiency of his disguise was soon to be put to a startling test. Scarce
had he left the post at Verplanck's Point when he came face to face
with Colonel Webb of our army, whom he knew perfectly. His heart
gave a great leap. But Webb did not recognize him in the darkness,
and passed on.

The incidents of Andre's itinerary from Verplanck's Point to the
place of his capture are sufficiently told in Mr. Couch's narrative.
The spot where he was halted by Paulding was just beyond a little
stream which still bears the name of Andre's Brook.

There has recently been published (1809) by Mr. William Abbatt,
of Westchester, under the auspices of the Empire State Society Sons
of the American Revolution, a work of eminent literary and artistic
excellence, entitled "The Crisis of the Revolution; being the Story
of Arnold and Andre, Now for the First Time Collected from All
Sources, and Illustrated with Views of All Places Identified with It."
This is the final authority upon all the details of the capture of Andre.
The number of the original party is often erroneously stated as seven.
Mr. Abbatt shows that it consisted of eight, whose names are accu-
rately given by Mr. Couch. Mr. Abbatt says that "the party was
actually under the direction of one of their number, who was a vet-
eran," and that " he alone of the party was not a private " — Sergeant
John Dean. The part of Dean in the affair is overlooked, or only
very inadequately referred to, in most accounts of tin1 capture of
Andre. As this is a matter of no small interest, and especially de-
serving of attention in a History of Westchester County, a somewhat
particular notice of it is appropriate here.1

1 For our account of John Dean and his connection with the affair, we are indebted to Ins descendant, Prof. Bashford
Dean, of Columbia University.

THE CAPTURE OF AND11E

479

John Dean was a descendant of Samuel Dean, an early landholder
of Jamaica, Long Island (165G). Isaac, one of the three sons of Sam-
uel, settled in our present Town of Greenburgh about 1750, and John
(born in 1755) was his grandson. At the age of twenty John Dean
served as private in Colonel Holmes's regiment in the Montgomery
campaign against Canada; he was next on Long Island under Col-
onel Putnam, and was at the battle of White Plains; promoted to
sergeant, he served (1777-79) in the company of Westchester County
Rangers commanded by his uncle, Captain Gilbert Dean.1 He was
quartermaster of Colonel Graham's regiment (during 1778), ami was
in Youngs's house at the time of its attack by Major Bearmore on

THE UNDERHILL HOUSE, WHERE ANDRE TOOK BREAKFAST.

Christmas Eve, 177S. In the following year he acted as guide on
the lines in the troop of picked horsemen under Aaron Burr, served
with the hitter's successor, Major I hill, and was with him at the time
of his defeat by Colonel Tarleton in June. 177i>. In 1780 he continued
in the militia service, was in the " Youngs's House Affair," and was
next attached to Colonel Jameson's regiment, acting as guide. In

'Captain Gilbert Dean's Rangers were or- safety." In a short time Dean was at the bend

of a picked troop of horse which included the
best of the local militia, and for his subor-
dinates were several of the famous " guides "
of the Neutral Ground. As a test of the char-
acter of the troops, it may be uoted that the
company was retained intact through three en-
listments (1777-78).

gar

ized

in 1777. 1.

eing officially a company of

Col

one! :

Drake's re

giment, then stationed near

\VI

ite P

lains. <'a]

.tain liean was a son-in-law

Colon

el I fake.

ami had proved himself a

gal

lant i

tnd energ<

•tic officer at the battle of

Wli

ite I

'lains and

mi other occasions. His

con

lpany

of Rang!

■i's was placed " under the

inn

uedia

te comma

ind of the committee of

480 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

this capacity, under Captain Wright, of the 2d Connecticut, he took
part in the fruitless descent of the continental army upon the British
outposts at Kingsbridge, and he was in several brisk skirmishes, in
one of which he lost his horse. During the preceding year he had
been taken a prisoner, but was shortly paroled by Colonel de Lancey
and secured an exchange.

Abbatt points out that of the party of militia who guarded the
roads on the memorable day Dean was the officer in command; that
he had disposed the party, himself with the greater number of the
party taking their position on a neighboring road where it was ex-
pected a number of Cowboys would more probably pass. He further
shows that Dean took charge of the prisoner when Paulding, Will-
iams, and Van Wart brought him to the top of the hill, that Dean
exercised commendable discretion in delivering him with the least
possible loss of time at Jameson's headquarters, and that when the
question of responsibility and reward for the capture was brought
up it was ho who reported to Jameson the names of the three captors.
The connection of John Dean with the capture is brought into
oreater prominence in the light of recent researches. As a tried
officer of Gilbert Dean's Rangers— a company which, m the Neutral
Ground, was as active in the patriot interests as were the Rangers
of Colonel de Lancey in those of the enemy— he was brought in close
relation with the predatory movements of the Tories and British,
it Thus appears possible that in the preparation for the memorable
scouting party Dean had had. as tradition states, definite informa-
tion that a Cowboy raid was expected, and that it would pass on the
road which he afterward selected to guard. It is certain that Dean
had exceptional opportunities to learn of these movements at head-
quarters/since his uncle was the captain of the company, and since
the colonel of the regiment, Hammond, was also a kinsman. It is
definitely recorded (1846), moreover, by Thomas Dean, the only son
of John Dean, a man of such standing in Tarrytown that his care-
ful statement in this matter deserves credences that the party acted
under general, if not immediate, orders from Jameson. It is well
known" that the party went to a definite locality and posted their
guard— although it was found necessary in so doing to spend a night
on the road, ft is further known that on the return of the party to
North Castle a stop was made at the Dean house, which, by the way,
is still standing, and tradition states that a fresh horse was here
obtained, Andre's having already that day made the journey from
near Garrison's.

That John Dean did not figure more prominently in the accounts
of the capture is due to several reasons. In the first place, he himself

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 481

reported to Jameson that Paulding, Williams, and Van Wart were
alone directly responsible for the capture; in the second place, it
appears that Dean regarded the taking of a spy as of the nature of
hangman's work, with which few people should care to be associated.
It is known, furthermore, that tins feeling on his part gave rise to a
disagreement with the other members of the party, a circumstance
which may in part have made the others the more willing to belittle
Dean's share in the capture. That Dean died ( 1817) long before the
most, if not all, of the rest may be cited as a final reason why he
has not been given the credit he deserves; for some of the statements
— Dean himself never made any — collected from the survivors date
later than 1830, statements which, like those of aged people gener-
ally, are found to vary widely in matters of fact. There have been
two tendencies evident in the accounts which come from the men
themselves: the first is for the captors to rather ignore their asso-
ciation with the remainder of their party, and the second is for the
latter to demand greater recognition than they deserve. From the
first tendency the men were not apt to refer to John Dean, a man
who himself did not want to be associated with the capture of a spy,
and from the second they were most apt to ignore the claims of the
one who might, had he been so disposed, have given them in his
report the credit that they wished.

The fact seems to be that Dean had a golden opportunity of ad-
vancing himself, and knowingly rejected it, as he did his share of
Andre's effects, which the others divided. As the ranking officer of
the party, and the senior in years of most, if not all, of them, he
might have forwarded his own interests to the degree perhaps of
securing a captaincy, if he had been so disposed. He might, at least,
have shown that from the time of the capture till the time the pris-
oner was safely delivered to Jameson, the responsibility had been his;
that Andre was not retaken or had not secured his escape through
bribery was due to his care as the commanding officer; that the great
importance of the concealed papers was first really recognized by
him at a time when Andre was pleading for his release and making
promises which Dean, if not the others, had a very strong suspicion
that the British officer both could and would fulfill. All this is leav-
ing out of account the question as to whether the actual placing of
the captors had been the work of Sergeant Dean. Dad he been
disposed to press his claims he could certainly have brought forward
a strong case, none the less so that he was a man of considerable
education for his day and was supported by his excellent record as a
subaltern. And there is no doubt that in this event he could have
counted on the warm support, of his father, Thomas Dean, long time

482 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

town clerk and justice of the peace, together with that of his captain
and colonel.

The documents found on Andre's person were all in Arnold's hand-
writing, and in the most specific manner presented the particulars
of the works and garrison at West Point. Two or three of them
were abstracts of official American records. One was indorsed " He-
marks on West Point, a copy to be transmitted to His Excellency,
General Washington," and gave exact details of the weakness of
the forts, the ease with which they could be set on tire, the best
means of approach, and the like. Another was a " Copy of a Council
of War, held September <>. 1780," embodying the most secret infor-
mation of the general military situation from the American point of
view. Thus Arnold, in his zeal, did not content himself with betray-
ing his own post, but was fain to communicate to the enemy all the
vital intelligence in his possession.

As related by Mr. Conch, the capturing party took Andre to the
nearest American post, in the Town of North Castle, where Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Jameson was in command. This officer, though brave
and honest, seems to have possessed none too much intelligence, and,
moreover, was easily hoodwinked by the courtly Andre. He ex-
amined the papers, and sent them by messenger to Washington; but
harboring no suspicion against Arnold, he not only wrote a letter
to that genera] describing the capture, bat at the same time turned
over the prisoner to Lieutenant Allen, who was to bear the letter,
instructing him to deliver Andre to Arnold! But, very fortunately,
Major Benjamin Tallmadge, who was attached to Jameson's com-
mand, but at the time was absent on duty, soon afterward returned
to the camp; and, being informed by Jameson of what he had done,
urgently advised that the prisoner be brought back. Jameson con-
sented, but permitted the message to go to Arnold, it was next
decided to send the captive (whose real identity was not yet known)
to Lower Salem (now Lewisboro), a place farther within the American
lines than North Castle, and therefore more secure, and have him
held there until Washington should be heard from. This was ac-
cordingly done early on the morning of the 24th, Tallmadge being
in command of the escort; and indeed from that day until Andre
was hung he remained with the prisoner.

Arrived at Lower Salem, the supposed Anderson was installed in
"Squire" Gilbert's farmhous< — a dwelling which was torn down
about a quarter of a century ago, unsuccessful efforts having been
made by the late Hon. .John Jay to have it permanently preserved
as a Revolutionary relic. Here Lieutenant Joshua King (afterward
General King, of Connecticut) was in command. He has left the

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 483

following description of the appearance and reception of the prisoner:
" lie looked somewhat like a reduced gentleman. His small clothes
were nankin, with long white top boots, in part his undress military
suit. His coat purple, with gold lace, worn somewhat threadbare,
with small brimmed tarnished beaver on his head. He wore his hair
in a queue, with long, black band, and his clothes somewhat dirty.
In this garb I took charge of him. After breakfast my barber came
in to dress me, after which I requested Jiiui to undergo the same
operation, which he did. When the ribbon was taken from his hair
I observed it full of powder. Tins circumstance, with others that
occurred, induced me to believe that I had no ordinary person in
charge. He requested permission to take a bed, whilst his shirt and
small clothes could be washed. I told him that was needless, for
a change was at his service, which he accepted. We were close pent
up in a bed-room with a guard at the door and window. There was
a spacious yard before the door which he desired he might be per-
mitted to walk in with me. I accordingly disposed of my guard
in such a manner as to prevent escape." Andre's mind was ill at
ease, especially when informed that the documents taken from him
had been sent to Washington and not to Arnold. He finally requested
pen and paper, and wrote a letter to Washington disclosing who
lie was, giving his version of his adventures and making very brave
observations about his own nice sense of honor and his refined
conception of how so singularly noble a British gentleman should be
treated in the circumstances — representations for which he contin-
ued to show special aptitude until the hangman's noose tightened
about his neck. He instructs Washington as to the hitter's appro-
priate duty in these words: "The request I have to make to your
Excellency, and I am conscious I address myself well, is that in any
rigor policy may dictate, a decency of conduct toward me may mark
that, though unfortunate, I am branded with nothing dishonorable."
Then lie proceeds to display tin loftiness of his nature by this threat:
" I beg the liberty to mention the condition of some gentlemen at
Charleston, who. being cither on parole or under protection, were
engaged in a conspiracy against us. Though their situation is not
similar, they are objects who may be set in exchange for me, or are
persons whom the treatment I receive might affect."

Andre remained under close guard in the Gilbert house until sent
for by Washington. There is nothing of special local Westchester
County interest to add to Mr. Couch's further narrative.

The captors of Major Andre, John Paulding, David Williams, and
Isaac Van Wart, were all Westchester County farmers' sons born
and bred.

484

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

John Paulding was born near Tarrytown, October 16, 1758, and at
the time of Andre's capture was therefore not quite twenty-two years
old. He was descended from early settlers of Philipseburgh Manor.
FLis grandfather, Joseph Paulding, owned a large tract of land east
of Tarrytown (where John was born), and had four sons, all of whom
were patriot soldiers in the Revolution. John received a common
school education, and then worked for farmers in different parts of
our county. He was a magnificent specimen of manhood, over six
feet tall and well proportioned. Espousing the patriot cause like
all of his family, he was engaged in various minor enterprises against

HOUSE NEAR PEEKSKILL WHERE CAPTAIN HOOGLAND STOPPED WITH ANDRE

the enemy in the Neutral Ground. According to his own testimony,
he was taken prisoner three times during the war. On the first
occasion he was captured at White Plains, and on the second near
Tarrytown, only four days before the arrest of Andre. The com-
mon report is that while in New York during his second captivity
he exchanged his coat for that of a German yager. It was this
habiliment that he wore when he halted Andre, a circumstance to
which the latter's supposition that the party were friends is thought
to have been due. After the capture of Andre, he says, he was taken
a third time, in a wounded condition, and " lay in the hospital in
New York, and was discharged on the arrival of the news of peace
there." The farm given him by the1 State was located in the Town of

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 485

Cortlandt, and consisted of one hundred and sixty acres and sixteen
roods, being the confiscated property of Dr. Peter Huggeford, a
Loyalist. He disposed of it after some years, and removed to a farm
near Lake Mohegan (Yorktown), where he died on the 18th of Feb-
ruary, 1818, He lies buried in the cemetery of Saint Peter's Episcopal
Church1 near Peekskill, and oyer his grave is a monument with an
elaborate inscription, erected " As a memorial sacred to public grati-
tude " by the corporation of the City of New York on the 22d of
November, 1827. One of Paulding's sons was Hiram Paulding, of the
United States Navy, who was presented with a sword by congress for
services in the War of 1812, and during the Civil War became a
rear-admiral and was in command of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

David Williams was the son of After and Phebe Williams, and
was born in Tarrytown, October 21, 1754. He was the oldest of the
captors. tk I first entered the continental army in the year 1775,"
he says in a public statement, " and continued in the service until
disabled by having my feet frozen. I was then obliged to take what
employment 1 could meet with for my support, chopping, grubbing,
and all such work — living about twenty miles from my house and
family.'' He was a volunteer in Captain Daniel Martling's Tarrytown
company, served under General Montgomery in the expedition to
Canada, and took an active part in the contests of the Neutral Ground.
He received from the State, June 16, 1783, the confiscated farm of
the Loyalist Edmund Ward, of the Town of Eastchester, a property
of two hundred and fifty-two and one-half acres. Edmund Ward
was the only brother of the well-known patriot, Stephen Ward. Sub-
sequently Williams removed to Livingstonville, Schoharie County,
N. Y., where he bought a farm of General Daniel Shays, and lived
there until his death, August 2, 1831. He was a highly respected
citizen, and left sons and daughters from whom numerous descend-
ants have sprung. His bones lie near the Old Fort, Schoharie Village,
where a handsome monument was erected over them by the State
of New York in 1876.

Isaac Van Wart, according to Bolton's genealogical records, was
a grandson of Joachim Van Weert, a Dutchman, who became a set-
tler of Philipsburgh Manor in 1(397. The date of Isaac's birth is un-
certain, but he was christened on the 25th of October, 1758. The Van
Warts were a patriotic family, residing in the present Town of Green-

1 It is of interest that one of the principal that he wished Andre to conic ashore, was ad-

benefactors of Saint Peter's Church was the dressed. Robinson presented to the church a

Tory son-in-law of the third Frederick Phil- glebe of two hundred acres, lying in Putnam

ipse, Beverly Robinson, who was on the County, just above the Westchester line. This

" Vulture " with Andre on the night of Sep- farm is now owned by Judge Smith Lent, of

teniber 21, 1780. and, indeed, was the person Sing Sing.
to whom Arnold's communication, signifying

486 HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

burgh; and Martinus, the father of Isaac, performed some service in
the war. Isaac Van Wart was granted by the State a farm in Put-
nam County (then a part of Dutchess County), but desiring to live
and die in the neighborhood where lie was brought up, sold it and
bought the old Youngs property, where the tk Affair of Youngs's
House " occurred, in what is now the Town of Mount Pleasant. He
died May 23, 1828. He was an esteemed member of the old Green-
burgh Church of Elmsford, this county, in whose churchyard his
remains lie, marked by a marble monument elaborately inscribed,
which was dedicated June 11, 1829. One of his sons, Rev. Alexander
Van Wart, delivered the prayer at the dedication of the new Tarry-
town monument to Andre's captors, September 23. 1880.

For nearly forty years after the capture of Major Andre, no ques-
tion was ever raised as to the genuine patriotic character of the ac-
tion of Paulding, Williams, and Van Wart in taking him into cus-
tody, or as to their entire private disinterestedness and noble con-
tempi for gain. Put in 1817 Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, then a
representative in congress from Connecticut, saw tit to make a sen-
sational statement before that body in a speech opposing an applica-
tion by John Paulding for an increase of his pension. Tallmadge
was the officer into whose charge Andre was given, as we have seen.
The following is the substance of his statement, as reported at the
time:

The value of the service he did not deny, but, on the authority of the declarations of
Major Andre (made while in the custody of Colonel Tallmadge), he gave it as his opinion that,
if Major Andre could have given to these men the amount they demanded for his release, he
never would have been hung for a spy, nor in captivity on that occasion. Mr. T.'s statement
was minutely circumstantial, and given with expressions of his individual confidence in its cor-
rectness. Among other circumstances, he stated that when Major Andre's boots were taken
off by them it was to search for plunder, and not to detect treason. These persons, indeed,
he said, were of that class of people who passed between both armies, as often in one camp
as the other, and whom, he said, if he had met with them, he should probably have as soon
apprehended as Major Andre, as he had always made it a rule to do with these suspicious
persons. The conclusion to be drawn from the whole of Mr. Tallmadge's statement, of
which this is a brief abstract, was that these persons had brought in Major Andre only be-
cause they probably should get more for his apprehension than for his release.

This remarkable version of the matter excited great interest, and
Tallmadge was fiercely attacked in debate, whereupon he

again rose, and stated more circumstantially what bad been related to him by Major Andre.
The major, he said, told him that the captors took him into the bushes and drew off his boots
in the act of plundering him, and there, between his stockings and feet, they found the papers;
that they asked him what he would give them to let him go; that he offered them his watcli
and money, and promised them a considerable sum besides — but that the difficulty was in his
not being able to secure it to them, for they had no idea of trusting to his honor.
Colonel Tallmadge declared that Andre was above all falsehood or duplicity, and felt ready
to die with shame at being in such a mean disguise — nay, begged for a military cloak to
cover him.

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 487

At the time when this attack on The three captors was made, all
of them were still living. Van Wart, in an affidavit, declared thai
Andre, in trying to persuade them to accept a bribe, " told them
that if they doubted the fulfillment of his promise they might conceal
him in some secret place and keep him there until they could send
to New York and receive their reward." Williams, some years later,
stated that Andre, after first proffering one hundred guineas, " offered
us one thousand guineas if we would let him go. We again answered
No. The last offer he made its was ten thousand guineas and as
many dry goods as we should ask for, and he would give us his order
on Sir Henry Clinton, chief commander of New York, if we would
only consent to let him escape after the money and dry goods, or any-
thing else we should please to name, should be received. We said
his offers were of no use, we were resolved to do our duty to our
country."

One of the results of the discussion stirred up by Tallmadge's state-
ment was the publication of the following certificate, signed by seven-
teen old and reputable residents of our county (the first name on the
list being thai of the venerable Jonathan <i. Tompkins):

We, the siil.si-ril.ci-s. inhabitants of the County of Westchester, do certify that during
tin- Revolutionary War we were will acquainted with Isaac Van Wart, David William-, and
-John Paulding, who arrested .Major Andre; and that at no time during tin- Revolutionary
War was any suspicion entertained by their neighbors or acquaintances that they or either of
them held any undue intercourse with the enemy. <>n the i-ontrar\ . they wen- universally
esteemed and' taken to be ardent and faithful in the cause of the country. We further cer-
tify that the said Paulding and William- are not now resident anion- us', but that Isaac Van
Wart is a respectable Freeholder of the Town of .Mount Pleasant ; that we an- well acquainted
with him; and we do not hesitate to declare our belief that there is not an individual in the
Count) of Westchester acquainted with Isaac Van Wart who would hesitate to describe him
as a man whose integrity is as unimpeachable a- his veracity is undoubted. In these respects
in. man in the Counts of Westchester i- his superior.

The incident ended in the vindication of the captors to the satis
faction of everybody. Incidentally various facts illustrative of the
true character of Amir* were brought to light.

That lie \v;is an accomplished officer and ;i pleasing young gentle-
man is undoubted; but there is nothing in his career or personality,
so far as known, to justify any positive sentiments to his advantage.
He had a vast deal to say regarding his sensitive honor — that is all
th.it is positively known on the subject, excepting certain circum-
stances of his behavior which were inconsistent with the sounding
profession. ( >n t he 7t li of Sept ember, while devising ways and means
to meet Arnold under some plausible pretext, he wrote to Colonel
Sheldon, of the American army, n very artfully contrived letter over
his assumed mime of John Anderson, soliciting assistance in the
premises on the pretense that the business was of "so private a

488 HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

nature that the public on neither side can be injured by it." Sir
Henry Clinton and Colonel Beverly Robinson deemed it incompati-
ble with Andre's position as adjutant-general of the British army for
him to go within the American lines at all, especially in disguise,
and counseled him against doing so; but Andre had no such tine
scruples — -until found out, when, as related by Tallmadge, he was
" ready to die with shame." And there exists strong testimony that
this was not Andre's first sneaking venture of the kind. According
to British authority, he had already " been twice to Arnold, had acted
as his valet de chambre, and twice returned safe to New York."1
Moreover, on good evidence it was alleged that during the siege of
Charleston in the early part of 1780, Andre did spy duty disguised
as a cattle driver.2 While in Philadelphia with Howe in the memora-
ble winter of 1777-78, Andre had quarters in the house of Benjamin
Franklin; and it is notorious that upon the evacuation of the city
by the British army he packed up and carried away some of the most
valuable of Dr. Franklin's books and other property — conduct con-
trasting with that of the mercenary General Knyphausen, who, in
taking his departure from his quarters in the house of General Cad-
wallader, " sent for the agent of the latter, gave him an inventory
which he had caused his steward to make out on his first taking pos-
session, told him he would find everything iu proper order, even to
some bottles of wine in the cellar, and paid him the rent for the time
he occupied it." 3

But it is hardly necessary to cite such instances as these of Andre's
moral obliquity. His behavior after his capture in two vital partic-
ulars is sufficiently illuminating. His letter to Washington from
Salem, seeking to purchase immunity for himself by threatening the
death of others, can not be otherwise regarded than as an act for-
eign to any sense of manly honor whatever; and his denunciation of
his three captors to Major Tallmadge as common brigands was as
infamous a performance if not wholly justified, and as gratuitously
malignant a one if well founded, as ever a professed elegant gentle-
man was guilty of. These individuals were not Andre's equals; they
were poor unlettered peasant boys, utterly beneath any subsequent
private allusion on his part except that of magnanimity, naturally
duo from a superior soul. Knowing full well that they had saved
the very liberties of their country, he must have been aware that this
fact was a thing of tremendous importance to them personally; and
if he could have said no good of them he should have whispered

'London Political Magazine, November, 17S0,.,' - Winthrop Sargent's Life of Andre, 228.

sNilcs's Register, March 1, 1817.

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 489

no evil. Instead lie sought to blast their reputations. It was a
pitiful deed.

The object of Tallmadge's attack on the captors in congress was
to establish that they were not disinterested patriots, but ordinary
thieving adventurers of the Neutral Ground. This was his private
opinion as an American officer, but he of course never would have
expressed it as a mere unsupported conjecture of his own. It was
by giving Andre's unfavorable version of the behavior and motives
of the captors that he expected to make the matter appear in a
different light from that in which it was generally regarded. There
is not a scintilla of testimony, direct or circumstantial, except
Andre's, to suggest even a suspicion that the young men, when they
found that a questionable character had fallen into their hands, wrere
ruled by speculative considerations. They were by the roadside on
guard in the American interest, to do whatever chance might put
in their way as patriotic inhabitants of the Neutral Ground. Before
Andre came along several men passed who were known to them
as patriots, and whom they permitted to go about their business
without so much as accosting them. Then came Andre, a stranger
on horseback, of doubtful appearance. They intercepted him,
shrewdly interrogated him, and found that he was a man attempting
to play a double part. They searched him. In his pockets they found,
besides a valuable watch, what to them was a considerable sum of
money. But this did not content them. They wauted to know
whether he had any hidden papers, and pulled off his boots and stock-
ings. They found papers and at once realized that he was a spy.
Now came the crucial test. He offered them very large bribes — any
amount of money and merchandise, — promises which, from the whole
personality of the man and the vital character of the secret docu-
ments he bore, they must have known he could make good. The
cleverness with which they questioned him in the first place shows
that they were men of alert perceptions and not dull country hinds.
At least they could not doubt that here was a decidedly promising-
chance for a splendid financial speculation, without the least risk.
His proposal that two of them should hold him hostage while the
third should go to New York and get the ransom was capable of easy
execution. It was early in the day. All of them were known to
everybody in the neighborhood as loyal Americans, and any one of
them could have gone unquestioned to the nearest British post, been
forwarded thence to New York, and returned the same night. Or
two of them could have gone, or even all three, for the whole party
was eight in number, the five original companions of Paulding, Will-

490

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

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iams, and Van Wart being nearby.1 There was a single possible
difficulty that might have occurred to them in this connection: not
one of them had ever visited the British camp except as a prisoner,
or had had any previous experience in the line of experimental trans-
actions. This fact was highly honorable to them; but there is not
the least reason for thinking that it, or any other consideration
except their incorruptible patriotic integrity, was instrumental in
determining their decision.

The simple honesty of these country boys, as well as their freedom

1 It is presumed that Andre was questioned
»nd searched by the throe captors only. But
the throe wore still an integral part of the
expedition of eight, the other five, at whoso
head was Sergeant John Dean, being in ambush
some distance farther up the road. The two
•quads, on separating, had mutually agreed to
fire a gun in case either needed help; and the
fire were equally interested with the three
(and vice versa) in any advantageous results
that might issue from the day's doings. After

the three discovered Andre's true character,
and, for themselves, rejected his bribes, they
si ill had to deal in the matter with their five
associates. Rejoining these associates, with
their prisoner, they undoubtedly reported to
them Andre's dazzling offers. That these
offers were not accepted redounds as much to
the credit of Dean, Homer, Yerks, See, and
Abraham Williams as to that of Paulding,
David Williams, and Van Wart.

492

HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

from all the characteristics of the common thieving and violent
marauders of the Neutral Ground, is evidenced by every other con-
necting circumstance. In possessing themselves of Andre's money
and valuable personal property they took only lawful prize, and
Washington, whose scrupulous courtesy to the prisoner in all re-
spects was conspicuous, found no impropriety in
this conduct, and did not cause them to make resti-
!p tution. Moreover, the three captors magnanimously
shared the bootv with their comrades who had no

part in the arrest.

All were entirely respectful and
considerate to Andre. They
had to march more than ten
miles to the nearest American
post, but for the whole distance
they permitted Andre to ride, attending him
on foot; and they offered him refreshment on
the way. And when Andre was delivered
to Jameson the three claimed no reward, and
immediately went to their several homes, so
that Washington, writing to congress three
days later, did not even know their names,
and apparently had to send to find them out.
Tallmadge says that they belonged to an
objectionable class, and that if he, as an
American officer, had fallen in with them
whilst following their adventurous pursuits,
he would have promptly arrested them,
lint in view of the known character of these
particular young men, and of the recognized
necessity of such expeditions as they en-
gaged in, it is safe to say he would have done
nothing of the sort — or, if he had, would
have been duly reprimanded by his superior officer. On this point an
intelligent writer remarks:

They were branded as " cow-thieves," etc. Perhaps they were cow-thieves; but at that
period the most honorable men, both Whigs and Tories, living between the lines, were cow-
thieves. The British soldiers and American Tories stole cows from the Whigs; the Whigs
had no remedy but to steal them back again. ... It is evident they were not thieves
for gain, else would they have taken the price which Andre ottered for his ransom, which was
more than would have sufficed to purchase the whole stock of cows, sheep, and oxen which
belonged to Job when he was in the land of Uz. . . . Every New .Yorker should be
proud that he was born in the State which produced three such men; and the fact of their
being boys, and poor boys, adds very much to the glory of the act. Had this been done by a
Van Cortlandt, a Philipse, a Van Rensselaer, or any three of the " Lords of the Manor," on
the Hudson River, the act would have been engraven on the rocks with the point of a diamond.

MAJOR ANDRE.

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 493

Andre has been represented as one of the darlings of nature, an
adorable child of genius. He was a poet, a painter, an amateur per-
former, and, most interesting of all, a lover. But in all he was only
a dabbler. He belongs to the large class of attractive characters of
every age who are " said to have been " witty, wise, and fashioned
for great things — but have left no tangible evidence of it. The story
of his love is representative of the man. He loved a fair lady, Honora
Sneyd, who loved and married another. That was in 1773. As a
matter of fact she rejected him as early as 1771, and he then entered
the army. There was no reason for her rejection except that it did
not please her to love him back, but did please her to love someone
else; for Andre was a person of good fortune and family, though with-
out title — and Honora did not marry a title. For nine long years
Andre mourned his lost Honora — his lost Honora who had no love for
him. Once when taken prisoner in Canada by Montgomery, he saved
his happily married Honora's picture, and deemed that "compensation
enough for all his sorrows." What exquisite sensibility for a very
healthy young soldier who could convert himself into a cattle driver
in case of need; what romantic softness for the mean thief of Dr.
Franklin's books and the cold-blooded negotiator of the most devilish
treason of history! Andre's pensive love was much overacted, or
else it was a kind of hopeless Schwarmerei inconsistent with a nature
of any fundamental strength — as in like manner his protestations
of honor were the mete vaporings of an extremely self-conscious man
given to the abstractions more than the substance of virtuous things.
In neither case were his traits those which mark the vigorous mind.

The true Andre was a brave and cultivated but not high or ample
minded individual, no better and no worse than most of the well-
born, well-educated, and well-favored British youth of his period.
He had all their usual charming qualities in somewhat more than
the average degree — but no original parts of any important interest
that very searching inquiry has ever disclosed. His sole claim to
distinction — aside from his part in an infamous transaction — is that
he was put to one of the most righteous and exemplary deaths ever
administered, in a highly dramatic conjunction of circumstances,
commiserated and mourned by great-hearted foemen whose ruin and
enslavement by the vilest methods he had plotted.

The spot where Andre was captured at Tarrytown was not marked
by any public memorial of the event until 1853. For many years
previously sporadic efforts had been made to arouse interest, but
without substantial result. In the winter of 1852-53 a " Monument
Association to the Captors of Major Andre" was organized in the
village, the most prominent promoters of the movement being Amos

494: HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

R. (Mark and N. Holmes Odell. The locality where the capture oc-
curred was at that time owned by William Taylor, a colored man
and ex-slave, and he donated sufficient land for the purpose. The
corner-stone was laid July 4, 1853, with much local ceremony, by
Colonel James A. Hamilton, a son of Alexander Hamilton. The re-
sulting monument, consisting of a base and shaft of conventional
pattern, was < nt from Sing Sing marble, material and labor being
I ho uift of the officials of the State Prison. The inscription was
written by the lion. James Iv. Paulding, ex-secretary of the navy
and the intimate friend of Washington Irving. On the 7th of October,
1853, the monument was dedicated. Governor Horatio Seymour and
staff, many distinguished guests, and a great concourse of people
being present. After an appropriate address by Governor Seymour,
the oration of the day was delivered by Henry J. Raymond, the fa-
mous editor of the New York Times. This oration, admirable alike
for its well proportioned treatment of the varied aspects of the theme,
its elevation of feeling and warmth of sympathy, its beauty yet sim-
plicity of diction, is probably the most satisfactory epitome of the
story of Andre in its significant relations that is to be found in all
the voluminous literature of the subject. We quote a single eloquent
passage, contrasting the fate of Andre with that of the noble Ameri-
can patriot, Nathan Hale:

From the moment of Andre's arrest lie was treated with unvarying kindness and con-
sideration. No restraint not essential to the security of his person was for a moment imposed;
not a harsh or unfeeling- expression, from officer, soldier, or citizen, ever grated on his ears
or chilled the youthful current of his heart. Books, paper, and ink were at his command; he
wrote freely even to the British commander-in-chief; messages of kindness and relics of re-
membrance* to his friends were promptly sent forward; and a sad solemnity, full of tenderness
and of pity, presided at his execution. From all that vast multitude assembled on yonder
heights to see him die arose no word of exultation; no breath of taunt or triumph broke the
sereneness of the surrounding air; melancholy music gave voice to melancholy thoughts ; tears
dimmed the eyes and wet the cheeks of the peasant soldiers by whom he was surrounded;
and so profound was the impress of the scene upon their patriot hearts that long succession
of years could not wear it out, nor seal the fountains of sorrow it had unclosed.

At an earlier stage of the Revolution, Nathan Hale, captain in the American army,
which he had entered, abandoning brilliant prospects of professional distinction, for the sole
purpose of defending the liberties of his country— gifted, educated, ambitious, — the equal of
Andre in talent, in worth, in amiable manners, and in every manly quality, and his superior in
that final test of character, the motives by which his acts were prompted and his life was
guided, laid aside every consideration personal to himself and entered upon a service of
infinite hazard to life and honor, because Washington deemed it important to that
sacred cause to which both had been sacredly set apart. Like Andre he was found in
the hostile camp, like him, though without a trial, he was adjudged a spy, and like
him he was condemned to death. And here the likeness ends. No consoling word, no pity-
ing or respectful look, cheered the dark hour of his doom. He was met with insult at every
turn. The sacred consolations of the minister of Cod were denied him; his Bible was taken
from him; with an excess of barbarity hard to be paralleled in civilized war his dying letters
of farewell to his mother and sister were destroyed in his presence; and, uncheered by sym-
pathy, mocked by brutal power, and attended only by that sense of duty, incorruptible, un-

THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE 495

defiled, which had ruled his life, finding its fit farewell in the serene and sublime regret that
he " had but one life to lose for his country," he went forth to meet the great darkness of an
ignominious death.

As the centenary of the capture of Andre approached a widespread
interest was felt, and it was decided to hold a grand celebration at
Tarrytown. With great propriety, the monument was first remod-
eled. The original base was retained, but a bas-relief, depicting the
capture, was inserted in one of its sides. The gravest one-like shaft
was removed and a bronze statue (the gift of Mr. John Anderson,
of Tarrytown), resting upon a neat pedestal, was substituted. This
statue represents Paulding. The ceremonies, held on the 23d of Sep-
tember, 1880, were presided over by the Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, of
Yonkers, and the oration was by the Ron. Chauncey M. Depew. It
was one of the most characteristic efforts of that distinguished son
of our county. The crowd in attendance was estimated at seventy
thousand. There was an imposing procession. General James W.
Hasted, of Peekskill, acting as grand marshal.

The inscriptions on the Tarrytown monument are as follows:

[Inscription on the south side.~\
On this Spot,
the 23d day of September, 1780, the Spy,
Major John Andre,
Adjutant General of the British Army, was cap-
tured by
John Paulding, David Williams and Isaac Van Wart,
all natives of this County.
History has told the rest.
The People of Westchester County have erected this Monument, as well to commemorate
a great event, as to testify their high estimation of that Integrity and Patriotism which, re-
jecting every temptation, rescued the United States from most imminent peril, by baffling the
arts of a Spy, and the plots of a Traitor.

Dedicated October 7th, 1853.

[Inscription on the north side of the second pedestal.]
Their conduct merits our warmest esteem. They have prevented in all probability our
suffering one of the severest strokes that could have been meditated against us. — Washington.

[Inscription on the east, on base of statue.']

This statue,

the gift of John Anderson,

a citizen of Tarrytown,
was placed here Sept. 23d, 1880.
1780—1880.

The inscription on Major Andre's memorial in Westminster Abbey
is in t liese words:

Sacred to the memory of Major John Andre, who, raised by his merit, at an early period
of life, to the rank of Adjutant-General of the British forces in America, and, employed in an
important but hazardous enterprise, fell a sacrifice to bis zeal for bis King and Country, on
the 2d of October, 1780, aged twenty-nine, universally beloved and esteemed by the army in
which he served, and lamented even by his foes. His gracious Sovereign, King George HI.,
has caused this monument to be erected.

496 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Aii unpretentious monument to the memory of Andre was raised
in 1880 at Tappan, over the spot where his body was buried, by the
late Cyrus W. Field, of our county. An inscription was engraved
upon it, written by the noted Dean Stanley, reciting' that the stone
was placed there " not to perpetuate the record of strife, bur in token
of those better feelings which have since united two nations, one
in race, one in language, and one in religion, with the hope that
this friendly union will never be broken." This memorial has had a
troubled history, having several times been dynamited by cranks
and subjected to defacements of various kinds. It is hard to con-
clude whether the ill taste of Mr. Field in causing its erection or
the silly vandalism of the persons committing these resentful acts
is the more regrettable.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE WESTCHESTER OPERATIONS OF THE ALLIED ARMIES, 1781 END

OF THE WAR

FTER the execution of Andre (October 2, 1780), the enemy,
greatly embittered by that act, made many hostile mani-
festations in Westchester County, and the Tory inhabitants
and lawless bands showed a correspondingly venomous
and enterprising disposition. Major Tallmadge returned to the West-
chester lines from Tappan on the 3d. " There," he writes, tw my duties
became very arduous, the late events having excited much rage on
the part of the enemy. What with Cowboys, Skinners, and Refugees,
we had as much as we could turn our hands to to keep from being-
waylaid and fired upon from thickets and stony eminences about
Salem, North Castle, and White Plains. Indeed, it was not an un-
usual thing to have our sentinels fired on from parties who would
crawl up in the darkness of night and then disappear." But during
this period, and indeed throughout the winter of 1780-81, there were
few engagements or surprises in our county on any important scale.
It was mostly a petty border warfare. The only movement of more
than ordinary consequence was a foraging expedition made by the
American General Stark, the hero of Bennington, with some 2,500
men, to White Plains and vicinity. But he encountered no force of
the foe.

The impetuous Lafayette was anxious before the close of the sea-
son to perform something aggressive which would redound to the
credit of the Revolutionary arms and produce a moral effect to re-
lieve the general gloom caused by the desertion of Arnold. He
formed a project for an attack on Xew York through Westchester
(V)unty. But nothing came of this. The army was in no condition
for that scheme of aggression or any other, and indeed, as too soon
appeared, its officers had all they could do to hold it together. Winter
quarters were entered about the end of November in camps at Morris-
town, Pompton, West Point, and the Highlands. The French, under
Rochambeau, remained at Newport, where, since their arrival in
July, they had lain inactive.

The year 1781, which was to terminate the armed struggle for in-

498

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

dependence, opened with an event not less appalling in its way than
had been the disasters of the preceding year in the South and the
Arnold treason. On the 1st day of January the whole Pennsylvania
line, 2,000 strong, mutinied and marched off from the Morristown
camp toward Philadelphia to seek a redress of grievances. This was
no impulsive, ill-considered action, but well deliberated and care-
fully organized. The troops, wearied out by a long course of neg-
lectful treatment — unpaid, unfed, and unclothed, — were grimly
determined to obtain their rights or quit the service. General Wayne
attempted to quell the mutiny by arbitrary methods, and, confronting

the men with pistols in his hands,
was ready to shoot the leaders if
they refused to obey; whereupon
he was told that they loved and
honored and would die for him, but
if he tired he would be killed thai
instant. On the other hand, the
revolting regiments not only dis-
dained seductive inducements con-
veyed to them from Sir Henry
Clinton to join his standard, but
seized his emissaries and delivered
them to Wayne to be dealt with by
military law. Finally their most
pressing wants were relieved by
congress, and they returned to their
duty. A smaller mutiny in the
same month by the New Jersey line was summarily ended by hanging
its chief promoters.

Toward the end of January a bold and successful raid was made
by Lieutenant-Colonel Hull from the Westchester lines upon de Lan-
cey's corps at Morrisania. A number of tin1 British were killed and
fifty were captured, some of their huts were burned, and the pontoon
bridge across the Harlem River was cut away; and in another en-
gagement, which occurred during the retreat of the Americans, the
British suffered a further loss of thirty-five. Thacher, in his Military
Journal, speaks of this affair with the greatest praise, saying that it
"is calculated to raise the spirits of our troops and to divert their
minds from the unhappy occurrences which have recently taken
place in the camp."

The episode of the mutinies shows more vividly than can be done
by any formal recital of the circumstances of the times what funda-
mental difficult ies Washington had to contend against in entering

PIERRE VAN OORTLANDT.

OPERATIONS OF 1TS1 499

upon his arrangements for the general military proceedings of 1781.
The time had now arrived when something decisive must indispensa-
bly be undertaken. A large and perfectly appointed French co-
operative army was at hand, and additional land forces from France
were sure to come, together with a powerful fleet. All that was
required was for the Americans to prove themselves worthy of this
assistance by respectably matching it with forces of their own;
whereas they appeared almost unequal to the task of maintaining
any army at all! Moreover, the situation at the South was weekly
becoming more desperate. In December Clinton sent Arnold to Vir-
ginia with a large expedition, and in the spring Oornwallis also began
aggressions in that quarter. The Southern emergencies were so ex-
treme that Washington's individual command, wretchedly weak ami
neglected though it was, could not be strengthened or receive any
fostering attention without prejudicing interests at the seat of war.
And finally he was continually importuned to abandon the North
altogether, let befall what might there, and fly to the rescue of his
native State — importunities which Rochambeau, the French general,
seconded by favoring an immediate Southern campaign. In such
circumstances it is wonderful that Washington was nevertheless able
to have a decent force ;it the North to unite with the French Avhen
the hour of action struck. lint most of all it demands admiration —
admiration without limits or bounds — that from the very outset of
the year 17S1 up to his masterly movement to Virginia in August,
he never faltered in his plan of an exclusive Northern demonstration
with his French allies as the one vital policy of strategy. It was to
this plan and its steadfast pursuance with every manifestation of
soberest earnestness that the conquest of American liberties at York-
town was undividedly due. And it is the proud boast of our County
of Westchester that here, on our soil — entirely on our soil — the grand
programme was inaugurated, developed, prosecuted, and brought to
the threshold of assured success.

At the opening of the spring (March 6) Washington left his head-
quarters at New Windsor on the west side of the Hudson and went
to visit the French general at Newport. The result of this inter-
view was indecisive. At that time the further immediate intentions
of the French ministry were uncertain. It was not known at what
part of our coast the expected fleet would arrive, or when. Upon his
return Washington occupied himself with the details of improving
the organization of his army, meantime giving such attention as he
could to the situation at the South. Lafayette had been sent thither
and had begun the brilliant work in Virginia which stands so much
to his credit.

500 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

On the 13th of May a terrible event happened on the lines in West-
chester County. Colonel Christopher Greene, in command at
Oblenus's Ford on the Croton River, above Pine's Bridge, was sur-
prised by a party of de Lancey's Refugees (supposed to have con-
sisted of about one hundred horse and two hundred foot), and was
killed with excessive barbarity, several other officers and many men
perishing with him. Greene was an officer of notable courage, ad-
dress, and proficiency; brilliant, generous, and noble; a great favorite
of Washington's and indeed one of the ornaments of the American
army. A citizen of Rhode Island, he entered the service1 at the be-
ginning of the war, was with Arnold in Canada, and during the opera-
tions on the Delaware in the fall of 1777 was intrusted by Washing-
ton with the defense of the vitally important post of Fort Mercer
(Red Rank). There he was attacked by 1,200 Hessians under Count
Donop, whom ho put to rout, inflicting a loss of 400 in killed and
wounded. One of the enemy's mortally wounded on that occasion
was Donop himself, whom Greene very tenderly cared for until his
death.

Greene, at his post on the Croton, says General Heath in his
Memoirs, had "practiced the greatest vigilance in guarding this
ford in the night time, taking off the guards after sunrise, appre-
hending that the enemy would never presume to cross the river in
the day time." ( Jilbert Totten, a native of that portion of Westchester
County, who was in the enemy's service, informed de Lancey about
Greene's custom of removing the guards at daybreak, and guided
him to the spot. At the time Greene was asleep in the house of Rich-
ardson Davenport, some distance back from the river. In the same
bedroom with him wore Major Flagg (also a gallant officer) and a
young lieutenant, and the men were quartered in tents around the
dwelling. De Lancey's party crossed the ford unobserved and quickly
surrounded the house1. The young lieutenant, aroused by the com-
motion, sprang to tin1 window and discharged two pistols at the
approaching Refugees. This deed of rashness infuriated the assail-
ants, who, with shouts of "Kill! Kill! No quarter!" rushed for
the house. Greene called on his men to defend themselves, and seized
his sword. Rut before he could leave the1 room the door was burst
open, and, single-handed (the1 lieutenant had already been killed and
Flagg felled by musket-balls fired through the1 windows), he had no
choice but to sell his life as dearly as possible. " His right arm was
almost cut off in two places, his left in one, a severe cut on the left
shoulder, a sword thrust through the abdomen, a bayonet in the right
side, and another through the abdomen, several sword cuts on the
head, and many in different parts of the body." The dying Major

OPERATIONS OF 1781 501

Flagg was dispatched in like savage manner. Greene, fearfully
mangled, still retained some life, but he was not permitted to breathe
his last in peace. He was placed on a horse and compelled to ride
off with the ruffianly victors. After going about three-quarters of
a mile they perceived he could travel no farther, removed him from
his horse, and pitched him into some bushes by the roadside, where
he presently expired. He was buried, with Major Flagg, in the
churchyard at Crompond.1 The American loss in this ghastly affair
in killed, wounded, and prisoners was about fifty.

Shortly after the middle of May, Washington received definite
intelligence of the French fleet. It was to consist of twenty ships
of the line, with land troops, all commanded by the Count de Grasse,
was to sail from France for the West Indies, and from there was to
proceed to the shores of the United States in July or August. On
the basis of this news Washington and Rochambeau met at Weathers-
field, Conn., on the L'LM of May, and subscribed to the following un-
derstanding:

The enemy, by several detachments from New York, having reduced their force at that
post to less than half the number which they had at the time of the former conference at Hart-
ford in September last, it is thought advisable to form a junction of the French and American
armies upon the North [Hudson | River as soon as possible, and move down to the vicinity of
New York, to be ready to take advantage of any opportunity which the weakness of the enemy
may afford.

Should the West Indies fleet [de Grasse's] arrive on the coast, the forces thus combined
may either proceed in operations against New York or may be directed against the enemy in
some other quarter.

It will be observed that this agreement of the two generals was
explicit as to the immediate operations of the united armies, but
not as to the ultimate destination of the licet or as to the final joint
objective of armies and licet. It was decided with all possible dis-
patch to effect a union of Washington's and Rochambeau's forces and
" move down in the vicinity of New York," there to " take advantage
of any opportunity which the weakness of the enemy may afford.''
But whither the licet was to conic was not definitely indicated; and
manifestly it was intended thai the ultimate campaign of the armies
should be determined by the destination of the fleet — provided, of
course, no decisive operations before New York should result pre-
viously to the fleet's arrival.

Now, there were only two possible destinations for the fleet. One
was Chesapeake Bay, where all the enemy's forces in the South were
concentrating for the reduction of Virginia; the other was New Y'ork,

rd to the heroes of this affair. A further
tount lias 1 n contributed through the ef-
ts of the Sens of the Revolution.

' Tile

made a

Xe\

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k State legislature i
ation of $2,000 for tin

if 1900
. erec-

tion of

a m

onume

nt in the Crompond <

•hureh-

502 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

where Sir Henry Clinton's command was located. To which point
would de Grasse come? or, rather, to -which point should the two
generals advise him to come? — for there was, of course, time to com-
municate with him before his departure from the West Indies, and
that indeed was indispensable.

It will be remembered I hat in 1778, when the first French expedi-
tion under d'Estaing reached our shores, it proceeded, at Washing-
ton's suggestion, to Sandy Hook, with every purpose of entering New
York harbor and joining with the continental army in a siege of
New York; but that d'Estaing at the last moment abandoned that
plan because of his apprehension that his larger war vessels might
get stranded on the bar. Indeed, there was a confirmed dislike in
the French admiralty office of the Sandy Hook bar, which Kocham-
beau appears to have shared in a positive degree. At the Weathers-
tield conference he expressed this animus strongly, and, in fact, the
whole bent of his inclination was toward a prompt united naval and
land campaign in the South.

Washington, on the other hand, deemed a New York campaign
of first and supremest importance — not because he considered Ameri-
can interests less needful of his personal employment in the South
than in the North, but for the precisely contrary reason that the
proposed move against New York was the one essential instrumen-
tality by which to relieve the stress at the South. At Weathers-
field he urged this opinion with the utmost confidence, and all his
subsequent procedure corresponded with his original conviction.
There is nothing to show that at any time he cherished undue hope
of actually capturing New York — especially in the absence of re-en-
forcements and of assurance that the fleet would co-operate. But
he was for an immediate and perfectly formal New York campaign,
let the fleet come where it might. Perhaps he seriously hoped to
take New York. But the eventuality there did not interest him so
much as the manifest advantage of the strategy. He would make
so formidable a demonstration against New York that Sir Henry
Clinton would either have to lose the city or leave Cornwallis at the
South to his own resources. In either case there would be an ex-
cellent chance to strike the final blow.

W this was not Washington's exact mental attitude from start to
finish — clearly formulated at the beginning and never modified by
special conditions later — then his whole course of conduct and ex-
pression was purely accidental, a thing not to be believed of him.
Again and again he was besought to leave the army at the North and
take the command in Virginia; and uniformly he replied that he
was resolved to continue at the North conformably with well-matured

OPERATIONS OF 17S1 503

plans which, in their execution, would give Virginia far greater
relief than his personal presence could possibly bring to pass. In
July, when his enterprise against New York was in full progress,
Richard Henry Lee wrote to him pressingly from Virginia, declar-
ing that the people were ready to make him dictator if he would
show himself there; to which he replied in the following strong
words: " My present plan of operation, which I have been preparing
with all the zeal and activity in my power, will, I am morally cer-
tain, with proper support, produce one of two things, either the fall
of New York or a withdrawal of the (enemy's) troops from Vir-
ginia.1' On the 4th of June, previously to the junction of the Ameri-
can and French armies in Westchester County, he wrote from his
headquarters at New Windsor these most significant words to the
Count de Eochambeau: " 1 could wish that the march of the [French]
troops might now be hurried as much as possible. ... I know
of no measure which will be so likely to afford
relief to the Southern States."

Yet it has been claimed by some historical
writers that it was Washington's essential
policy to capture New York, and That the idea
of the final move to Virginia originated with
Rochambeau. This view rests upon the exceed-
ingly slender foundation that at the Weathers-
field conference Rochambeau opposed any co- THF ROYAL 7~G OF
operation b\ the licet at New York (because, as france.

already pointed out, of French prejudice against

the Sandy Hook bar). But if at Woathersliold Rochambeau conceived
the Virginia campaign, it was certainly not a conception based upon
the plan of a formidable preliminary New York campaign. With-
out the preliminary New York campaign, conducted with the utmost
sagacity, there would have been no triumphant Virginia campaign.

This digression from the straightforward progress of our narrative
seems necessary to a proper understanding of the Weathersfield
agreement of the 22d of May and its relations to subsequent events.
That agreement was decidedly indefinite, except in the one particular
that there should be an immediate movement of the combined armies
on New York; with which prime matter settled, Washington con-
sented to leave de Grasse's course with his fleet to his own discre-
tion. It is not conceivable that he, the responsible commander-in-
chief, would have made such a concession if he had held to the ex-
clusive idea of taking New York.

By a dispatch vessel sent from Newport to the West Indies in the
latter part of May, de Grasse was accordingly notified of the deci-

504 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

sions reached at the Weathersfield conference, and it was made op-
tional with him whether to come to New York Harbor or to Chesa-
peake Bay. As we shall see, Washington remained in absolute un-
certainty regarding the French admiral's intended destination until
after the latter had sailed from the West Indies.

The remainder of May and the first three weeks of June were em-
ployed in preparations for the junction of the allied armies and the
offensive operations on New York. Rochambeau began his march
from Newport on the 10th of June, leaving at that place a sufficient
garrison, its harbor being still occupied by French ships of war.
Washington assembled his troops from their different encampments
on the west side of the Hudson, brought them across King's Ferry,
and ou the 2(>th established his headquarters at the Van Cortlandt
house north of Peekskill. lie at once proceeded to demonstrate to
the British that the joint movement was not a mere feint or a ven-
ture whose final object was to be approached gradually, but a swift
and deadly undertaking against New York. The promptitude with
which Washington, after arriving at Peekskill, planned and executed
the demonstration on New York, and the fine judgment with which
he arranged his combinations, must have been convincing proof to
Sir Henry Clinton that he would soon be called upon to defend the
city with all the resources at his command.

Washington had two immediate objects in view — first, to surprise
and, if possible, capture the British position at Kingsbridge; second,
to cut off de Lancey's large body of Refugees at Morrisania and any
other troops of the enemy north of the Harlem River. The two
schemes were to be carried out simultaneously and with great secrecy
and rapidity. The Kingsbridge enterprise was to be under the charge
of General Lincoln, of the American army, who was to drop down
the river under cover of night, reconnoiter the works at the northern
end of Manhattan Island, and, if he found them not too strongly de-
fended, attack Kingsbridge. At the same time the Duke de Lauzun,
of the French army, was to come down to Morrisania from Connec-
ticut by a forced march and fall upon de Laneey. In the event that
Lincoln should find it imprudent to attack Kingsbridge, he was to
take a station near that place so as to prevent de Laneey from escap-
ing to Manhattan Island. And finally Washington and Rochambeau,
with their main bodies, were to descend swiftly down through West-
chester County and be ready for further immediate operations in
force if Kingsbridge should be taken. It was a thorough plan of
instant aggression, well calculated to cause Sir Henry Clinton the
greatest concern whether it succeeded or failed. The date selected
for the combined attempt was the 3d of July.

OPERATIONS OF 1TS1 505

On the evening of the 1st of July General Lincoln, with 800 men
and several pieces of artillery, left the camp in the vicinity of Peek-
skill, marched to Teller's (Croton) Point, and put his expedition on
board of boats, which were rowed with muffled oars down the Hud-
son to the present Ludlow section of the City of Yonkers. For the
purpose of concealment the flotilla was drawn close to the shore.
General Lincoln crossed to the west bank, and from the Palisades
reconnoitered the Manhattan Island forts. To his disappointment
he discovered that a large body of the enemy was encamped there.
Thus his intended surprise of Kingsbridge was made impracticable.
He returned to his boats and remained in them till before dawn of
the 3d, when he landed his men and guns and advanced to a height
opposite Kingsbridge ( the site of the former Fort Independence) in
order to support de Lauzun in his attack on de Lancey. Tint ill-luck
attended this attempt also. He was discovered by a strong foraying
party of the enemy, which came across the bridge just about day-
break, and skirmishing ensued the noise of which alarmed de Lancey
at Morrisania. De Lauzun had arrived at Williams's Bridge during
the night of the 2d, and after giving his men a few hours' rest, was just
preparing to move against de Lancey. But the latter, apprised of his
danger by the tiring at Kingsbridge, hastened away and was soon
safe on Manhattan Island.

Meantime Washington, with remarkable celerity, had brought the
main army down from Peekskill. Leaving his tents standing, he
quitted the camp at three o'clock on the morning of the 2d. The
march was made without baggage, so as to execute it in the briefest
possible time. There were only two halts — one at Croton Bridge and
the other beside the Sleepy Hollow Church near Tarrytown. Valen-
tine's Hill (Yonkers), four miles above Kingsbridge, was reached by
sunrise of the 3d. and there Washington stopped to await the result
of the movements below. At the same time the French army was on
t lie way from < Connecticut.

This well-planned and in all its parts perfectly well-executed demon-
stration failed totally. Its collapse affords striking testimony of the
sound sense of Washington in discouraging proposed expeditions
against New York throughout the Revolution. Such expeditions
were projected repeatedly by his subordinates, but Washington dis-
approved them almost without consideration. He himself, on one
or two occasions previously to the attempt of July 3, 1781, made
ready to descend upon Kingsbridge, but these offers were only tem-
porary menaces for strategic purposes. Washington's career teaches
that when there was any conceivable advantage to be derived from
tight ing or from aggressively operating, he was as enterprising and

50G HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

persistent along those lines as any great general of history. It was
agonizing to him to waste away campaign after campaign on the
defensive. From the summer of IT'S to the summer of 1781 he never
fought a battle, conducted a siege, or made any aggressive movement
in force which involved active warfare. Yet during all that period
lie had his army drawn up or disposed in New Jersey, the Highlands,
or Westchester County, within easy striking distance of New York;
and, moreover, the recapture of New York was the grand goal of
the lie volution. He did not attempt it because it would have been
a simply mad thing to do with the forces at his disposal. When,
finally, with the assistance of the French, he was ready to move on
New York as a formal matter, he arranged a perfect combination
to take Kingsbridge by swift surprise. This, the first and only
attempt to surprise Kingsbridge, did not come even to the fighting-
stage. How merely foolhardy would have been the ordinary ex-
peditions against Kingsbridge which ambitions officers were con-
tinually planning.

Finding that the British at the outposts of New York were not to
be surprised, it remained for Washington to institute deliberate
operations. The next day (July 4) he retired from Valentine's Hill
to Dobbs Ferry, where he encamped, also marking out a camp for
the French on his left. Rochambeau had advanced as far as North
Castle (seventeen miles distant), where Washington visited him on
the 5th. On the 6th the French joined the Americans. The latter
lay in two lines, resting on the Hudson at Dobbs Ferry, covered by
batteries, and extending toward the Nepperhan River; while their
allies were in a single line on the hills farther east, reaching to the
Bronx. The left of the French position was at Chattel-ton's Hill, the
scene of the battle of October 28, 1776. A very pleasing description
of the united encampment is given by Irving in his Life of Wash-
ington : " It was a lovely country for a summer encampment, breezy
hills commanding wide prospects, umbrageous valleys watered by
bright pastoral streams, the Bronx, the Sprain, and the Nepperhan,
and abounding with never failing springs. The French encamp-
ment made a gallant display along the Greenburgh hills. Some of
the officers, young men of rank, to whom this was all a service of
romance, took a pride in decorating their tents and forming little
gardens in their vicinity. ' We have a charming position among
rocks and under magnificent tulip trees,' writes one of them, the
Count Dumas. General Washington was an object of their enthu-
siasm. He visited the tents they had so gayly embellished, for, with
all his gravity, he was fond of the company of young men. They
were apprised of his coming, and set out on their camp tables plans

OPERATIONS OF 1781

507

of the battle of Trenton, of West Point, and other scenes connected
with the war. The greatest harmony prevailed between the armies.
The two commanders had their respective headquarters in farm
houses, and occasionally, on festive occasions, long tables were spread
in the adjacent barns, which were converted into banquet halls."

In Rochambeau's army were many notable officers, the flower of
the French army. Some of these were the Baron Viomenil, com-
manding the Bourbonnais. the oldest regiment of France; the Count
de Viomenil, his brother; the Chevalier de Chastelleux; the Count do
Custine and the Duke de Lauzun, both of whom fell under the guillo-
tine; Berthier, at the time aide-de-
camp to Rochambeau and later
one of Napoleon's field marshals;
and the Count de Fersen, who dis-
tinguished himself at Yorktown
and during the stormy days of the
French Revolution was conspicu-
ous in his devotion to the royal
family.

R o c h am b ea u's headquarters
were at the old Odell mansion then
owned by a Mr. Bates; and Wash-
ington's were at Joseph Appleby's,
about half a mile from the Dobbs
Ferry Road and the same distance
from the Sawmill River.

The American army at Dobbs
Ferry was something less than
5,000 strong, and the numbers of
the French were about the same.

On the 8th of -Inly Washington reviewed the two armies. One of the
first things done was the erection of a battery at Dobbs Ferry to com-
mand the Hudson River. For the first two weeks, however, no gen-
eral proceedings were attempted.

On the evening of the 15th of July there was a spirited engagement
with the enemy at Tarrytown, occasioned by an attempt of several
British ships of war to capture or destroy American vessels that had
come down the river with ordnance and supplies. This affair is
known as " the action at Tarrytown," and in commemoration of it
a historical tablet was placed on the Tarrytown railroad station,
July 15, 1899. The American vessels, of which there were two ac-
cording to one account, and three or four according to other (and
more probable) statements, were descending from West Point, and

IIKNFIUL IIKXKV KNOX.

508 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

their cargoes were very important. In order to escape the British
ships, which were coming up, they were steered for the dock at
Tarrytown, but they ran aground at a distance of about a hundred
yards from that place. There being no troops at Tarrytown, except
a small French guard, Washington hurriedly dispatched Sheldon's
Dragoons from Dobbs Ferry. Sheldon's men, under Captain George
LIurlbut, went to work with a will to unload the stranded craft. The
enemy's warships, having come to anchor not far away, opened a
heavy cannonade, under cover of which two gunboats and four barges
approached with the object of burning our vessels. Captain Hurlbut,
who was on board one of the latter with twelve men, armed only
with pistols and swords, waited until the British were alongside and
kk gave them a lire, which they returned, and killed one of his men."
The Americans now jumped into the water and swam ashore. After
setting fire to the vessels the British quickly retired under a deadly
musketry attack from the Dragoons and French on the shore. There-
upon Captain Hurlbut, Captain-Lieutenant Miles, Lieutenant Shaylor,
and several others plunged into the river, boarded the burning sloops,
and extinguished the flames. Hurlbut received a wound from which
he died two years later. All the contents of the vessels were then
safely landed. Washington deemed the services thus rendered so
valuable and so gallant that in general orders he recited the facts,
adding that the conduct of the three officers kt entitles them to the
most distinguished notice and applause of their general," and in his
Diary he remarks upon " the extraordinary spirit and activity " of
the gentlemen concerned.

The next morning (July 10) the Americans opened an artillery fire
upon the British ships from a battery which had been erected at
Tarrytown. This proved so troublesome that the enemy had to move
out of range. On the 19th they stood down the river to return to
New York. A destructive fire was poured upon them by the Dobbs
Ferry battery. The largest of the ships was set on fire by a bursting
shelf, and in consternation a number of the men jumped overboard.
Some of them were drowned, and three or four who reached the shore
were made prisoners.

After these creditable transactions with the enemy's ships, Wash-
ington entered vigorously upon his arrangements for threatening
New York. About this time he crossed with Rochambeau to the other
side of the river, and, accompanied by 150 New Jersey troops, very
carefully reconnoitered Manhattan Island and its defenses along the
Hudson. On the 18th two detachments, an American and a French
(the latter commanded by young Dumas), were sent to explore the
country in the lower part of Westchester County. Both proceeded

OPERATIONS OF 17S1 509

to within musket range of the Kingsbridge works. This was pre-
paratory to the famous " grand reconnoissance " of New York on
the 22d and 23d.

July the 21st, at eight o'clock in the evening, about one-half the
forces of the two armies at the Dobbs Ferry camp were put in mo-
tion and marched to opposite Kingsbridge, following the Hudson
River, Sawmill River, and Eastchester roads. tw The right, com-
manded by General Heath, was formed by a part of the division of
General Lincoln. The legion of Lauzun protected the army upon
the left. There were in all about 5,000 men, with two held batteries.
The head of the column reached the ridge which commands Kings-
bridge at five o'clock on the morning of the 22d. The roads were
very bad, and the artillery had difficulty in following. Nevertheless,
the two armies marched in perfect order, observing the strictest
silence." The troops were disposed so as to cover the proceedings of
the two generals, who, with the greatest deliberation, attended by a
corps of engineers, traversed the country in front of the British posi-
tion from river to Sound, noting every place and object that might
be of importance in connection with future operations. Their move-
ments were directed by the Fordham guide, Andrew Corsa. " He
used to relate that when the allies, marching from the east near the
Bronx and passing oxer the high grounds around Morrisania house,
came in sight of the enemy, the fire which the British artillery opened
upon them from the fortifications at Randall's Island and Snake
Hill, from the batteries at Harlem, and from the ships of war at
anchor in the (Harlem) river, were terrible and incessant; and, obey-
ing the instinct of self-preservation, which became suddenly pre-
dominant, he urged his horse forward at full speed and rode for safety
behind the old Morrisania Mill. Here he pulled up, and, looking
back, saw Washington, Rochambeau, and the other officers riding
calmly along under the fire as though nothing unusual had occurred.
His self-possession now returned, and, ashamed at having given way
to an impulse of fear, he at once pricked back with all the rapidity
to which he could urge his horse, and resumed his place in tin1 order
of march; while the commanding officers, with good-natured peals
of laughter, welcomed him back and commended his courage."1

" This reconnoisance," says a French writer, " was made with all
the care imaginable. We had been exposed to six or seven hundred
cannon-shots, which cost the Americans two men. We had taken
twenty or thirty prisoners from the English, and killed four or five
men. Sixty horses had also been taken from them. I can not repeat
too often how greatly I have been surprised at the American army.

'■ Bolton (rev. ed.), ii., 533.

510 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

It is inconceivable that troops almost naked, poorly paid, and com-
posed of old men, negroes, and children, should march equally well
on the road and under fire. I have shared this astonishment with
M. de Rochambeau himself, who continued to speak of it to us on the
return march. I hardly need to speak of the coolness of General
Washington. It is known; but this great man is a thousand times
greater "and more noble at the head of his army than at any other

time.'' J

This was no sensational parade before the enemy's position to
make a plausible showing of offensive designs, but an elaborate,
scientific preparation for a siege. It is said that Washington and
Rochambeau were in their saddles twenty-four consecutive hours.
Rochambeau relates an interesting episode:

We had proceeded (he savs) to an island, which was separated from the enemy posted on
Long-Island, by an arm of the sea, the width of which General Washington wished to have
measured. While our engineers performed this geometrical operation, worn out by fatigue,
we slept at the foot of a hedge, under fire from the cannon of the enemy's vessels, who wished
to hinder the work. Awakening first, I called General Washington and remarked to him that
we had forgotten the hour of the tide. We hastened to the causeway of the mill upon which
we had crossed this little arm of the sea which separated us from the mainland: it was
covered with water. They brought us two little boats, in which we embarked, with the sad-
dles and trappings of the horses; then they sent back two American dragoons, who drew by
the bridle two horses, good swimmers, these were followed by all the rest, urged on by the
lashes of some dragoons remaining on the other shore, and for whom we sent back the boats.
This maneuver consumed less than an hour, but happily our embarrassment was unnoticed by
the enemy.

The "island" was evidently Throgg's Neck, that land of mystery
and confusion for impetuous generals-in-chief, where the onrushing
Sir William Howe had experienced infinitely more vexations embar-
rassments at the beginning of his Westchester campaign of 1776.

One result of the reconnoissance was the breaking up of the post
of de Lancey's Refugees at Morrisania. Washington had hoped to
capture this redoubtable partisan and his troopers, but, as on the 3d.
de Lancev eluded the force sent against him.

On the night of the 23d the whole American and French forces
returned to Dobbs Ferry.

There is an abundance of proof that the reconnoissance of New
York was a perfectly sincere proceeding on Washington's part, and
that at the time he fully intended to follow it up with a regular siege
in the case that the fleet of de Orasse should make its appearance in
New York Bay. Moreover, he earnestly desired that de Orasse should
come there. Previously to the junction of the armies at Dobbs Ferry
he had written to de Orasse, urging him to steer a straight course
for Sandv Hook; and on July 10, at a conference with Rochambeau.
he expressed himself as follows: "Upon the whole, I do not see

1 Los Franrnis ot Amoriquo ppnrtnnt la Guerre do ^Independence <!<"-; fitats-Unis.

OPERATIONS OF 17S1 511

what more can bo done than to prosecute the plan agreed upon at
the Weathersfield conference, and to recommend to the Count de
Grasse to come immediately to Sandy Hook, and, if possible, possess
the harbor of New York." But he remained in complete uncertainty
as to de Grasse's intentions until the middle of August. He accord-
ingly stayed in his Dobbs Ferry encampment awaiting intelligence.
In this connection he adopted a measure to procure the speediest
possible information of the arrival of the fleet if Sandy Hook should
prove to be the destination of de Grasse. On July 21 — the day when
he set out to reconnoiter New York — he addressed the following auto-
graph letter (whose original is now in the possession of the editor
of this History) to Brigadier-General David Forman1 at Monmouth
X. J. :

Head Quarters, Dobbs Ferry, 21st July, 1781.
Dear Sir:— When I request your particular Care of the enclosed, it is necessary that 1
should inform you in the fullest confidence, and under the strictest injunctions of seeresy, that
the Count de Grasse may be shortly expected with his whole fleet from the West Indies.
Whether he will first appear off the Hook or the Capes of Virginia is uncertain— You will be
pleased immediately, upon the receipt of this, to employ proper persons to keep a look out.
The Moment that a Fleet of heavy Ships is discovered you will dispatch an express to me,
and as soon as you can ascertain whether they are friends or Foes, another; If they prove to
be the former you will oblige me by going on board the Admiral and presenting the letter
herewith. I have mentioned you to him as a Gentleman in whom lie may place the fullest
confidence. That intelligence may be communicated from you to me with the utmost dis-
patch you will be pleased to take some of the militia Horse into pay and station them at such
distances between Monmouth and Dobbs Ferry that they may perform the ride in twelve or
fifteen hours. The Horsemen need not know the particular purpose for which they are sta-
tioned, but they must be ordered never to be a moment absent from their stages except when
upon duty. The expense attending those and the persons who keep a look out I will be an-
swerable for. You will be so good as to give me by the return of this, or in the chain which
you shall establish, the present situation, number, strength, and station of the Enemy's Ships
— and as particular information of this kind may lie very useful and consequential to me and
to our French Allies — 1 beg you will continue to keep me informed from time to time of any
alterations which take place, either respecting their increase or decrease of numbers anil
strength, their different positions, and particular stations, within or without the Hook, that
we may lose no advantages or suffer any misfortune for want of perfect information of the
Enemy's strength, Positions, or movements — I am with respect,

Dear Sir

Your most obedient servant,

G. Washington.

This communication is strong evidence of the entire good faith
of the reconnoissance begun the day after ii was written. Every other
known circumstance demonstrates thai Washington, in the condi-

1 General David Forman commanded a bri- ai

gade in the New Jersey militia. His younger in

brother, Colonel Jonathan Forman, was at the E

head of a regiment in the New Jersey line, and at

after the war became the first president of l><

the Order of the Cincinnati in New Jersey. ai

Both were animated by the loftiest spirit of C<

patriotism, served throughout the Revolution, of

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512 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

tions existing at that time and for sonic days subsequently, was quite
serious in menacing Now York. But those conditions underwent a
change in several radical regards.

First, Clinton was re-enforced at New York by 3,000 Hessians from
Europe' while on the other hand Washington received no re-enforce-
ments at Dobbs Ferry, although he was anxiously expecting some to
arrive from Now England. Next, news came from Virginia which
altered the whole complexion of things there. Cornwallis, finding
his position perilous in the interior of thai State, was retreating to
Yorktown, with the intention of intrenching himself there. At this
juncture, should de Grasse enter the Chesapeake instead of New York
Harbor, Cornwallis would be .aught between the American fleet and
the Southern American land forces, in which eventuality it would
become highly expedient for Washington and Rochambeau to pro-
ceed quicklv 'to Yorktown. And meantime Clinton at New York
dared not send relief to Cornwallis, but was obliged to look to his own
safety. Thus the first part of Washington's plan, as conceived at
Weathersfield, was already realized: by beginning a campaign on
New York he had eased matters in Virginia. It remained to be seen
whether the further changes in the situation would justify him in
actually besieging New York or summon him to Virginia for the
annihilation of Cornwallis. The determining thing would be news
from the fleet.

Washington's movements in Westchester County made such an
impression on Sir Henry Clinton that the latter not only did not re-
enforce Cornwallis, but actually ordered troops to be sent to New
York from the South. On July 2(5 he wrote to Cornwallis to have
three regiments dispatched to New York from the Carol inas, saying:
- 1 shall probably want them, as well as the troops \jou man be able to
spare me from the Chesapeake, for such, offensive or defensive opera-
tions as may offer in this quarter." The order was countermanded
after the coming of the 3,000 Hessians, but it shows how promptly
the presence of the allied armies in our county bore fruit. Wash-
ington wrote to Lafayette on this point: " I think we have already
effected one part of the plan of campaign settled at Weathersfield —
that is, giving a substantial relief to the Southern States by oblig-
ing the enemy to recall a considerable part of their force from them.
Our views must now be turned toward endeavoring to expel them
totally from those States if we find ourselves incompetent to the
siege of New York." But in spite of the re-enforcements which
Clinton had received, Washington had no intention of abandoning
New York until the situation should become more clearly defined.
While Availing to hear from the fleet, he wrote to the governors of

OPERATIONS OF 1781 513

the New England States complaining of their failure to send him
more troops. " I am unable," lie said, " to advance with prudence
beyond my present position. While perhaps in the general opinion
my force is equal to the commencement of operations against New
York, my conduct must appear, if not blamable, highly mysterious
at least. Our allies, who were made to expect a very considerable
augmentation of force by this time, instead of seeing a prospect of
advancing must conjecture upon good grounds that the campaign
will waste fruitlessly away." This letter certainly evidences a very
earnest purpose to carry out the New York campaign on its merits.

On the 31st of July Washington wrote another letter of explicit
instructions to General Forman on the subject of the expected French
fleet, as follows:

Head Quarters, Dobbs Ferry, 31st July, 1781.
Sir: — I have requested Capt. Dobbs to assemble at Capt. Dennis's in Baskenridge as soon
as possible a Number of Pilots, who are to receive their further instructions from you. Im-
mediately upon the appearance of a Fleet near Sandy Hook, if you are satisfied it is the one
we are expecting, you will please to give orders to the Pilots to repair down where they may
be at Hand to be improved as occasion and Circumstances shall require.

I am very fearfull that you have met with more Trouble in establishing the Chain of ex-
presses than you expected — as I have not had the Pleasure of hearing from you since your
first Favor of 2.3d inst. — -and I am informed from N. York that a fleet with part of the Army
of Lord Cornwallis from Virginia arrived at that Place last Tuesday. My Anxiety to be early
and well informed of the Enemy's movements by Water induces me to wish to hear from you
as often and as speedily as any material Circumstances renders it necessarv. — I am

Sir
Your most obedient Servant,

G. Washington.

And again on the 5th of August Washington wrote to Forman in
terms indicating that ho was still looking for de Grasse. "I last
night," he said, tk received yours of the 3d instant. Graves's [British]
Fleet was certainly off Block Island a few days ago. It is supposed he
has taken that position to cover Hie Quebec ships as they pass along,
and at the same time give those which may be expected from Virginia
an opportunity of making their voyage safely. I am not acquainted
with the private signals of M. de Grasse, but I think it may soon be
discovered, upon the appearance of a Fleet, whether they are Friends
or Foes. If the latter, they will immediately send in a light ship, or
one will come out to them." In this letter he also expressed appre-
hension that Forman's expresses from Monmouth might be inter-
cepted by small parties of the enemy, and directed that ;i new and
less exposed route for them be established. It is well known that
Washington, as soon as he decided on the move to Virginia, took
pains to have certain decoy dispatches fall into the hands of the
enemy, in order that Clinton should credit him with no other inten-
tion than to fall upon New York. His care in altering the route of

514 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Forinan's expresses so as to provide for their security shows how
perfectly serious were his calculations with reference to cle Grasse's
possible advent at Sandy Hook as late as the 5th of August. Con-
clusive proof on this point is also afforded by the following item in
his "Accounts with the United States," dated August, 1781: "To
Cash advand Cap Pobbs & other Pilots, to carry them to Monmouth
City to await the arrival of the French Fleet — hourly expected, £18
13s Id [lawful currency]."

As he relates in his Journal, under date of August 1, Washington,
while encamped at Dobbs Ferry, made arrangements for bringing
down to that place from points on the upper Hudson some two hun-
dred boats, to be used doubtless for transporting a large part of his
forces through the Spuyten Duyvil Creek and landing them at points
on Manhattan Island. " By this date," he says, " all my boats were
ready, viz.: One hundred new ones at Albany (constructed under
the direction of General Schuyler), and the like number at Wapping's
Creek, by the quartermaster-general; besides old ones, which have
been repaired."

On the 6th of August he supplemented the grand reconnoissance
of the 22d of July by carefully reconnoitering the country from Dobbs
Ferry to Yonkers. The following is his own account of this proceed-
ing, extracted from his Journal:

Reconnoitered the roads and country between the North River and the Bronx, from the
Camp to Philipse's, and found the ground everywhere strong; the hills, four in number, run-
ning parallel with each other, with deep ravines between them, occasioned by the Sawmill
River, the Sprain Branch, and another more easterly.

These hills have very few interstices or breaks in them, but are more prominent in some
places than others. The Sawmill River and the Sprain Branch occasion an entire separa-
tion of the hills above Philipse's from those below, commonly called Valentine's Hills. A
strong position might be taken with the Sawmill (by the Widow Babcock's) in front and on
the left flank, and this position may be extended from the Sawmill River over the Sprain
Branch.

On August 14 the anxiously expected message from de Grasse
reached Rochambeau and Washington at Dobbs Ferry. In this im-
portant document (brought by the frigate "Concorde" from the
West Indies to Newport, and thence forwarded to headquarters) the
French admiral announced that he would set sail for Chesapeake
Bay on the 3d of August with a fleet of twenty-six ships and with
3,500 land troops, but that his orders would not permit him to remain
later than the 15th of October. This announcement, taken in con-
nect inn with the continuing intelligence of the advantages offering
in Virginia for decisive operations against Cornwallis, at once settled
all doubt regarding the most profitable employment of the allied
forces. Without delay Washington resolved to quit his situation
in Westchester County and march with the greatest practicable ex-

OPERATIONS OF 1781

515

pedition to invest Cornwallis at Yorktown. Meantime, however,
he took steps to confirm Sir Henry Clinton's impression that his de-
signs were really against New York.

During the three weeks which had elapsed since the grand recon-
naissance of Xew York, it was not alone Clinton who felt uneasiness
and perplexity at Washington's apparent hesitation. The Americans
and French themselves were at a loss to account for it; for not a
whisper of the real considerations which were influencing the Ameri-
can commander was permitted to get abroad. The letters of the
Abbe Robin, a priest attached to Rochambeau's army, reflect the pre-

vailing uncertainty and speculation. On the 15th of August he
wrote: " They who supposed we were to direct our route toward
Virginia begin now to think they were deceived. Tart of the army
on this [the French] side are preparing to march down by way of
Kingsbridge; and on the other [American] side orders are given to
get ready to proceed toward Staten Island and even to construct
ovens to bake bread for the troops when camped in that quarter;
others, again, are ordered toward Philadelphia. What are we to
think? All tins seems to me like our theatrical marches where the
concern and perplexity of the spectators is continually increasing. I

51G HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

am in doubt whether the unravelling of the matter will compensate
for the trouble, anxiety, and uneasiness it occasions. ... It is
said the armies will move in a day or two, which will enable us to
determine the better to what quarter we are to proceed."

There was indeed the most flourishing display on Washington's
part of resolute and far-extending preparations to besiege New York.
Besides beginning to build ovens in the vicinity of Staten Island,
he had a large camp marked out there and much fuel collected, lie
caused the Westchester County roads leading down to Kingsbridge
to be cleared by pioneers, as if preliminary to a march in that direc-
tion, lie also adopted the familiar ruse of misleading dispatches,
which were intrusted to ingenious scouts, who fell in with parties
of the enemy and after desperate pretended efforts to escape were
taken and reluctantly gave up their valuable papers.

On the 19th of August Washington began the great movement
which was to terminate in the capitulation of Lord Cornwallis at
Yorktown and the utter paralysis of Great Britain's armed power
in the American States. All being in readiness for breaking camp,
he dispatched Hazen's regiment and the New Jersey line across the
Hudson at Dobbs Ferry, with orders to make a feint toward Staten
Island, and, drawing up the main body of the American army, he
had it paraded facing New York. Then he had the troops turned
about and marched with all speed up the river road, by way of
Tarrytown, Sing Sing, and the new bridge across the Oroton, to Ver-
planck's Point. The French followed by the circuitous route of White
Plains, North Castle, Pine's Bridge, and Crompond. "The inhab-
itants of the country," says the Abbe Robin, " were greatly surprised
to see us returning by the same road, so poor, and the Tories, with
a malicious sneer, demanded if we were going to rest from our labors/'
By the 2Cth both armies had completed their movement across King'?.
Ferry. The advance through the eastern part of New Jersey was
made so as to have it appear that Staten Island was menaced. Sir
Henry Clinton suspected nothing of the truth until Washington was
well advanced toward Philadelphia. Everything conjoined to favor
the ultimate object of the campaign. The fleet of de -Grasse, com-
prising twenty-eight ships of the line with some 4,000 troops on
board, arrived in Chesapeake Bay on the 30th of August. Washing-
ton and Rochambeau, with their forces, sat down before Yorktown
in the latter part of September. The place surrendered, more than
7.000 British and Hessian troops laying down their arms, on the 19th
of October, just two months after the march from Dobbs Ferry was
begun.

Washington's last act before marching away from Dobbs Ferry

END OF THE REVOLUTION 517

was to address to General Heath, the commander at West Point, an
explicit letter of instructions. He assigned to that officer the com-
mand <>f all the troops remaining in the department, "consisting of
the two regiments of New Hampshire, ten of Massachusetts, and five
of Connecticut infantry, the corps of invalids, Sheldon's Legion, the
3d Regiment of artillery," and various bodies of militia. He directed
Heath to have promineutly in view at all times the defense of the
Highlands and the Hudson River. Secondarily he was to "cover"
the country below, but " without hazarding the safety of the posts
in the Highlands." Finally, Washington recommended that the posi-
tion of the American forces should not be pushed farther down than
the "north side of the Proton, ** and, consistently with this recom-
mendation, he ordered the demolition of the redoubt at Dobbs Ferry.

General Heath's conduct of the post during the winter of 178.0-8]
was in strict conformity with these instructions. His Memoirs con-
tain very few records of unusual happenings for that period. There
were, however, some occurrences on the lines and in the Neutral
Ground that should receive brief mention.

On the 2d of December, 17S1, there was a sharp engagement near
Merritt's Tavern, at the upper end of King Street, in the Town of
Rye, a party of de Lancey's cavalry attacking a detachment of New
York infantry levies which was stationed there, under the command
of Captain Sackett. The British cavalry, says Baird, were " repulsed
three times with the bayonet, not a shot being tired by the Ameri-
cans," and he adds: " This is said to have been the most astonishing
feat, on the part of both officers and men, that was enacted during
the whole war. General Washington often spoke of the affair, and
it was reported all over Europe, to show the utility of the bayonet
and that a small party of infantry thus armed may successfully resist
a strong body of cavalry." After the third charge the Americans
fired with good effect, and the incident ended with the discomfiture
of the British.

At the end of January, 17S2, an expedition of fifty men left Peek-
skill for West Farms, arriving there about midnight. This was one
of the numerous undertakings to surprise and capture Colonel James
de Lancoy, and, like all the others, failed to realize that much sought
end. But some prisoners and horses were taken. The retiring Ameri-
cans (commanded by Captain Daniel Williams! were pursued by
British cavalry, and, in their turn, were surprised the next morning
while quartered at Orser's, near the Hudson, just below the Croton
River. There was a spirited encounter, one of the Americans — the
gallant George McChain — being killed and several made prisoners
(among them John Paulding, the captor of Andre).

■

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-_--- \:~

END OF THE REVOLUTION 519

a state of war still existed, notwithstanding the complete inactivity
on both sides. For several months Oarleton diligently cultivated
his amicable correspondence with Washington. Dr. Thacher re-
cords in his Military Journal that on the 25th of July the regiment
to which he was attached was sent to occupy the post at Dobbs
Ferry. " Flags are passing and repassing from this post to New
York and back every day," he writes under date of August 5.

In this uncertain posture of affairs, and amid the general regret
excited by the news of the French disasters at sea, Washington re-
ceived intimations that Carleton was preparing to dispatch a large
portion of his New York command to the West Indies for the pur-
pose of conquering several of the French islands. He thereupon ad-
vised Rochambeau (still in Virginia) to march to the Hudson and
again effect a junction with the American army in Westchester

JOHN JAY S SNUFFBOX.

County, so as to menace New York and prevent Carleton from ex-
ecuting that design. Rochambeau willingly agreed to the proposal,
set his army in motion, and after a leisurely inarch crossed King's
Ferry to Verplanck's Point on the 14th of September. Meantime
Washington had begun serious preparations for threatening New
York. On the 22d of August, says Heath, the " light infantry of the
American army moved down and encamped near Peekskill." On
the 29th " an order of encampment and battle for the American army
was published/' On the 31st as many of the army still remaining
in the Highlands as could be carried in boats "embarked at their
respective brigade landings, and the whole of the boats being in
order fell down to Verplanck's Point, where the troops disembarked
and encamped. They made a most beautiful appearance when in

520 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the boats and in motion. The remainder of the army marched down

by land."

The ceremonies and amenities attending the second junction of the
French and American armies in our county are thus described by
Thacher in his valuable Journal:

September 14. The whole army was paraded under arms this morning in order to honor

his Excellency Count Rochambeau on his arrival from the southward. The troops were all
formed in two lines, extending from the ferry, where the Count crossed, to headquarters. A
troop of horse met and received him at King's Ferry, and conducted him through the line to
General Washington's quarters, where, sitting on his horse by the side of his Excellency, the
whole army marched before him and paid the usual salute and honors. Our troops were now
in complete uniform, and exhibited every mark of soldierly discipline. Count Rochambeau
was most highly gratified to perceive the* very great improvement which the army had made
in appearance since he last reviewed them, and expressed his astonishment at their rapid prog-
ress in military skill and discipline. He said to General Washington: "You must have
formed an alliance with the king of Prussia. These troops are Prussians." Several of the
officers of the French army who have seen troops of the different European nations have be-
stowed the highest encomium and applause on our army, and declare that they had seen none
superior to the Americans.

The last of the French troops arrived on the 18th of September.
The army of Rochambeau made its encampment at and about the
village of Crompond,1 the Americans remaining on Verplanck's
Point. During the continuance of the allies in these positions they
undertook no hostile movement against the British, and Sir Guy
Carleton was reciprocally inactive. Heath records, however, thai
on the Kith of September "The enemy made a grand forage near
Valentine's Hill. Sir Guy Carleton was out in person, as was the
young prince [William Henry]. The covering party, it was said, con-
sisted of five or six thousand men." And on our side Washington
took the significant proceeding of an extensive reconnoiter in per-
son. September 27, according to Heath, " General Washington, cov-
ered by the Dragoons and light infantry, reconnoitered the grounds
on the east side of the river below the White Plains." Record of
this enterprise appears also in Washington's "Accounts with the
United States," as follows: "September, 1782.— To the Expences
of a Reconnoitre as low as Philipsburg & thence across from Dobbs's
ferry to ye Sound with a large Party of Horse, £32 Ss [lawful cur-
rency]."

In' that charming book of personal reminiscences, the Memoirs
and Recollections of Count Segur, several pages are devoted to the
impressions made upon the poetic temperament of the author during
a sojourn at Rochambeau's cam]) at Crompond. The Count Segur

i During the first two weeks, however, camp on the 26th of September, and found

Rochambeau had his headquarters at Peekskill, Rochambeau qu£

ed at " I'iskill " [I'eek-

,,-here also most of his army was apparently skill], whence, " a few days afterward, the

stationed after its arrival. See, in this connec- French proceeded to occupy another position,

lion, the Memoirs of Count Segur (Boston ed., "that of Crampont " [Crompond].
1x25, pp. 275, 276). Count Segur arrived at the

END OF THE REVOLUTION 521

was one of the most ardent enthusiasts for American liberty among
the young French nobility. An officer in the army, he had repeatedly,
during the progress of the Revolution, sought opportunity to come
to America and fight under Washington, but to his intense clisgusi
had been denied that privilege. Finally, in the spring of 1782, he
was commissioned lieutenant-colonel in the regiment of the Soison-
nais, then with Rochambeau in Virginia; and he also was intrusted
by his father, the minister of war, with dispatches to General Rocham-
beau and a large amount of gold for the royal troops. Landing on
the coast of Virginia after a perilous voyage, he proceeded to Rocham-
beau's camp in our county, where he arrived on the 26th of Sep-
tember. The observations that he made there, and particularly his
remarks upon the personality and character of Washington, are ex-
tremely agreeable and instructive; but, being quite lengthy, and
having no practical bearing on the course of events, it is not con-
venient to reproduce them in this narrative, which already threatens
to pass the bounds fixed by the publishers.1

Count Segur's dispatcher from the ministry to Rochambeau di-
rected that general to transfer the operations of the French army
from the United States to the Antilles, and preparations to that end
were soon begun. On the l'lM of Octobei the French struck their
tents at Crompond ami marched across Westchester County on the
route to Newport, whence they sailed on the :24th of December for
the West Indies. An amusing incident of local interest, which oc-
curred just as the French were making ready to leave, is thus related
by Segur:

At the moment of our quitting the camp of Crampont (sic), as M. de Rochambeau was pro-
ceeding, at the head of our columns, surrounded by his brilliant staff, an American approached
him, tapped him slightly on the shoulder, and, shewing him a paper he held in his hand, said
to him: " In the name of the law you are my prisoner!'' Several young officers were indig-
nant at this insult offered to their general, hut he restrained their impatience by a sign,
smiled, and said to the American: "Take me away witli you if you can." "No," replied
the American, " I have done my duty, and your Excellency may proceed on your inarch if you
wish to set justice at defiance; in that case I only ask to be allowed to withdraw unmolested.
Some soldiers, of the division of Soissonnais, have cut down several trees, and burnt them to
light their fires; the owner of them claims an indemnity, and has obtained a warrant against
you, which I come to execute." M. de Rochambeau, having heard this explanation, which
was translated to him by one of his aides-de-camp, called M. de Villemanzy. now a peer of
France, and then intendant of the army, appointed him to be his bail, and ordered him to set-
tle this affair, and to pay what should he considered fair, if the indemnity he had already of-
fered was not thought sufficient. The American then withdrew; and the general and Ins
army, who had thus been arrested by a constable, continued their march. A judgment of
arbitration was afterwards pronounced, fixing two thousand francs, that is to say. a sum less
than the general had offered, as the amount of damages due to this unjust proprietor, who had
claimed fifteen thousand, and he was even condemned to pay costs.

1 The Marquis de Chastellux, one of Rocham- ed., i.. 172) makes extracts from ir. which we
beau's principal subordinates, has also left a commend to our readers,
highly picturesque description. Bolton (rev.

522 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

It is regrettable that our entertaining author omits to record the
names of the energetic local functionary and the claimant whom he
represented.

On the 24th of October, two days after the departure of the French,
the American army on Verplanck's Point maneuvered before the
secretary of war; and on the 26th it began to retire to its former
position in the Highlands, where it continued until its gradual dis-
bandment the next year.

The preliminary treaty of peace (drawn by John Jay) was signed
at Paris by the representatives of Great Britain, France, and the
United States, on the 30th of November, 1782. Early in the spring
of 1783 a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed by both sides in
America. New York was then the only place in the United States
still occupied by a British force.

In April Sir Guy Carleton commenced to arrange the preliminaries
necessary to be observed before withdrawing his command. The
chief thing to be provided for was the conveyance of the Tory refu-
gees out of the United States to the British dominion.1 As the
refugees were many thousands in number, and all of them claimed
considerate treatment at the hands of the British authorities, this
was not a task capable of being performed with expedition. Sev-
eral months would indispensably be required for its completion.
Meanwhile, however, Sir Guy Carleton deemed it appropriate to have
a personal meeting with Washington and come to an understand-
ing with him on the general subject of the prospective evacuation.

The meeting between the two commanders, attended by their staffs,
occurred with much eclat on the 6th of May, ceremonials being pro-
longed through the 7th and terminating on the 8th. A belief has
always obtained among the citizens of Dobbs Ferry that this his-
toric event transpired in their village, at the old Van Brugh Liv-
ingston house. Tossing, in his Field Book of the Revolution, lo-
cated it there, and the statement has been repeated by numerous
other writers, including the author of the article on the Town of

1 " Sadness and despair," says Mrs. Lamb, mortgages, and contracts before the evacua-

" overwhelmed the Loyalists. New York City tion of the city should take place, for they

presented a scene of distress not easily de- were penniless. The complications were insur-

scribed. Men who had joined the British army mountable, and nothing was accomplished in

and had exhibited the utmost valor in battle that direction. Angry lamentations filled the

quailed before the inexorable necessity of exile very air. The victims of civil war inveighed

from their native land. They must leave the against England for abandoning them, and

country or be hanged. Such was the general against their own kindred and country for the

belief, for those who had shown no mercy inexorable harshness of their doom. They did

counted on none in return. The conscientious not pause in their wretchedness to consider

and the unprincipled were alike involved in what would have been the fate of those who

pecuniary ruin. Seeing that they must aban- had expended or lost fortunes in the cause of

don large estates, many appealed to Carleton liberty if triumph had been with themselves."
for power to collect debts due upon bonds,

END OF THE REVOLUTION 523

Greenburgh in Scharfs History of Westchester County. Local
tradition also identified the Livingston house as the place where
Washington and Rochambeau met upon the junction of the allied
armies in July, 1781, and where they planned the Yorktown cam-
paign upon receiving the news from de Grasse's fleet in August of
the same year. Reposing confidence in the accuracy of the published
statements and prevailing beliefs regarding the venerable house,
some members of the Sons of the Revolution started a subscription
in 1893 to erect a monument commemorative of such immortal asso-
ciations. Ample contributions were forthcoming promptly, and the
monument was dedicated on the 11th of June, 1894.1 It was a gala
day for the village. The oration was delivered by General Stewart
L. Woodford, and the Hon. Chauncey M. Depew and Vice-President
Stevenson were among the conspicuous participants in the exercises.
But since the erection of the Dobbs Ferry monument it has been
established by indisputable evidence that the memorable meeting
of Washington and Carleton did not occur in the Livingston house
or at Dobbs Ferry, but at Tappan (Orangetown) on the opposite side
of the river.2 A conclusive article on this point by Mr. Daniel Van
Tassel, of Tarrytown, was published in the Tarrytown Argus for
March 23, 1895. The principal testimony cited by Mr. Van Tassel
is a letter from the well-known Colonel Richard Varick, dated May
18, 1783, describing the affair with much circumstantiality. It is
unnecessary to go into the particulars of the matter here, and indeed
we fear that even the brief allusion to it Avhich we have permitted
ourselves may wound the sensibilities of some of our readers. It is
proper to add that the originators of the monument at Dobbs Ferry
acted in entire good faith and with very praiseworthy motives, upon
grounds deemed sufficient at the time.

1 The inscription mi the Dobbs Ferry monu- by Great Britain to the United States of
ment is as follows: America

Washington
Rochambeau

Washington's Headquarters

Erected
June 14, 1894
By the
Here, July G, 1781, the French allies under New York State Society

Rochambeau joined the American army Sons of the American Revolution

Here. August 14, 1781, Washington planned Tll(' °.laims made in the flrst two Paragraphs

the Yorktown campaign, which brought to a

scription are shown by Mr. Van Tas

.. in his article referred to in the text, to be

triumphant end the war fur American Inde- . , . „ , . , . . , , ,.

1 as incapable of historical demonstration as

pendence thp thh,(1 claim is mistaken.

Here. May G, 1783, Washington and Sir Guy ■ The following entry appears in Washlng-
Carleton arranged for the evacuation of Amer- ton's •< Accounts with the United States," writ-
lean soil by the British ten in his own hand: " To Expenditures upon

And opposite this point, May 8, 17S3, a Brit- an Interview with Sir Guy Carleton at Orange
ish sloop-of-war fired 17 guns in honor of the Town exclusive of what was paid by the Con-
American commander-in-chief, the first salute tract," etc., £24 9s.

END OF THE REVOLUTION 525

The practical outcome of the conference at Tappan was an agree-
ment by Sir Guy Carleton to give up the various outlying posts of
New York, and finally New York itself, as soon as convenient. The
first step in this direction was taken on the 14th of May, when (says
Colonel Varick) Westchester County was surrendered to the State
government by the withdrawal of the British garrison from Morri-
sania. We have not seen this circumstance mentioned in any pub-
lished work on Westchester County or formal contribution to its
history.

But though the 14th of May was Evacuation Day for Westchester
County, it was not until the 25th of November that the British troofjs
in New York City took their farewell. The deportation of the thou-
sands of Tories to Nova Scotia, the West Indies, and Great Britain
taxed all the shipping facilities of Sir Guy Carleton until that time.

As the great day approached, Washington made his arrangements
for taking possession of the city in conjunction with The constituted
authorities of the State of New York. lie dispatched from West
Point, through our county, a force sufficient for the occupation of
Kingsbridge and other outlying posts as they should bo surrendered.
And (hen, attended by his staff and joined by Governor Clinton,
Lieutenant-Governor Van Cortlandt, and other representatives of the
State government, he followed. The following itinerary of the dis-
tinguished party through Westchester County is from a memoran-
dum written at the time by Lieutenant-Governor Van Cortlandt:

I went from Peekskill, Tuesday, the 18th of November, in company with his excellency
Gov. Clinton, Col. Benson, and Col. Campbell; lodged that night with Gen. [Philip] Cort-
landt at Croton River, proceeded and lodged Wednesday night [l'.Hh] at Edw. Coven-
haven's where we mett his excellency Gen. Washington and his Aids. The next night [20th]
we lodged with Mr. Frederick Van Cortlandt at The [Little] Yonkers, after having dined
with Gen. Lewis Morris. Frydav morning [21st] we rode in company with the Commander-
in-Chief as far as the Widow Day's, at Harlem where we held a council.1

1 Irving sa

ys tli

at a

fter Sir Guy Carleton m

tifled Washi

QgtO]

1 of

the time when the diffe

.■Hi posts w

ould

be v

acated, Governor Clinto

" summoned

men

ibers of the State counc

to convene

at E

astel

[ester on the 21st of Ni

vember, foi

1 the

in t

ae (1

pose of establishing civ
istricts hither! rcupie

it would be pleasing to believ
of Eastchester was the plac
nil official arrangements wer
lording to Lieutenant-Goverm

the n ting of tl ouncil f.

is held on Manhattan Island.

CHAPTER XXIY

GENERAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY CONTINUED FROM THE REVOLUTION

TO THE COMPLETION OF THE CROTON AQUEDUCT (1842)

N a previous chapter we have briefly noticed the organiza-
tion of the State government of New York on the 20th
of April, 1777, when a constitution, framed by John Jay,
was adopted by the "Convention of Representatives of
the State of New York " in session at Kingston.

At the time of the British invasion of Westchester County, begin-
ning October 12, 1776, the county records were removed from the
courl house at White Plains by Theophilns Barton, clerk of the
county court, and deposited in a place of safety, where they remained
until the end of the war. White Plains, which had been the county
seat since 1759, ceased to be adapted for that purpose, partly because
of the burning of the court house on the night of the 5th of Novem-
ber, 1776, and partly because of the exposed situation of the village
between the lines of the two armies. Upon the destruction of the
court house the village of Bedford was made the seat of the county
government, and it was in the Presbyterian meeting-house of Bed-
ford that the first county court organized under the provisions of
the constitution of 1777 held its sessions. That building, in its turn,
was burned by the British officer Tarleton, when he made his raid
on Poundridge and Bedford, July 2, 1779. Thereupon the courts
transferred their sittings to the meeting-house in Upper Salem, where
they continued until 1785. In that year, the church at Bedford hav-
ing been rebuilt, it was ordered that the courts should resume their
sessions at Bedford. By an act of the legislature passed May 1, 1786,
the sum of £1,800 was appropriated for the erection of two new
court houses, one at White Plains and the other at Bedford, under
the superintendence of Stephen Ward, Ebenezer Lockwood, Jona-
than G. Tompkins, Ebenezer Purdy, Thomas Thomas, Richard Hat-
field, and Richard Sackett, Jr. These two structures were completed
in 1787, and thenceforward until 1868 Bedford shared with White
Plains the honor of being a "half shire" town. The second White

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 527

Plains court house of 1787 1 occupied the same site as the first, oil
Broadway, and continued in use until 1857, when the present fine
building on Railroad Avenue was finished. The Bedford court
house, also erected in 1787, is still in existence, being now used as
a town hall.

After the Revolution the board of supervisors, which had had but
a meager membership during the war, resumed at once its char-
acter of a representative body of all the organized communities of
the county. The following is a. list of the members of the board,
by localities, for the year 1784:

Abel Smith, Precinct of North Castle. Gilbert Budd, Town of Mamaroneek.

Thomas Hunt, Borough Town of Westchester. Ebenezer S. Burling, Town of Eastchester.

William Paulding, Manor of Philipseburgh. Daniel Horton, Precinct of White Plains.

Jonathan (J. Tompkins, Manor of Scarsdale. Israel Honeywell, Yonkers.

Tliaddeus Crane, Town of Upper Salem. John Thomas, Town of Rye.

William Miller, Harrison's Precinct. Philip Pell, Manor of Pelham.

Joseph Strang, Manor of Van Cortlandt. Benjamin Stevenson, Town of New Rochelle.

Ebenezer Lockwood, Precinct of Poundridge. William Morris, Manor of Morrisania.
Abijah Gilbert, Town of Lower Salem.

In addition to the localities represented in this list was Ryck's
Patent — the present Peekskill and its vicinity, — which had always
retained an identity distinct from that of the Manor of Cortlandt,
and even previously to the Revolution had been represented in the
board of supervisors.

No reconstruction of the civil divisions of the county having as
\i'\ been effected under the State government, the localities claim-
ing and receiving representation in the board of supervisors after
the Revolution were only the old established ones of colonial times,
and indeed no innovations in the local designations of political divi-
sions were made until the legislative act of 1788, setting off the
county into townships. The eastern portion of Cortlandt Manor,
however, comprehending the "Oblong" and considerable territory
to the west, had acquired the local name id' Salem, and indeed there
was an " Upper" Salem- and a " Lower'" Salem, each of which had
its supervisor. The representative from the old confiscated Manor

Much

to the

gene,

al regret

the

second

Lancey,

its principal

proprietor under

in-i li
ice to

mse ;il

Whit

• Plains,
rn struct

whii

igether

Hi,

lie

division
rs. Other

'ffected by t
parts of the

he Van Cortlandl
manor had their

lh tin

adjoini

ig pr<

perty bel<

raging

t<> the

](M

il designat

ons in comn

on parlance. Mrs.

county, passed into the hands of private Beefeman's estate on the Hudson was, from her

parties several years ago, ami the building was Christian name, styled Gertrudesborough, and

torn down, carried off. anil passed into the what is now the Town of Somers was called

unknown. The remembrance is all of the first Hanover and afterward Stephentown (for

bistoric structure that remains.— Smith's Man- Stephen Van Cortlandtl. The name Cort-

ual of Westchester County. landttown was applied to the district where

2 Upper Salem was also known locally as Philip Van Cortlandt had his residence.
"De Lancey Town," so-called for Stephen

rri*

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

of Philipseburgh was still styled the supervisor for the Manor of
Philipseburgh; and although there was a separate supervisor for
the lower section of that manor, known as Yonkers, this was no
change in the former order of things, since the Yonkers portion of
the manor had had its own supervisor from early times.

The recovery of Westchester County from the effects of the Rev-
olutionary War was an exceedingly slow process. We have shown
in a previous chapter (see p. 41 S) that there was an increase of only
2,258 in the population of the county from the time of the last
colonial census, taken in 1771, to that of the first federal enumera-
tion, made in 1790, and
that the meagerness of
this growth during nine-
teen years (including
seven years of peace) is
even more significant
when it is remembered
that many thousand acres
of confiscated lands were
sold after the war by the
State at low prices.

The principal confisca-
tion by the State of lands
of British adherents in
Westchester County was
thai of Philipseburgh Manor. The act forfeiting the manor was passed
in 1779, whereupon all its lands, extending from the Spuyten Duyvil
Creek to the Croton, and from the Hudson to the Bronx, became the
property of the State of New York. In due time provision was made
by the legislature to sell to private persons all the confiscated lands
in the State (with the exception of certain properties which were re
served for gifts to particular individuals), and to that end commis-
sioners of forfeiture were appointed for the four districts into which
the State was divided— the Eastern, Western, Middle, and Southern.
General Philip Van Cortlandt, son of Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Van
Cortlandt, was one of the commissioners for the Southern district,
which comprehended our county. Most of the resulting sales oc-
curred in 1785, although a few were made in 1786. The following is
a list of the purchasers of forfeited lands in the Yonkers portion of the
manor, which we extract from Allison's History of Yonkers:

ORIGINAL NEW YORK STATE SEAL.

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842

529

John Lawrence

Ward Hunt

ACRES

488

343

Abraham Odell

324

Jacob Post

323

Cornelius P. Low

320 i

Isaac Lawrence, Jr

Isaac Post

. . . . 308
, . 293

Isaac Vermilye

2734

Evert Brown (estimated)

Henry Odell

. ... 259

Thomas Valentine

238

Jacob Vermilye

Robert Johnston. )

190

Lewis Ogden. . . . }
Thomas Barker

189

Isaac Smith. . . )
Thomas Smith. £

... 185

Peter Forshee

170

Jacob Smith

Joseph Oakley

John Browne. . .

... 164
150

Andrew Bostwick

... 155|

ACRES

. 154

. 144

. 141

. 135

. 134

Eleazer Hart

Isaac Odell

Robert Reid

Elisha Barton

Dennis Post

Nicholas Underbill

Caleb Smith 130

Dennis Lent 128

John Devoe 126

Abigail Sherwood 125

Frederick Underbill 125

Hon. Richard Morris (estimated) 117

Henry Brown 113

Parsonage Lot 107

Elnatban Taylor 99

Frederick Van Cortlandt (about) 98

Margery Rich 92

John Gnerino 89

William Hyatt 89

Mary Valentine 76

Abijah Hammond 69

Jacobus Dyckman 45

David Hunt 41

Abraham Lent 41

Philip Livingston 31

Stephen Oakley 29£

Charles Dnryea 29

Stephen Sherwood 24^

Sarah Archer 18i

Mary Merrill 14f

Total 9,785|

"By the acts respectively of 1786 and 1792," says Allison, " tin-
legislature first conveyed, and then continued, the property described
as the Glebe to Saint John's Church forever. Two acres where the
church stands, two where Thomas Sherwood, the gardener, lived,
and about two acres of meadow adjoining the Saw Mill River and
the road, being a part of the Glebe land, were reserved and excepted
from C. P. Low's purchase. Mr. John Williams, one of the pur-
chasers, had been the steward of the Philipseburgh Manor under
Colonel Frederick Philipse. John Gueriuo was a Frenchman, who
kept a tavern near limit's Bridge. The property purchased of the
commissioners by C. P. Low, whose name appears in the foregoing
list, was the Manor Hall property. Low was a Xew York merchant.
Lie bought the Manor Hall property and three hundred and twenty
acres of land for £14,520. lie never occupied it, but on May 12, 178G,
sold it to William Constable, also a Xew York merchant. From the
foregoing record it appears that in 1785 'the Yonkers,' as now
bounded, was owned by between sixty and seventy persons, and a

530

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

study of the old map leads to the conclusion that the number of
houses within the limits of the present city were in 1785 between
three score and four score."

The Manor House of the Philipses on the Pocant.ico River — the
ancient "Castle Philipse " — in the present Town of Mount Pleasant
was bought of the commissioners, with 1,000 acres adjoining, by
Gerard G. Beekman, Jr., husband of Cornelia Van Cortlandt, that
indomitable patriotic lady (daughter of the lieutenant-governor) who

YONKERS IN 17S41.

was the hostess of the Van Cortlandt house near Peekskill during
the Revolution, and whose stern reply to an insolent soldier on a
perilous occasion is celebrated (see p. 427). Mrs. Beekman died in
1S47 at the age of ninety-four.

Besides Philipseburgh Manor, various (states of Tories scattered
through the county were confiscated. All of these, however, were
properties of but moderate dimensions. Several of them were con-
ferred by the State upon patriotic persons as gifts. John Paulding
and David Williams, two of the captors of Andre, received forfeited

3 by William Calmer East. Reproduced by

1 From an engraving in the possession of
D. McX. Stauffer. of Yonkers. Copyrighted,

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 531

farms in Westchester County— the former being given the handsome
property of Dr. Peter Huggeford in the Manor of Cortlandt, and the
latter the estate of Edmund Ward in Eastchester. The famous
Thomas Paine, author of "Common Sense," was presented with a
tract of some three hundred acres in Upper New Iiochelle, which had
previously belonged to one Frederic Deveau. About 1802, after his
return to America, Paine took up his residence on this property,
and lie lived there most of his remaining years and was buried
in a corner of the farm. His bones were disinterred and taken to
England by William Cobbett in 1819. The spot is marked by a monu-
ment to his memory.

The subdivision of the county into townships was made by an act
of the legislature passed March 7, 1788. By this important statute
twenty-one " towns " were erected, as follows: Westchester, Morris
ania, Yonkers, Greenburgh. Mount Pleasant, Eastchester, Pelham,
Now Rochelle, Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, White Plains, Harrison, Rye,
North Castle, Bedford, Poundridge, Salem. North Salem, Cortlandt,
Yorktown, and Stephentown.

The Town of Westchester included all of the original Westchester
and West Farms tracts, with Fordhain Manor.

The Town of Morrisania coincided with the old Morrisania Manor.
But the existence of Morrisania as a separate town was speedily
brought to an end.1 By an act passed February 22, 1791, it was
annexed to the Town of Westchester, from which it was not again
severed until 1855 (December 7(.

The three Towns of Yonkers, Greenburgh, and Mount Pleasant were
created out of the Manor of Philipseburgh. The original bounds of
^ onkers were the same as at present, except that the southern por-
tion of it has recently been annexed to the City of New York. Green-
burgh lias always retained the limits fixed tor it by the act of 1788.
Its northern boundary, as described in that measure, was "a line
beginning on the east side of Hudson's River at the southwest cor-
ner of the land lately conveyed by the commissioners of forfeiture
for the southern district to Gerard G. Beekman, Jr., and running
from thence along the southerly and easterly bounds thereof to the
farm of William David, and then along the southerly and easterly

tin. most eligible place. There is now in the
possession of the New York Historical Society
the draft of a " Memorial by Lewis Morris,
of Morrisania," "To his Excellency the Presi-
act of 17SS the federal government was about dent and the Honorable the Members of the

t0 ' rganized, and the question of tin- sol,.,- Congress of the United States of America,"

tioii of a site for the national capital was communicated in 1790, in which the special ad-
coming into prominence. Lewis Morris enter- vantages of the place arc recited. (For the
tained a strong conviction that Morrisania was text of this memorial see Scharf, i.. 823.)

1 The

appointment

of Morr

isania

the origi

nal township

s of the ,

ounty

was p

bly due

to the influ,

nee of tl

i,. Mor

ris fa

At the

time of the

passage

of th,

' toWl

532 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

hounds of the said farm of the said William David to the road lead-
in*, to the White Plains, and then easterly along the same road to the
Bronx River." To Mount Pleasant was assigned the remainder of
the manor. Out of its territory was constructed the new Town of
Ossining by an act passed May .2, 1845.

The bounds fixed for the Town of Eastchester were Westchester
at the south, the Bronx River at the west, Scarsdale at the north,
and the Hutchinson River at the east.

Pelham was identical with the former Pelham Manor, compre-
hending City, Hart, and Appleby's Islands.

New Rochelle, Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Rye, Bedford,
and Poundridge, as organized into towns, retained their former well
established divisional lines.

North Castle was bounded on the north by Mount Pleasant, Y\ lute
Plains Harrison, and Connecticut, on the east by Connecticut, Pound-
ridge, and Bedford, on the north by the Manor of Cortlandt and Bed-
ford and on the west by the Bronx River ami Bedford. But in 1791
(March 18) another town, called New Castle, was set off from North
Castle, comprehending the territory west of a line drawn from the
southwest corner of Bedford to the head of the Bronx River.

Salem, North Salem, Cortlandt, Yorktown, and Stephentown were
towns partitioned from the Manor of Cortlandt.

The township named Salem has long been popularly known as
Lower Salem. By an act of April 6, 1806, its name was officially
changed to South" Salem, and by a further act, February 13, 1840,
to the present style of Lewisboro. The name of Lewisboro was given
it in honor of John Lewis,1 a liberal benefactor of the public schools
and donor of the glebe lands of Saint John's Protestant Episcopal
Church at Salem. A portion of North Salem was annexed to Lewis-
boro April 2(5, 1844.

North Salem included the whole of " north lots " numbers 9 and 10
of the Manor of Cortlandt, with lot number 8 as far as the Croton
River, which formed its western boundary. To the two Salems fell
the whole of the 'k Oblong."

The Townships of Cortlandt, Yorktown, and Stephentown were con-
structed out of the remaining portion of Cortlandt Manor. Yorktown
was so-called in remembrance of the encampment within its borders
of the French army after its return from the successful Virginia

Free Academy in New York, and in 1840 save
$10,000 to the support of the common schools
in the township now called by his name. Ho

,i;,„l .,t his T.owisboro homo on the 1st of

1 Jo

ll!l I

,cwis was

descend,

n i

Now

Engl

and family.

His fat

her was i

i Ri

Ollltll

mary

soldier, wh

o remove'

mec

out t

o Sol

it li Salem i

in 1808. '

die son n

iado

large

fort

niir in mo

rcantile ]

mrsuits ii

i N<

York

. He

was ono

of the •

Eounders <

if t

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1812 533

campaign. Stephentown — the present Somers — was named for
Stephen Van Cortlandt. The present name was adopted April 6,
1808, in honor of Captain Richard Soniers, the hero of the Tripolitan
war. A part of New ( 'astle was annexed to Soniers in 1846.

Of the twenty-one original towns, North Castle was the largest,
having about 30,000 acres; but after the setting off from it of New
Castle in 1791, Bedford, with its 21,700 acres, took the first rank,
which it has always since maintained. The smallest of the original
towns were Pelham (3,200 acres), Mamaroneck (3,900 acres*, Scars-
dale (3,900 acres), and New Rochelle (5,200 acres).

The first federal census was taken in 1790, two years after the
organization of our county into towns. The following were the totals
for the various political divisions then existing:

TOWNS POPULATION TOWNS POPULATION

North Castle (including New Castle). . 2,47<S Yonkers 1,125

Bedford 2,170 Poundridge 1,062

Cortlandt 1,932 North Salem 1,058

Mount Pleasant (including the present Harrison 1,001

Ossining) 1,921 Rye 986

Yorktown 1,609 Fastchester 710

Salem (now Lewisboro) 1,153 New Rochelle 692

Greenburgh 1,100 White Plains 505

Westchester (including West Farms, Mamaroneck 452

Morrisania, and Fordham Manor) 1,336 Scarsdale 281

Stephentown (now Somers) 1,297 Pelham 199

Total 21,003

The towns which led in population at this period were the ones
having the largest superficial area, and it is also noticeable that the
distribution of population in 1790 was without the slightest refer-
ence to relative local advantages as those advantages are estimated
at the present time. For example, Bedford, lying in the northern
central part of the county, remote from New York City, peopled
exclusively by farmers, and from its natural conditions incapable of
any development other than agricultural, had nearly as many in-
habitants as Westchester and Yonkers combined, although the
united area of Westchester and Yonkers was some 1,500 acres greater
than that of Bedford. Poundridge, smaller than Yonkers, had never
theless almost as many inhabitants. Lewisboro was more populous
than Greenburgh, though not very much exceeding it in size. York-
town had only a hundred fewer inhabitants than Eastchester. White
Plains, Scarsdale, and Pelham together. Still another fact stands
out prominently: the localities which were least exposed to the rav-
ages of the contending forces during the Revolution were those
showing the most satisfactory conditions of population.

534 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

The purely agricultural character of Westchester County at the
end of the eighteenth century is perfectly demonstrated by these
census returns. In truth, there was at that time no single village
displaying circumstances of local activity from which the prospect
of any substantial ultimate growth might be deduced. The existence
of the foundations of such thriving communities as Yonkers, Dobbs
Ferry, Tarrytown, Sing Sing, and Peekskill on the Hudson, New
Rochelle, Mamaroneck, and Rye on the Sound, and White Plains and
various other villages in the central sections of the county, is recog-
nizable, with more or less distinctness, at this period; but in each
case these foundations were strictly elementary, represented by such
instruments of advancing civilization as churches, mills for the grind-
ing of grain, small general stores, and inns for the accommodation
of ^travelers, with here and there a schoolhouse. The only commer-
cial industry that had been inaugurated was that of transmitting
market produce to New York, in which a few sloops were engaged,
both on the Hudson and the Sound. But most of the farmers pre-
ferred to cart their own wares to the city. kk What a sight must have
presented itself," says a writer in Scharfs History, describing a
somewhat later period, " as over our three great thoroughfares not
only the farmers of the county, but often, as when the river and
Sound were icebound, those of the regions beyond, passed into the
city with their heavy loads of produce. There were hours of the day
when the roads, it is said, were fairly blocked by the heavy traffic
upon them, and eyewitnesses declare that at night even the floors
of the bar and sitting-rooms of the taverns were spread over with
the sleepers tarrying to rest themselves and their teams for a few
hours on the way."

To the national convention at Philadelphia which framed the con-
stitution of the United States Westchester Comity contributed one
of its most distinguished and influential members, Gouverneur Mor-
ris. It is true he sat in that body as a delegate from Pennsylvania,
but, as has been aptly observed by one of our local historians, " it is a
pleasure to remember that in the person of Gouverneur Morris, who
was bom on Westchester soil and who returned again to represent her
in the United States senate, and whose remains are sacredly enshrined
in her bosom, she was present to form that wise and beneficent
instrument." The federal constitution was ratified in this State on
the 26th of July, 1788, by a convention which held its sessions at
Poughkeepsie. The delegates from our county were Thaddeus Crane,
of North Salem; Richard Hatfield, of White Plains; Philip Livingston
and Lewis Morris, of Westchester; Lott W. Sarles, of New Castle;
and Philip Van Cortlandt, of Cortlandt. All of them voted affirma-

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 535

tively on the question of ratification. In the last continental con-
gress held under the old confederation of the State, that of 1788-89,
Philip Pell, of our county, had the honor of being one of the repre-
sentatives from the State of New York.

Daring the eight years of Washington's administration as presi-
dent the Federalist party usually enjoyed the preponderance in
AYestchester County. With the incoming of Jefferson, however, the
anti-Federalists, or Republicans, gained the ascendency, which they
transmitted to their political heirs, the Democrats; and indeed since
the beginning of its organization the Democratic party has lost but
two presidential elections in Westchester County (1818 and 1896).

The congressional district to which this county was apportioned
was represented in the national house of representatives for sixteen
successive years (1793-1809) by General Philip Van Cortlandt.1 From
1795 until 1801 our John Jay was governor of the State. In the fall
of 1797 John Adams, then president of the United States, for some
time made his official residence in the Halsey house in Eastchester,
having come there to escape the yellow fever, which was raging in
Philadelphia, the national capital.2 One of the Jefferson presiden-
tial electors of the State of New York in 1800 was Colonel Pierre
Van Cortlandt, a younger brother of Philip.

In 1791 the representation of Westchester County in the assembly
was reduced from six members to five, in 1802 to four, and in 1808
to three.

In such a work as this, which makes no pretensions except as a
narrative history of the county, it is impossible to note, progres-
sively, the names and services of the various incumbents of the many
offices, legislative, judicial, county, and local, elected or appointed
from time to time. Such an exact record does not come within the
scope of a general history. An exhaustive Manual and Civil List
of Westchester County has recently been published by Mr. Henry

1 Philip Van Cortlandt was the eldest son of diet Arm. Id for improper conduct in 1779-SO.

Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Van Cortlandt. Alluding to this trial he wrote: " Had all the

He was born in the City of New York, Sep- court known Arnold's former conduct as well

tember 1. 1749, and was brought up at the as myself, ho would have been dismissed from

Manor House on the Croton. He was the service." After the war he retired to the

graduated from King's (Columbia) College at Manor House at Croton. He served as one

an early age. At the breaking out of the of the commissioners of forfeiture, and, as

Revolution, Governor Tryon forwarded him a stated above, as representative in congress for

major's commission in the British service, sixteen years, finally declining a re-election,

which he destroyed. He was appointed He accompanied the Marquis de Lafayette in

lieutenant-colonel in the continental army, and his tour of the United States in 1824, and

remained in active duty until the end of the entertained him at the Manor House. He died

war, retiring with the rank of brigadier-gen- November 21. 1831.

oral. He rendered very distinguished services -The Halsey house was owned at that time

on many occasions. He was a member of by Colonel V\\ S. Smith, a son-in-law of

the military court which tried General Bene- President Adams.

536

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

3*&!

T. Smith, of New Rochelle, to which we refer all of our readers who
may have occasion to obtain specific information on these lines. We
must restrict ourselves in the present pages to incidental notice of
the more conspicuous men who figure in the general annals of the
county, and even in this particular we must crave the considerate
indulgence of the reader if our allusions are hut partial, pleading
for our justification the necessary limitations of the plan of this

History.

From 1802 to 1807 the distinguished John Watts, Jr., occupied the
position of kk first judge" of our county court, lie was the son of
John Watts, Sr., and Ann, daughter of Stephen de Lancey. The

father was a member of the king's
council and a stanch adherent of the
crown; his magnificent estate on Man-
hattan Island was confiscated, and lie
died, an impoverished exile, in Wales.
The son was the last royal recorder of
New York City (1771-77). After the
organization of the federal government
he was speaker of the New York assem-
bly for three years, and served one term
in congress. His last public office was
that of judge of Westchester County.
His city house was at No. 3 Broadway,
New York, and he had a tine country
residence near New Uochelle, on a slope
overlooking Hunter's Island. Like his
father, la- married into the de Lancey
family of our county: his wife was
Jane, daughter of Peter de Lancey, of
" the Mills." He was a man of consum-
mate abilities. Possessed of great
wealth, he diverted a million dollars of a fortune which would have
been his by inheritance to the endowment of the Leake and Watts
Orphan House, lie died September 3, 1836, at the age of eighty-
seven. A notable statue of Judge Watts stands in Trinity Church-
yard, New York, erected by his grandson, General J. Watts de
Peyster.

In 1807 Daniel I). Tompkins, a native of our county, son of the
eminent patriot, Jonathan Griffon Tompkins, was elected governor
of the State of New York, an office in which he continued to serve
until 1817, when he resigned it to become vice-president of the
United States. Although he never represented Westchester County

JOHN WATTS, JR.

DANIKI. I) TOMI'k'IN!

■

538

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

effect July 4, 1827. In accordance with this proposition, the legislature passed an acton the
31st of March, 1817, and at the prescribed time slavery was wiped off the statute books of
the State of New York.

" Of all the able men who have occupied the chair of governor of New York State, none
ever sustained the onerous and overwhelming responsibilities with more conscientiousness, or
guarded the destinies of his State and his people with more fidelity. He was more than a
great man; he was a great patriot, a great martyr. He gave his services, his fortune, his
reputation, and his life, that his country should maintain its position among the nations of the
earth, and for the transcendent results he achieved he deserves the imperishable gratitude of his
countrymen."

Ill the same year that Tompkins was elected governor, lttOT, oc-
curred an event of peculiar interest to the people of Westchester
County residing on the banks of the Hudson River. This was the
passage up the stream, on its trial trip to Albany, of Robert Fulton's
steamboat, the " Clermont." It came almost unheralded on the after-
noon of September 11, and to most beholders must have been an
object quite as astonishing as Hudson's "Half-Moon" had been to
the Indian aborigines two hundred years before. Although it was
known to specially well informed people that some surprising ex-
periments had been made in the waters surrounding New York City
with a vessel propelled by steam, the rustic classes had never heard
of the ship.

The " Clermont " performed the voyage to Albany at the speed
of about five miles an hour, making only one stop, at Chancellor Liv-
ingston's seat on the upper
river. The actual running
time from New York to Al-
bany was thirty-two hours,
and from Albany to New-
York thirty hours. After this
triumphant achievement of
the purpose for which it was
built the " Clermont " made
regular trips to and from Al-
bany as a packet boat. In
these first days of steam navi-
gation on the Hudson intense
prejudice was h a r b o r e d
against the " Clermont " by the owners of trading sloops, who feared
that the successful operation of steamboats would render their prop-
erty worthless; and it is recorded that attempts were repeatedly made
to sink or disable her, which caused the legislature to pass an act
prohibiting such practices under serious penalties. It is not im-
probable that some of the market sloops plying between New York
and the Westchester villages were engaged in these reprehensible
enterprises against Fulton's boat. Allison, in his History of

THE "CLERMONT.

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 539

Yonkers, says that as late as 1823 lk no steamboat had ever slowed
ii]) to take Yonkers passengers aboard," but that some three years
later one John Bashford began to row out intending passengers to
put them on board the steamers for the consideration of eighteen
pence per person.

In 1810, as determined by the federal census, the population of
Westchester County was 30,272; but according to an enumeration
made in 1811 it had declined in the latter year to 20,307, a shrinkage
of nearly 4,000. This loss is easily accounted for. Our county re-
sponded with especial alacrity to the calls of the national and State
governments for troops to serve in the second war with England.
The decline in population was indeed considerable in almost every
township. The figures are so interesting and present a record so
honorable that it is very fitting to set them down in detail here.

TOWNS POPULATION

1810 1814

Mount Pleasant (including Ossining) 3,119 2,802

Cortlandt 3,054 2,477

Bedford 2,374 2,287

Westchester (including West Farms, Morrisania, and Fordkam) 1,969 1,345

Yorktown 1,924 1,175

Greenburgh 1,862 1,792

Somers 1,782 1,783

Lewisboio 1,566 1,458

North Castle 1,366 1,220

Yonkers 1,365 954

New Castle 1,291 1,243

Rye 1,278 1,185

Poundridge 1,249 913

North Salem 1,204 1,033

Harrison 1,119 825

Eastchester 1,039 942

New Rochelle 996 992

White Plains 693 670

Mamaroneck 496 797

Pelham 267 182

Scarsdalc 259 292

Total 30,272 26,367

It is observable that during the twenty years from 1790 to 1810
there was, so far as can be discovered from the census figures, no
change in the distinguishing aspect of population in Westchester
County. Although the increases in several of the towns were con-
siderable, clearly indicating the rise of hamlets, in no case was the
growth large enough to promise any extensive development. Of
the townships lying on the Hudson River, Mount Pleasant (then
including Ossining), Cortlandt, and Greenburgh showed the largest

540 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

gains — 1,195, 1,122, and 462 respectively, as against an advance of
only 240 in Yonkers.

On the 2d of April, 1813, occurred the incorporation of Sing Sing,
the first village of Westchester County organized under the State
government. The wording of the act of incorporation is as follows:

The district of country in the Town of Mount Pleasant, contained within the following
limits, that is to say : Beginning at the Hudson River, where a run of water, hetween the
lands of Daniel Delavan and Albert Orser, empties into the said Hudson River, north of Sing
Sing, from thence eastwardly on a straight line to the house occupied by Charles Yoe, and in-
cluding the said house, thence southwardly on a straight line until it intersects the Highland
Turnpike road on the south line of Samuel Rhodie's land, from thence westwardly on the
south line of William Street's land to the Hudson River, and thence northwardly along the
said river to the place of beginning, shall hereafter be known and distinguished by the name of
the Village of Sing Sing.

A curious provision contained in the charter of Sing Sing was a
section empowering the trustees to enact a by-law " prohibiting any
baker or other person within the aforesaid limits from selling any
bread at any higher price or rate than bread of like quality at the
time of such sale shall be assessed in and for the City of New York
by the corporation of said city, under the penalty of one dollar for
every offense." This was occasioned by the high price of breadstuff's
then prevailing, which afforded temptations to bakers to charge ex-
orbitant rates for their wares.

The first village election of Sing Sing was hold on the first Tues-
day of May, 1813, when " seven discreet freeholders " were elected
trustees. Their names are not preserved, all the early records of the
village having been destroyed by fire.

In 1813 the celebrated authorization was made to Robert Macomb,
from which resulted the construction of " Macomb's Dam " and the
consequent complete obstruction of the navigation of the Harlem
River, a condition which was a sore grievance to property owners
on the Westchester side. In early times the entire Harlem and
Spuyten Duyvil waterway was navigable, at certain stages of the
tide, for boats of light draught. " Prior to the Revolution," says a
writer1 who has given much attention to this subject, "the island
[Manhattan] was circumnavigable in vessels of light draught. Gen-
eral Cornwallis pased from the Hudson through Spuyten Duyvil
Creek into Harlem River, and down to Sherman's Creek (end of Tenth
Avenue), with his troops on board light, draught boats, and scaled
the heights at what is now Fort George, during the concerted move-
ment on Fort Washington in the autumn of 1776/' No public in-
terest was felt, however, in preserving this navigable condition. At
the end of the eighteenth century Alexander Macomb, a wealthy

1 Mr. Fordlmm Morris.

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842

541

Kingsbridge and vicinity, and in December, 1800, he obtained from
the city authorities a water grant extending across Spuyten Dnyvil
Creek just east of the King's Bridge, although it was specified in the
grant that a passageway fifteen feet wide should be preserved for
small boats and craft. Thereupon he erected a four-story gristmill
extending out over the creek, whose power was supplied by the
alternate ebb and flow of the tide against its undershot wheels.1
Alexander was succeeded in his property rights by his son Robert,
who, not satisfied with the supply of water for the mill, procured
a grant to build a dam across the Harlem River from Bussing's Point,
oi) the Harlem side, to Devoe's Point, on the Westchester side, "so
as to hold the waters of the river for the benefit of the mill at Kings-
bridge, thus practically making
a tidal millpond between the
present site of the Central
Bridge at Seventh Avenue and
<dd King's Bridge. This erec-
tion was known for years as
Macomb's Dam. But it was
required in the act that Macomb
should so construct the dam as
to permit boats to pass, and thai
he should always have a person
in attendance to afford the de-
sired passage. He neglected,
however, to conform to this di-
rection, and not only erected his
dam without the specified con-
trivance, but converted the lip of
the dam into a permanent bridge
and collected tolls from everybody who crossed it. The utter obstruc-
tion to the navigation of the river thus introduced continued until
1838, when, as we shall see, it was forcibly removed by the enterprise
and courage of a number of citizens of Westchester, and the mischiev-
ous and unwarranted interference with tin1 natural function of the
Harlem River as a public waterway was brought to an end.

Macomb's Dam was the only absolute barrier to the progress of
vessels coming up the Harlem River. But it had a rival in Coles's
Bridge, tin1 site of the present Third Avenue Bridge — which indeed
antedated it. In 1790 the legislature granted to Lewis Morris the
right to construct a bridge from Harlem to Morrisania, which was

1 This mill remained standing until 1S56. It is shown in the cut on p. 145.

GENERAL ALEXANDER MACOMB.

542 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

to be provided with a draw. This privilege Morris assigned to John
B. Coles, who in 1795 procured a new legislative grant, authorizing
him to build a dam across the Harlem River which was to serve the
double purpose of a foundation for a bridge and a means for furnish-
ing power to grist and other mills; but in this grant also it was
stipulated that the free navigation of the river should be preserved
through a suitable opening. Under the provisions of the act of 1795
and subsequent legislation, Coles not only built the Harlem Bridge,
but constructed a road leading from it to West Farms and East-
chester. Coles's Bridge was provided with a draw, which, however,
was very narrow. This structure continued in use until about 1855,
when it was replaced by the (old) Third Avenue Bridge.

Previously to the construction of Coles's Bridge there were two
bridges connecting Manhattan Island with the main land, both being
across Spuyten Duyvil Creek — the King's Bridge, erected in 1G94
by Frederick Philipse, who, with his successors, collected tolls from
all using it, and the Farmers' or Dyckman's Bridge, built some years
before the Revolution by public subscription. No tolls were levied
on the Farmers' Bridge, and hence it was popularly known as the
" Free Bridge."

It will thus be seen that as early as the middle of the second dec-
ado of the nineteenth century there were four bridges communi-
cating with our county from Manhattan Island — one at the village
of Kingsbridge, the second just below, the third at the termination
of the present Seventh Avenue, and the fourth where Third Avenue
now crosses.

The incorporation of the village of Peekskill was authorized by
an act passed April 17, 1816. But no stops were taken at that time,
or indeed until eleven years later, to carry the provisions of the
measure into effect.

The loss of population by the county during the War of 1812 was
speedily recovered. In 1820 the census returns showed a total popu-
lation of 32,038— a gain of 2,300 over that of 1810. Mount Pleasant,
with its village of Sing Sing, still led, having 3,684 inhabitants;
Cortlandt was second, with 3,121; Bedford third, with 2,432; West-
chester fourth, with 2.10)2; and Greenburgh fifth, with 2,001. The
population of Yonkers was 1,580, being exceeded by that of York-
town and Seniors, in addition to the towns above named.

In the year 1824 this county was the scene of enthusiastic recep-
tions to the immortal Lafayette on his route from New York to
Boston. Lafayette arrived in New York Bay on the 15th of August,
and, lauding on Staten Island, was entertained there by our dis-
tinguished son, ex-Governor and Vice-President Tompkins. The news

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1342 543

of his arrival had been brought by express to General Philip Van
Cortlandt, then living at the Manor House on the Croton, who at
once set off for the city, "'where he had the inexpressible satisfac-
tion of embracing his old compatriot, and felt it one of the happiest
moments of his life." On the 20th of August Lafayette was escorted
by the mayor and corporation of the city to Kingsbridge, whence
he continued his journey to Boston.

The principal event in Westchester County of the decade 1820-30
was the building of the State penitentiary at Sing Sing. By an
act passed March 7, 1824, the construction of a new State prison
was authorized in the 1st and 2d senatorial districts, and the Sing-
Sing site was selected on account of its marble quarries — which
afforded a means for the advantageous employment of convict labor.
— its accessibility by water, and its salubrity. At that time there
Mere only two State prisons in existence, one in New York City
(called Newgate) and one in Auburn. "On the 14th of May, 1825,"
says Dr. Fisher, the historian of the Town of Ossining, " one hundred
convicts from the Auburn prison, under the supervision of Captain
Elam Lynds, were landed on the grounds from a canal boat in which
they were brought. Operations were at once commenced, and in
May, 1828,1 the prison buildings were completed. The main struc-
ture, which was built of hewn stone from the marble quarries, con-
tained six hundred cells. Before the roof was fairly finished it was
ascertained that the accommodations were entirely inadequate, and
therefore a fourth story was added, which increased the number of
cells to eight hundred. In after years two additions were built,
each of one story, so that at the present time there are six stories
and an aggregate of twelve hundred cells. These cells are seven
feet in depth, seven in height, and forty-two inches wide, which gives
but one hundred and seventy-one cubic feet of space for each con-
vict."

The institution was long officially known as the "Mount Pleasant
State Prison." and the substitution of the style of the "Sing Sing
Prison " was distasteful to the citizens of the village. In conse-
quence various attempts were made to create local sentiment in
favor of changing the village name, none of which, however, re-
sulted in anything practical. It may be remarked in passing that
residents on the outskirts of Sing Sing, in the direction of the highly
reputable locality of Scarborough, usually manifest a decided pref-
erence to be considered inhabitants of Scarborough and not of Sing
Sing. This preference comes mainly, however, from a natural incli-

The final construction work was not, however, finished until 1830.

544 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

nation to be identified with the more exclusive community. Any
serious proposal to change the name of Sing Sing at the present day
would doubtless be voted down overwhelmingly by the people.

In the same year that witnessed the completion of the main work
on the Sing Sing prison buildings, the Westchester County alms-
house was opened— also in the Town of Mount Pleasant, at a place
called Knapp's Corners. This interesting event occurred on the 1st
of April, 1828. Previously to that time the poor had been cared for
by the several townships to which they belonged. Isaac Coutant was
the first keeper of the almshouse, receiving a salary of $300 per
annum. The institution has always since been maintained at the
original location.

The village of IVekskill, whose incorporation was authorized in
1816 but was not effected under the original act, received a new
charter from the legislature on the 9th of April, 1827, and shortly
afterward trustees were elected as follows: Samuel Strang, John
lialstead, Philip Clapp, James Birdsall, Ezra Marshall, and Stephen
Brown. Samuel Strang was the first village president.

This village, now so important for its iron-working industry, and
known far and wide as the seat of the New York State Military
Camp, was in early times the settlement of the so-called " Ryck's
Patent." The name is said to be " due to Jans Peek, an early Dutch
navigator, who, in following the track of Hendrick Hudson, mistook
the broad estuary at Roa Hook for the proper passage to the north.
Here, it is said, he built a house and remained during the winter.
To the creek was given the name of Jans Peek's Creek, or Peek's Kill,
and from the name of the creek the village received its designation.
In a deed given by the Indians to Jacobus De Kay and others, June
25, 1685, the creek is referred to as being known to the Indians as
John Peake's Creek." The original settlement of Peekskill is sup-
posed to have been about a mile north of the center of the present
village. A visitor to the present village in 1781 described it as con-
sisting of some twenty houses, quite close together. This considera-
ble growth in population of the Town of Cortlandt, as evidenced by
the census returns, between 1700 and 1820, was largely contributed
by Peekskill village.

According to the author of the article on the Town of Cortlandt
in Scharfs History, iron industry of Peekskill dates from 1820,
when Stephen Gregory " commenced the manufacture of plowshares.
... At first the manufacture was carried on in an exceedingly
primitive style. The fire which melted the iron was brought to the
proper degree of heat by an ordinary blacksmith's bellows, which
was at first, operated by his wife, and then, as the business expanded,

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1S12 545

by a horse. Pig iron was too large to be melted by this simple appa-
ratus, and he used old stove-plates and old plow eastings instead."
He sold the business to his brolher, and after several changes in
proprietorship Mr. Reuben R. Finch became the principal owner,
ultimately founding an establishment devoted to the exclusive manu-
facture of stoves.

On the 17th of May, 1829, Chief Justice John Jay died at his resi-
dence in Bedford in the eighty-fourth year of his age.1 Here he
had lived since his retirement from public life in 1801. An earnest
laborer in the cause of freedom for the negroes, and the first presi-
dent of the old New York society for the manumission of slaves, his
closing years had been marked by much interest in the rising move-
ment of the times, and two years before his death he had had the
great satisfaction of witnessing the permanent abolition of slavery
in the State of New York, accomplished on the 4th of July, 1827,
agreeably to a legislative enactment which had been passed ten
years previously by the recommendation of Governor Tompkins. He
was buried in the Jay family cemetery in the Town of Rye. The
following is the inscription on his tomb:

IN MEMORY OF

JOHN JAY,

Eminent among those who asserted the liberty

and established the Independence

of his country,

which lie long served in the most

important offices.

Legislative, Executive, Judicial, and Diplomatic,

and distinguished in them all, by his

ability, firmness, patriotism and integrity.

lie was in his life and in his death

an example of the virtues,

the faith and the hopes

of a Christian.
Born Dec. 12th, 1745,
Died May 17th. 1829.

Chief -Justice Jay had two sous, Peter Augustus and William.
Peter Augustus Jay resided for most of his life in New York City,
where lie was a prominent lawyer and citizen, lie tilled various im-
porta.nt public positions, was a leading anti-slavery advocate, and
was president of the New York Historical Society. In 1821 he was
a delegate from Westchester County to the State constitutional con-
vention.

William day (born June 1<>, 1780; died October 11, 1858) inherited

1 The following entry appears in the r rd of highest respect for the pure and exalted char-

the Court of Common Pleas, of Westchester acter of the late venerable John Jay, do resolve

County, under date of May 25, 1829: "The court that we will wear crape upon the left arm for

and members of this bar, entertaining the thirty days in token of our respect."

544

LilSTOltt OF WJSTCHESTER COl MY

nation to be identified with !«• more exclusive community. Any
serious proposal to change the ame of Sin- Sing al the presenl day
would doubtless be voted dow overwhelmingly by the people.

hl ,]1(, same vr;li- thai witnosed the completion of the main work
,m the Shi" sin- prison builohgs, the Westchester County alms-
ll()11S(1 w;ls 0|M ll(.'(| . also in thoCown of Mount Pleasant, al a place
called Knapp's Corners. This tteresting event occurred on t he 1st
of AnriK LS28. Previously to tat time the poor had been cared for
by the several townships to whi i they belonged. Isaac Coutanl was
,ju. iirs, keeper of the ahnshose, receiving a salary of $300 per
annum. The institution lias a.vays since been maintained al the
original location.

The village of Peekskill, wh«e ineorporation was authorized in
lSli; Inn was I,,, i effected nmlr the original act, received a new
charter from the legislature on lie 9th of April, L827, and shortly
afterward trustees were eleeteclas follows: Samuel Strang. John
rialstead, Philip Clapp. James Irdsall, Ezra Marshall, and Stephen
Brown. Samuel Strang was theirs! village president.

This village, now so iniportai for Its Iron-working industry, and
known far and wide as the sej of the N.-\\ Vork State Military
Cam]), was in earh limes the sttlemenl of the so-called " Ryck's
Patent." The name is said to h< ' due to dans Peek, an early Dutch
navigator, who, in following I he rack of Hendrick Hudson, mistook
the broad estuary at Uoa Hook lr the proper passage to the north.
Here, it is said, lie built a lions and remained during the winter.
To the creek was given the name f Jans Perk's Creek, or Peek's Kill.
and from the name of the cr< ek te village received its designation.
In a deed given l>\ the Indians i< Jacobus [>e K;i\ and others, June
25, 1085, the creek is referred hi s being known to the Indians as
John Peake's Creek." The origial settlement of Peekskill is sup-
posed to have been abonl a mileiorth of the center of the present
village. A visitor to the pr< s< in illage in L7S1 described it as con-
sisting of some twentA houses, (pre close together. This considera-
ble growth in population of the 'lwn of Cortlandt, as evidenced by
the census returns, between ITW'i ml IS20, was largely contributed
by Peekskill village.

According to the author of theirticle on the Town of Cortlandt
in Scharfs History, iron indust ol Peekskill dates from L820,
when Stephen Gregory " commem 1 the manufacture of plowshares.
... At first the manufacture as carried on in an exceedingly
primitive style. The lire which mlted the iron was brought to the
proper derive of heat b\ an ordiary blacksmith's bellows, which
was at first operated by his wife, ail then, as the business expanded,

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 547

name indicates, it was originally intended to be a line between New
York City and Harlem only, terminating at the Harlem River. It
was incorporated on the 25th of April, 1831, with a capital of $350,000,
which in 1832 was increased to $500,000, it being stipulated that
the road should be completed to the Harlem River in 1835. On the
17th of April, 1832, another company was incorporated, the New7
York and Albany, whose line was to start at a point on Manhattan
Island where the present Fourth Avenue terminates, cross the Har-
lem River, and proceed through the center of Westchester County.
(At that period the Hudson River route was not seriously thought
of,1 and indeed it was not chartered until 1846.) Owing to the great
physical difficulties which had to be overcome in building the road
on Manhattan Island, and the consequent heavy expenditures, the
New7 York and Harlem line was not completed by the specified year
(1835); 2 nevertheless, the legislature authorized further increases of
capital. Meantime the New York and Albany Company found itself
unable to carry out the provisions of its charter, and in 1838 sur-
rendered its rights in AVestchester County to the New York and
Harlem Company, which assumed the construction of the bridge
across the river and the building of the road as far as a point on the
southern boundary of Putnam County. If was not, however, until
May, 1840, that the compact between the two companies was ap-
proved by the legislature. By that time "the capital had been
swollen to $1,1)50,000, and stili another increase of 81,000,000 was
needed to carry the road through the county." The railway was
constructed and in operation to Fordham by October, 1841, but had
not been extended to White Plains until late in 1844, and it was not
until June, 1847, that it was opened through to Croton Falls. Thus
from the time when the first charter for a railroad to traverse West-
chester County was granted, until the complete realization of the
project, a period of fifteen years elapsed. The cost of construction

1 In 1842 a committee investigated a proposed The work was commenced in the spring of

railway route along the east shore of the Hud- 1S32. The grade was required to correspond

son River, and brought in a strongly adverse with the regulation of the streets, which had

report. In this document it was alleged that required much deep cutting and some high

the physical difficulties put the proposal be- embankment. About four miles of the road

yond consideration; but the chief argument are now in use. upon which pleasure cars are

presented was as to " the impolicy of locating constantly run. for the accommodation of

a great work of this sort upon a line imrae- those who desire to get out of the city for a

diately adjacent to the Hudson River, where the short time. When completed, there will be a

novelty of the enterprise might seem to comtitute its chief tunnel of some length through a rock, at

value." (See Report, etc., to the New York Yorkville, after which there will be a gradual

board of aldermen, November 21. 1*42.) descent to Harlsem River. The work, thus far.

-The following, from Williams's "New York has been very expensive, and will cost, when

Annual Register for 1S35 " (p. 101). is of curious completed, at least its whole capital, and

historical interest: probably more. At present horse-power is used. A

" This road [Harlem Railroad] was chartered locomotive engine was provided and used for a short time

in the winter of 1831, with a capital of .$350,000. but the boiler burst mid the engine was laid aside."

548 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

from the south side of the Harlem River Bridge to Williams's Bridge
was $38,475 per mile, and from Williams's Bridge to White Plains
$11,277 per mile.

It is noteworthy that the tirst telegraph line through Westchester
County was erected (1846) under the superintendence of Ezra Cornell
(subsequently the founder of Cornell University), a descendant of
Thomas Cornell, of Cornell's Neck. Ezra Cornell was, moreover, a
native of this county, having been born at Westchester Landing. He
was the father of Governor Alonzo B. Cornell.

The beginning of the gigantic Croton Aqueduct enterprise dates
from about the same time as the chartering of the first Westchester
County railroad. On November 10, 1832, the joint committee on
tire and water of the New York City common council engaged
Colonel De Witt Clinton, a competent engineer, to examine the
various sources and routes of water supply which had been suggested
up to that time, and to make a careful report on the subject. Colonel
Clinton recommended the Croton watershed as the source of supply,
and demonstrated by unanswerable facts that no other source ade-
quate to the ultimate needs of the city was available. This report
marks the beginning, as a serious undertaking, of the project to
conduct the Croton water to the city.

The history of New York's water supply is the subject of a monu-
mental work by Mr. Edward Wegmann (published in 1896), in which
all the details of the earlier makeshift systems and schemes, and of
the construction of both the old and the new aqueducts and the
Bronx River conduit, with their associated dams, reservoirs, and other
works in this county, Putnam, and New York City, are described.1
We shall briefly summarize this history, so far as its particulars are
apropos to our narrative, down to the period of the completion of the
first aqueduct, reserving notice of the later works for the proper
chronological sequence.

It is of interest that in July, 1774, a proposal made by Christopher
Colics to erect a reservoir, pump water into it from wells, and con-
vey the water through the several streets of the city in pipes, Avas
adopted by the authorities of New York; ami that land for the pur-
pose of a reservoir on Great George Street, owned by Augustus Van
Cortlandt and Erederick Van Cortlandt, of the Van Cortlandt fam-
ily of our county, was purchased and works were built and put in
operation. The Revolutionary War interfered with the development

1 Another work of great authority (exelu- (1843). Most of the particulars of the first

sivcly, however, on the old aqueduct anil ante- aqueduct in our text arc digested from Mr.

cedent conditions) is the " Memoir, etc., of (he King's " Memoir."
Croton Aqueduct," compiled by Charles King

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 549

of the plans thus inaugurated. After the Revolution frequent at-
tention was given to the water problem, but it was not until 1798
that the necessity of ultimately solving the question by resorting to
the streams of Westchester County was foreshadowed. In that year
a committee of the common council approved a proposal which had
been made by Dr. Joseph Brown for procuring a supply from the
Bronx River, and Air. Weston, the engineer of the canal companies
of the State, was employed to thoroughly inquire into the matter.
Dr. Brown's plan was to dam the Bronx about half a mile below
Williams's Bridge. Calculating, however, that the elevation of the
Bronx at that point was not sufficient to admit of drawing the water
to the city by natural fall, he proposed that it should be raised to
the requisite height by pumping machinery. Mr. Weston fully in-
dorsed the Bronx project, but thought that " the Bronx is sufficiently
elevated above the highest parts of the city to introduce its waters
therein without the use of machinery." (Mr. Weston, however,
favored damming the Bronx at a northern point.! In addition, with
far-seeing calculation, he advised the conversion of " Little Rye
Pond " and " Big Rye Pond " into reservoirs by building a dam six
feet high, and the conducting of their water in an open canal to
the Harlem River, " that stream to be crossed by a cast-iron cylinder
of two feet diameter, with a descent of eight feet." The common
council, accepting the Bronx idea, applied to the legislature for au-
thority to carry it into execution, but at this stage private interest
stepped in and thwarted the whole underaking. The artful Aaron
Burr was at that time seeking a banking privilege from the legisla-
ture, and, as an indirect means to his end, proposed to organize a
water supply company, suited to the needs of the city, whose surplus
capital should be employed in banking operations. Moreover, various
eminent citizens, among whom was Alexander Hamilton, were skep-
tical as to the practicability of raising the money necessary for the
Bronx enterprise as a public policy. The movement ended in the
organization of the so-called k' Manhattan Company,'' in which the
city vested the sole right of procuring and furnishing an additional
water supply. This company was empowered to draw water from
Westchester County, but it contented itself with sinking a large
well in the city and distributing its contents to customers.

The enlightened project of Dr. Brown and Mr. Weston was, indeed,
laid on the shelf for thirty years, during which New York, despite
its greatly growing population and wealth, complacently continued to
satisfy itself with water from its own bowels. There were occasional
recurrences to the Bronx conception, but they had no practical issue.
At last, in 1829, the community was aroused to action by the appalling

550 HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

increase of destructive fires, mainly owing to the difficulty of obtain-
ing water. During the preceding year the fire losses in the city had
aggregated f 600,000. A committee of the fire department, made a
searching examination of the merits of the old proposal to utilize the
Bronx water, and submitted a favorable report, which was approved
by the common council ; and the latter body, in January, 1832, applied
to the legislature for authority to borrow |2,000,000, the sum es-
timated as necessary to accomplish the object resolved upon. But
the legislature discreetly declined to sanction the raising of such
an amount " until it should be satisfactorily ascertained that the
object in view, both as to the quantity and quality of water, could
be accomplished by the expenditure proposed." A certain appre-
hension was felt that the supply obtainable from the Bronx might
in time prove insufficient. It was in consequence of this cautious
attitude of the legislature that, as already noticed, Colonel Clinton
was called upon, in November of the same year, to undertake a final
investigation of the questions involved. His instructions were "to
proceed and examine the continuation of the route from Chatterton
Hill, near White Plains, to Croton River, or such other sources in
that vicinity from which he may suppose that an inexhaustible sup-
ply of pure' and wholesome water for the City of New York may be
obtained."

In entering upon his very important commission Colonel Clinton
labored under great disadvantages. No survey, even experimental,
of a direct route from the Croton had ever been made. Attention
had centered upon the Bronx River as the predestined source of sup-
ply, with incidental feeders from the Sawmill and Byram. The public
mind shrank from such a tremendous and seemingly fantastic pro-
ceeding as the construction of an aqueduct from the far distant
Croton; whereas the Bronx, running straight down into the Harlem
River, seemed to have been appointed by nature for the exact emer-
gency. Previously to the sending out of Colonel Clinton, the only
thought bestowed upon the Croton in this connection had been with
reference to the possible joining of it to the Bronx by means of an
artificial canal; and surveys had actually been made to that end,
which, however, afforded no satisfaction.

Colonel Clinton's report was a very able and elaborate document.
Carefully examining the Bronx project, he estimated that the maxi-
mum quantity of water deliverable to the city from the Bronx River
and the various feeders that could be availed of in connection with
it would not exceed 12,000,000 gallons per day. He considered that
(his quantity would be sufficient for a quarter of a century, but pre-
dicted that the city would have to resort to the Croton eventually;

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1S42 551

and he hence concluded that it was expedient to lead the Croton
water at once directly to the city. "In the Croton River at Pine's
Bridge," said he, " there is never less than 20,000,000 gallons of water
passing in every twenty-four hours. The river at this point is there-
fore capable of supplying one million of people, allowing a consump-
tion of twenty gallons to each person. This supply can be aug-
mented by constructing reservoirs, and we have seen . . . that
one reservoir could be constructed which would supply more than
7,000,000 of gallons per day within a few miles of Pine's Bridge. But
if it were necessary, more than 7,000 acres could be ponded, and the
water raised from six to sixteen feet; and also other supplies could
be obtained, as I have before stated, in alluding to the Sharon Canal
route and the East Branch of the Croton River/' He favored the
conveying of the water to New York in an open canal, and calculated
that the total cost of the work, including the means of distributing
the water through the city, would not exceed *2, 500,000.

It appears, however, that the employment of Colonel Clinton by
the common council to reconnoiter the Croton was only a conces-
sion to the advanced element of the population that demanded the
most complete investigation of water supply conditions in West-
chester County before definite steps should be taken. Simultaneously
with his exploration of the Croton route, two other engineers were
sent to make a final inquiry as to the Bronx and its related sources
of supply; and their report indicates that they were relied on by the
city officials to bring forward conclusive demonstration of the suffi-
ciency of these sources. They marked out a route from Macomb's
Dam to the Bronx River, which they declared to be the proper one
for the long desired supply, and added: "The Croton cannot be
brought in by this route, and cannot ever be needed, seeing that the
quantity which can be obtained at a moderate cost through the val-
ley of the Bronx will be sufficient for all city purposes." At the same
time an analysis of the Bronx water was made by prominent chemists,
which showed it to be of remarkable purity, not more than two
grains of foreign matter being contained in a gallon. This is a fact
of much historic interest in view of the present extreme contamina-
tion of the waters of the Bronx most of the way below White Plains.

But the common council, in spite of its bias in favor of the Bronx,
was unwilling to risk another appeal to the legislature based on a
single exclusive plan, and accordingly sent up a bill calling for the
appointment of water commissioners, who should "be invested with
full power to examine all the plans hitherto proposed, to cause actual
surveys to be made, to have the water tested, to estimate the prob-
able expense, and generally to do whatever in their judgment may

o52

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

be necessary to arrive at a right conclusion in the premises.'' This
bill was passed by the legislature on the 26th of February, 1833,
and the governor appointed as water commissioners, for the period
of on*1 year, Stephen Allen, B. M. Brown, S. Dusenberry, S. Alley,
and William W. Fox.1 The commissioners engaged two engineers,
Mr. Canvass White and Major Douglass, formerly professor of engi-
neering at West Point, to undertake the requisite surveys, examina-
tions, and estimates. Mi-. White being occupied otherwise at the
time, the whole work was performed by Major Douglass, who sub-

§#i#^ ft

rat ^ii& ' i:sap;|# A If

..t.

4m--^-"

THE GREAT FIRE OF 1835 (NEW YORK CITY).

mitted his report in the November following. " Major Douglass ad-
hered unfalteringly to the conviction that the Croton, and the Croton
only, should be looked to and relied on. Like the Roman Marcius,
. . . who, when the decemvirs and sybils indicated the Anio as
the stream which the gods preferred for the supply of his aqueduct,
still adhered to the cold, pure, and abundant springs from the moun-
tains of Tivoli, so Mr. Douglass, disregarding difficulties real and

1 Mr. Fox was at that time the most promiiienl citizen of our Village of West Farms.

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 553

imaginary, and heeding not at all the efforts still to cause the Bronx
to be preferred, held fast to the Oroton."

Major Douglass disposed forever of the Bronx proposal by demon-
strating thai it was impossible, by whatever expedients, to procure
from the Bronx a supply which for any considerable period would
be satisfactorily large. Regarding the quality of the Oroton water,
he made the following interesting statements:

The supplies of the Croton are derived almost exclusively from the elevated regions of
the Highlands in Westchester and Putnam Counties, being furnished by the pure springs which
so remarkably characterize the granitic formation of that region. The ponds and lakes de-
lineated on the map, and spoken of in a former part of this report, are among the number of
these springs ; many of them three or four hundred acres in extent, and one as large as a
thousand acres. All these ponds are surrounded by clear upland shores, without any inter-
mixture of marsh ; and the surrounding country, cultivated as it is generally in grazing farms,
presents an aspect of more than ordinary cleanness. The water, as might be expected under
such circumstances, is perfectly soft and clear, much superior in the former respect to the
waters of our western lakes, and fully equal in the latter. The Croton, fed by such springs,
could scarcely he otherwise than pure, and the fact of its purity was strongly verified by the
experience of the party in every stage of the water during the season. Specimens were
taken up both in the high and low state of the river, and have been analyzed by Mr. Chilton,
and the results obtained fully corroborate these statements. It appears from his report
annexed that the quantity of saline matter, probably the salts of lime and magnesia, does
not exceed two and eight-tenths grains in the gallon; a quantity, he observes, so small that
a considerable quantity of the water would be necessary to determine the proportions.
About two grains of vegetable matter were also suspended in the water, in consequence of
the rapid current in which it was taken up, and which would of course subside in the
receiving reservoir.

At its next session (May 2, 1834) the legislature passed an aei
authorizing the reappointment of water commissioners, ami direct-
ing the commissioners to adopt a definite plan " for procuring such
supply of water," with estimates as to the cost, which plan was to
be submitted to the electors of Now York City for approval or re-
jection, by majority vote, at their regular city election in the year
is:;."). In the case of an affirmative vote by the people, the act pro-
vided thai a sum not exceeding f2,500,000 should be raised as " Water
Stock of the City of New York," bearing five per cent, interest. The
old commissioners were reappointed by the governor. They made a
thorough re-examination of the matter, concluding with the opinion
that "the whole [Croton] river can be brought to Murray Hill in a
close aqueduct of masonry, at an expense of $4, 250,000, " and that the
revenue accruing from water-rates would " overpay the interest on
the cost of the work." The plan was referred to the people of the
city for ratification, and at an election held in April, 1835, they ap-
proved it by a vote of 17,330 to 5,963. In December of this year New
York suffered from a conflagration which far exceeded anything in
its previous history. Seventeen compact blocks in the business center
of the city were totally destroyed, entailing a loss of more than

554 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

118,000,000. This conflagration is historically known as the Great
Fire of 1835.

The commissioners selected Major Douglass as their chief engineer,
and on the 6th of July, 1835, that gentleman, with fifteen assistants,
took the field for preliminary work in our county. Their first care
was to stake out the lake to bo formed by damming the Croton, which
it was at first calculated would have an area of 496 acres. But it
was nearly two years before construction work was actually begun.
Much trouble was experienced in satisfying the land owners along
the line of the proposed aqueduct, who made vexations demands,
among them the extraordinary one (expressed in a memorial to the
legislature) that the legal possession and use of the land should
remain with the original proprietors, notwithstanding the circum-
stance of its having been paid for by the city. A measure to con-
ciliate the Westchester County owners was passed by the legislature,
but it gave little satisfaction. "The consequence of this discontent
was that the commissioners were unable to make any purchase, by
private contract, of lands along the line, and were therefore com-
pelled to resort to the vice-chancellor for the appointment of com-
missioners to take by appraisement whatever was needed." Major
Douglass was superseded as chief engineer in 1836 by Mr. J. B.
Jervis, under whose direction the whole work was carried to com-
pletion. On the 26th of April, 1837, bids were opened " for furnish-
ing the materials and completing the construction of twenty-three
sections of the Croton Aqueduct, including the dam in the Croton,
the aqueduct bridge over Sing Sing Kill, and the necessary excava-
tions and tunneling on the line of about eight and one-half miles
from the Croton to Sing Sing village," three years being allowed
for the fulfillment of these contracts. Apprehension having been
harbored by the citizens of Westchester County that disorder and
malicious destruction of property would result from the employ-
ment of the thousands of laborers, the contractors were required not
to " give or sell any ardent spirits to their workmen," or to permit
any such spirits to be given or sold, or even brought, upon the line;
and that any trespasses committed by workmen should be punishable
by the dismissal of the offenders. The line was divided into four di-
visions, the first extending from the Croton ten and one-half miles
to below Sing Sing, the second ten miles farther to Hastings, the
third ten miles to Fordham Church, and the fourth ten and one-half
miles to the distributing reservoir in the city.

By the 1st of December, 1837, 2,455 feet of the aqueduct had been
completed, and during the next year the whole of the work in West-

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 555

Chester County, thirty-three miles in length, had either been finished
or placed under contract.

The means of crossing the Harlem River had become at this stage
the most serious problem to be dealt with. At the time of the inau-
guration of the enterprise there was a general disposition on the
part of the people of New York City to regard the Harlem River with
but scant consideration — as a waterway upon which people might
ply boats to suit an idle or at best purely local convenience, bur
forever incapable of continuous navigation for any practical uses in
conjunction with the shallow projection of the Spuyten Duyvil Creek.
Macomb's Dam was then still in existence, blocking all passage be-
yond the present Central Bridge. The old plan to bring the Bronx
water into New York had been hampered by the fact that the Bronx
River did not have a sufficient elevation at any point of its lower
course to admit through the process of natural flow of the recep-
tion of its water in New York at a height suitable for distribution
to the upper sections of the city; and to overcome this difficulty it
had been coolly proposed to build pumping works on the Westchester
side of the Harlem, just above Macomb's Dam, and, from the power
afforded by the dam, raise the waiting stream to a satisfactory height
and so pass it over to Manhattan Island. In 1833 Major Douglass
estimated that the total power furnished by Macomb's Dam would
suffice to thus raise but 5,000,000 gallons daily, which, even in the
then existing conditions of the city, would not be enough for its safe
supply — an estimate that brought dismay to the Bronx advocates,
and doubtless caused them to most heartily objurgate the foolish
Harlem River, that misplaced, misshapen, ridiculous stream — a mere
spew of Ilellgate, — worthless for navigation, a hindrance to com-
merce, and now found unqualified to generate the required volume
of power.

This circumstance that the Bronx scheme involved, as one of its
essential features, the conversion of the Harlem River into a mere
producer of water power — and that in perpetuity — strikingly illus-
trates how contemptuously the Harlem and Spuyten Duyvil water-
way was rated.

When it became certain, in 1831, that the water-supply problem
was to find its solution in a continuous aqueduct from the Croton —
such a continuous aqueduct being practicable in this case because
of the Croton's sufficiently lofty elevation above tide, — il was pro-
posed to carry the aqueduct across the Harlem River by a low
siphon bridge, as the least expensive work. In that connection no
thought was given to possible objections on the score that the con-
struction would permanently close the waterway against naviga-

556 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

tion. Tlie navigation of the Harlem was already completely ob-
structed by Macomb's Dam, and the addition of a new obstruction
did not in the least trouble the New York public mind.

But in 1838 a bold stroke by the citizens of our Town of West-
chester suddenly compelled the New Yorkers to change their atti-
tude toward the Harlem. On March 3 of that year the Westchester

THE CROTON WATER CELEBRATION, 1842.

land-owners held a meeting at Christopher Walton's store, at Ford-
ham Corners, and appointed a committee to memorialize the legis-
lature against the proposed low bridge, and also to ascertain the best
method of removing the existing obstructions in the Harlem River.
The committee, acting on the advice of counsel, decided to proceed
against Macomb's Dam as a nuisance and to clear a passage-way for
vessels through it. The resulting transactions are thus described by
Mr. Fordham Morris in his History of the Town of Westchester:

Lewis G. Morris, then quite a young man, was, by the votes of his associates, intrusted with
the leadership of the fig-lit. In order to bring the question, if necessary, within the jurisdic-
tion of the United States courts, it was determined that a vessel laden with a cargo from a
neighboring State should ascend the river and demand passage way through the opening which
the grant had directed should be kept for vessels, but which Macomb and his successors had
neglected to provide. Mr. Morris therefore built a dock on his place about a mile north of
the present site of High Bridge and chartered a periauger, called the "Nonpariel," with a
cargo of coal on board consigned for delivery at Morris Dock. He arrived with his boat at
the dam one evening [September 14, 1838], at full tide, and demanded of Feeks, the toll

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 557

gatherer, that the draw or passage-way be opened ; of course Feeks could not comply. Some
Hat boats which had heeii provided had on hoard a band of one hundred men ; and Feeks
not opening the draw, Mr. Morris with his men forcibly removed a portion of the dam, so
that the " Nonpariel " floated across. From that time a draw was always kept in the bridge,
but for many years the passage was very difficult, the tide being so strong that it was only
possible to pass at slack water.

The legality of this performance was subsequently sustained by
the highest court of the State, Chancellor Walworth writing the
opinion. " The Harlem River," he said, " is an arm of the sea and
a public navigable river. It was a public nuisance to obstruct the
navigation thereof without authority of law."

At the time of this famous expedition the water commissioners
had already officially adopted the plan for a low siphon bridge, to
be "built over an embankment of stone, filling up the whole of the
natural channel, and with only one archway on the New York side
only eighty feet high." The estimates made on the basis of this plan
indicated a cost of but $426,000, as against nearly $936,000 for the
construction of a high bridge; so that the abandonment of the adopted
project would mean an added expense to the city of more than half
a million dollars. Moreover, the original calculations of the total
probable cost of the aqueduct from the Croton had by this time
been found to be ridiculously small, and it began to be realized that
the ultimate aggregate would approximate or exceed $10,000,000.
The disastrous effects of the financial panic of 1837 were at that
period being fell in their full force. In such circumstances it is highly
improbable that any change in the plan for the aqueduct bridge
would have been made if the people of Westchester had not com-
pelled it by their aggressive acts. ( >n the 3d of May, 1839, the legisla-
ture passed the following law:

The water commissioners shall construct an aqueduct over the Harlem River with arches
and piers ; the arches in the channel of said river shall he at least eighty feet span, and not
less than one hundred feet from the usual high water mark of the river to the under side
of the arches at the crown ; or they may carry the water across the river by a tunnel under
the channel of the river, the top of which shall not lie above the present bed of the said
channel.

The "High Bridge" was contracted for in August, 1839. Soon
afterward the works on Manhattan Island were placed under con-
tract.

Tin' original water commissioners appointed in 1833 * retired in
March, 1840, and were succeeded by Samuel Stevens, Benjamin Bird-
sail, John I). Ward, and Samuel B. Childs.

The dam across the Croton River was commenced in January, 1838,
and was completed about the end of 1840. This dam was formed of

1 All the original commissioners except I'.. new board. Mr. Brown was succeeded by
M. Brown served until the appointment of the Thomas T. Woodruff.

558 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

" hydraulic stone masonry, connected with an earthen embankment,"
the embankment being two hundred and fifty feet long, sixty-five
feet high at its extreme height, two hundred and fifty feet wide at
the base, and fifty-five feet wide at the top, " protected on its lower
side by a heavy protection wall twenty feet wide at base." On the
night of the 7th of January, 1841, in consequence of a sudden and
great rise in the water of the Groton, the portion of the dam com-
prised in the earthen embankment gave way, and the whole country
below was flooded. Three bridges — Tompkins's Bridge, the bridge
at the Wire Mill, and Quaker's Bridge — were swept away, and several
mills and dwelling houses were destroyed; but, so far as was known,
only two residents lost their lives. This was the only serious casualty
that occurred in connection with the building of the Oroton Aque-
duct.

It had been earnestly desired by the people of New York that the
water should be introduced into the city by the 4th of July, 1842,
and this wish was realized. At five o'clock on the morning of the
22d of June, water to the depth of eighteen inches was admitted into
the aqueduct from Croton Lake. A boat called the 4k Croton Maid,"
carrying four persons, was placed in the aqueduct, to be floated down
by the stream. The water, with the boat, arrived at the Harlem
River during the night of the 23d. On the 27th it was allowed to
enter the receiving reservoir at Yorkville, and on the 4th of July
the distributing reservoir on Murray Hill,1 both events being observed
with great ceremony. The public celebration — the grandest demon-
stration in the history of the city up to that time — was held on the
14th of October. Near the head of the line, as one of the guards of
honor, marched the Sing Sing Guards.

The total cost of the Oroton Aqueduct enterprise (reckoning every
item of expense) was nearly 812,500,000. High Bridge, as it is at
present, was not completed until 1848. The quantity of water at
first transmitted through the aqueduct did not exceed 12,000,000 gal-
lons daily. The aqueduct was constructed to afford a maximum dis-
charge of 72,000,000 United States gallons every twenty-four hours,
and it. was thought utterly impossible that such a supply would be
required for generations to come. But within thirty years even this
amount was found inadequate; and by permitting the water to rise
in the aqueduct to within twelve and one-half inches of the crown
of the arch — thirty-two inches higher than had been originally in-
tended— a daily supply of 05,000,000 gallons was forced, which, in
turn, was found so far from meeting requirements that two new sup-

1 This was the old Forty-second Street reservoir, ions since disused, whoso site is to be
occupied by the New York Public Library.

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 559

plies had to be procured — through the Bronx River conduit (1880-85)
and the New Croton Aqueduct (1884-93).

In this chapter we have undertaken to follow the successive events
of principal importance from the close of the Revolution to the com-
pletion of the Croton Aqueduct. A glance at. various particulars
and aspects of incidental consequence and interest during this period
of sixty years is necessary before continuing our narrative.

We have seen that the Milages of Sing Sing and Peekskill were
incorporated, respectively, in 1813 and 1827. No new village incor-
poration was effected after that of Peekskill until 1853, when Mount
Vernon was organized. It is a curious fact that our large City of
Yonkers, which now is unapproached by any other municipality of
the county, did not have its beginning as an organized village until
1855, and in that respect was preceded by three other communities.

At the termination of the Revolution what is now the City of
Yonkers at the mouth of the Xepperhan was represented by a very
tew buildings, most of them widely separated. There were the Manor
House of the Pliilipses, Saint John's Episcopal Church and parsonage,
the immemorial mill, and some scattered farmhouses. The Manor
House, with three hundred and twenty acres of land adjacent to it,
as has been noted in the first part of this chapter, was purchased
from the commissioners of forfeiture in 1785 by C. P. Low, a New
York merchant, for £14,520. Mr. Low conveyed it in 1780 to William
Constable, also a merchant of New York, who in 17(.Hi sold it to
Jacob Stout, of New York, for £13,500. Mr. Stout sold it in 1802 for
160,000 to Joseph I lowland, of Norwich, Conn. In 1813 the property
was bought at auction by Lemuel Wells, of New York, for $5<>,000.
The estate as owned by Mr. Wells fronted on the Hudson both above
and below the mouth of the Nepperhan, and the Albany Post Road
ran through it. The accompanying map of the Wells estate gives
a fair understanding of the condition, at the time of Lemuel \\ 'ells's
purchase, and indeed throughout his proprietorship, of that portion
of Yonkers where later the early village began to be built up.
He was a man of abundant wealth and conservative ideas. "He
did not buy," says Allison, " with the intention of selling his tract
either in large or small plots. He was seldom induced to sell or even
to lease any of it, but he was not particularly averse to settlers ami
would offer now and then to build a house on his property for them
as tenants." "Of the twenty-six buildings of all kinds," he adds,
"including barns, sheds, and little shops, then [1813] on the three
hundred ami twenty acres of land, about twelve could have been
utilized as dwellings, five were mill buildings for grinding grain and
plaster and for sawing and fulling, five were barns and sheds, and

560

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

cue is represented as containing k s1k>i>s/ On the outskirts of the
Wells property there were various farmhouses.

Lemuel Wells died on the 11th of February, 1842. During the
nearly thirty years of his proprietorship of the representative portion
of Voukers the improvements which he made on Ins estate were only
of an incidental nature. It was not until 1831 that he built a wharf
permitting steamboats to land, although for some years previously

ESTATE OF

LEMUEL WELLS
euioN-s mius Purchased in 1813.

HUDSON

RIVER

THE REPRESENTATIVE PORTION OK YONKKRS CNDKR THE

•RIETORSHIP OK LEMUEL WELLS.

these vessels had been making landings at Cluster (now Alpine) on
the opposite side of the river. Indeed, it was a frequent occurrence
for Yonkers people desiring to board the steamers 1<> cross over to
Alpine. At the time of the death of Mr. Wells, says Allison, Yonkers
was " a hamlet of one hundred people — more or less — and a little
more than a score of houses/'

Meanwhile, however, there had been a gradual accession of valua-
ble citizens in the sections bordering the manor property — some of
them land purchasers of substantial means, and others men of en-
terprising traits, all realizing the natural advantages of the locality
and standing ready to promote its development. As early as 1804
Ebcnezer Baldwin became a resident, coming from Norwich. Conn.,
at the solicitation of Mr. Ilowland, then the owner of the manor

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1812 561

estate, for the purpose of rebuilding the steeple of the church. Mr.
Baldwin liked the place and remained, subsequently taking aii active
part in stimulating its growth and business activity. Many of the
most conspicuous Yonkers people of this day are numbered among
his descendants, or among those connected with his family by mar-
riage. In 1820 some two hundred and twenty acres about one mile
north of the Manor House were purchased by Frederic Shonnard,
son of a French officer, who had served in the body guard of Frederick
the Great. At that time Judge Aaron Vark, who united the functions
of magistrate, country storekeeper, and postmaster, was the prin-
cipal man in the little community. In 1828 William 0. Waring and
Hezekiah Nichols began to manufacture bodies for wool hats. This
was the first introduction of the hat industry — now so . important—
in Yonkers, and it was also the first appearance of the name of
Waring. The Warings were from Putnam County. -John T. War-
ing came some years later. Rut our space does not admit of any
attempt to recapitulate the names of the founders of the early
Yonkers.

The Xepperhan River, with its long descent from a high eleva-
tion, and its considerable volume of water even in the dryest sea-
sons, must have been appreciated from the earliest times by men of
discreet perceptions as a stream affording ideal conditions for the
inauguration of extensive manufacturing industries. Rut through
practically all of its course suitable tor mill sites the Nepperhan was
embodied in the Manor House estate, ami it was not the policy of
Lemuel Wells to encourage private manufacturing enterprise on its
banks. In 1837 he co-operated with Prince W. and Obed Paddock
in the construction of a dam near the present Elm Street Bridge,
which later came to be known as the " fifth water power." Rut this
did not immediately lead to any important utilization of the water
power. Meanwhile the abundant power of the lower stream was
used exclusively for grist and sawmills.

Lemuel Wells left no children. His heirs were numerous, including
his widow, three brothers, and their children. The estate was par-
titioned in 1843. the principal representative of the heirs being Lem-
uel W. AYells, familiarly known in Yonkers (where he lived until
his death in 1861) as " Farmer" Wells. From this event dates the
beginning of the serious development of Yonkers. "Released from
the hand that had so long kept it out of the market, and catching
the spirit of enterprise," says Dr. Cole, "the land so long unused,
or, where used, devoted to farm purposes only, was quickly laid out
in'streets and lots, became the scene of busy activity, and was soon
dotted with beautiful residences." This change did not transpire at

5(52

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

once, but a now local spirit began to obtain. One of Farmer Wells's
earliest transactions was the sale to John Copcutt, for $17,500, of
the 'k first water power " — that is, the first mill-site above the month
of the Nepperhan. Mr. Copcutt had previously operated a veneer
mill at West Farms, but lie was quick to see the promise of superior
opportunities at Yonkers. In 1845 he turned his purchase to prac-
tical use by converting the Nepperhan mill into an establishment
for sawing mahogany wood. Mr. Wells sold the second water power,
with its mill buildings, for $11,250, to Messrs. Mitchell ami Hutchin-
son. Among the new citizens acquired by Yonkers through the parti-
tion of the Wells estate was
Ethan Flagg, one of the heirs,
who bore an exceedingly impor-
tant part in the building up of the
place.

Thus at the period at which we
have arrived in our general narra-
tive, Yonkers, destined to a posi-
tion of unquestioned supremacy
among the municipalities ofWest-
chester County, was just prepar-
ing to emerge from a primitive
condition of absolute insignifi-
cance.

.Mount Vernon was still nn-
tlionght of. The representative
villages for local enterprise wore
Sing Sing and Peekskill on the
Hudson, and West Farms in tin
southern section of the county.
West Farms had by this time become the most progressive locality
within tin1 ancient Township of Westchester. To its prominence in
this regard it was indebted for the employment of the water power
of the Bronx River for manufacturing uses.

in 1836 an ambitions attempt was made by a syndicate of New
York capitalists to create a new community in Westchester County,
which it was fondly hoped would spring at once into a flourishing
condition. Allen W. Hardy and nine associates, attracted by the
beautiful situation of Verplanck's Point, and believing that a village
founded there would speedily rival Peekskill, bought the property
for |300,()00 from its proprietor, Philip Verplanck, to whom it had
descended from the original Philip Verplanck, grandson of Stophanus
Van Cortlandt. These £>entlemen laid oil the Point into streets and

COKXEI.irS YAXm.RKILT.

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 563

avenues, reserving portions of it for parks; but lot purchasers did
not appear, and after a year or two the undertaking was abandoned
with heavy loss. Thereupon John Henry, one of the chief members
of the syndicate, acquired substantially the whole of the Point, and
proceeded to organize the brick-making industry which has since
become so extensive at Verplanck's. lie was tolerably successful
from the start, and within a few years the brick yards of Verplanck's
Point were yielding a large output and giving employment to numer-
ous workmen.

After the introduction of steamboats the river traffic between
New York City and the villages of our county (in common with others
along the Hudson) gradually became very animated, resulting in con-
ditions of keen competition. " Before the construction of the rail-
roads," says one of the contributors to Scharf's History,1 " Peek-
skill was the depot from which from Westchester County for miles
around, from a large portion of Putnam County, and even from Con-
necticut, the farmers shipped their produce to New York City. Apples
and other fruit, butter, potatoes, cattle, sheep, calves, live pigs, and
dressed pork were the principal articles of shipment, and were re-
ceived in such quantities as to give employment at one time, when this
commerce was at its height, to six market-sloops, while three pas-
senger steamboats also shared in the business."

The early days on the river, when it furnished almost the only avenue of commerce, were
full of life and bustle. Cornelius Vanderbilt for some years ran a boat between Peekskill
and New York, and had quite a struggle for the mastery of the route. In 1832 he began
operations with the steamboat •• Westchester," having, as he avers in a card to the public-
some time later, no interest in any other boat in the North River. He met with a rival in
the "Water-Witch," a steamboat which was owned by an association of the people all along
the river, and farmers back in the country, and which was designed to enable them to resist the
extravagant charges of steamboat-owners. The rivalry between the " Water-Witch " and
the Commodore's craft waxed so hot that the former finally began to charge only one shilling
(twelve and a half cents) for passage from New York to Peekskill. The losses occasioned
by the cutting of rates resulted in some of the stockholders in the " Water-Witch " losing
courage, and the wily Commodore was enabled to buy a controlling interest in her. After
that the rivalry ceased. The " Water-Witch " was but one of several boats owned at differ-
ent times by similar associations, all of which brought loss to the stockholders.

June 6, 1831, the " General Jackson," plying between Peekskill and New York, exploded
on her down trip off Grassy Point, and all the front portion of the cabin was torn away.
Three persons were killed outright, — the fireman, a little girl of twelve years of age, who had
just tripped on board laughing and talking gayly, and William Mitchell, a resident of Peek-
skill. Beverly Rathbone, of Peekskill, was injured so severely that he died some time after
the accident. Jacob Vanderbilt, brother of Cornelius, was captain of the boat, and escaped
without injury.

Many other interesting particulars of the Hudson River traffic be-
fore the era of railways might bo added. Peekskill had no monopoly
of sloop proprietorship. Prom various points all the way down to

i W, J. Gumming, ii., 406.

562

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

once, but a new local spirit began to obtain. One of Farmer Wells's
earliest transactions was the sale to John Copcutt, for $17,500, of
the tk first water power " — that is, the first mill-site above the mouth
of the Nepperhan. Mr. Copcutt had previously operated a veneer
mill at West Farms, but he was quick to see the promise of superior
opportunities at Yonkers. In 1845 he turned his purchase to prac-
tical use by converting the Nepperhan mill into an establishment
for sawing mahogany wood. Mr. Wells sold the second water power,
with its mill buildings, for $11,250, to Messrs. Mitchell and Hutchin-
son. Among the new citizens acquired by Yonkers through the parti-
tion of the Wells estate was
Ethan Flagg, one of the heirs,
who bore an exceedingly impor-
tant part in the building up of the
place.

Tims at the period at which we
have arrived in our general narra-
tive, Yonkers, destined to a posi-
tion of unquestioned supremacy
among the municipalities of West-
chester County, was just prepar-
ing to emerge from a primitive
condition of absolute insignifi-
cance.

Mount Vernon was still un-
thonght of. The representative
villages for local enterprise were
Sing Sing and Peekskill on the
Hudson, and West Farms in tin
southern section of the comity.
West Farms had by this time become the most progressive locality
within the ancient Township of Westchester. To its prominence in
this regard it was indebted for the employment of the water power
of the Bronx River for manufacturing nses.

In 1836 an ambitions attempt was made by a syndicate of New
York capitalists to create a new community in Westchester County,
which it was fondly hoped would spring at once into a flourishing
condition. Allen W. Hardy and nine associates, attracted by the
beautiful situation of Verplanck's Point, and believing that a village
founded there would speedily rival Peekskill, bought the property
for |300,000 from its proprietor, Philip Yerplanck, to whom it had
descended from the original Philip Yerplanck, grandson of Stephanus
Van Cortlandt. These "vntlemen laid off the Point into streets and

CdliXKLirS VAXDKRIULT.

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 184'

5(55

elementary fashion, toward the beginning of the nineteenth cen-
tury. In 1795 the legislature passed an act giving annually for five
years the sum of £1,192 of State money for school purposes in West-
chester County, to which the people of each town added an amount
equal to one-half that received from the State. Later the towns
each contributed a sum equal to the State appropriation. The
moneys were distributed by school commissioners specially selected.
But the present system of school commissioners dates from the legis-
lative act of 1819.'

Ever since colonial times, the people of this county had always
been rated as exceptionally intelligent, with but a small percentage
of illiteracy. The New York news-
papers enjoyed a very considerable
patronage among our citizens before
the Revolution, and after the begin-
ning of the present century there was
scarcely a farmhouse that did not
receive some newspaper from New
York. There were several early enter-
prises in the line of local newspaper
publication in the Westchester vil-
lages. According to a generally re-
liable chronicler, a journal called the
Vomers Museum was published by
Milton F. Cushing in 1810,. and in the
same year Robert Crombie started <il
Peekskill the Westchester Gazette,
which, after various changes of name.
finally became the Peekskill Republi-
can. Other early newspaper ventures
in West Farms, Sing Sing, White
Plains, Port Chester, Morrisania, etc.,

are recorded by this authority.1 The Eastern State Journal, of White
Plains, appears to be the oldest present newspaper of the county
retaining its original name. It was begun in 1815 by Edmund G.
Southerland.

In 1810 the population of Westchester County was just about
double that attained in 1790. During the half century there had
been an average growth every ten years of slightly more than 1,000.
The original character of the population had not yet been materially
modified. Men engaged in active daily business in New York had
not become regular inhabitants, although there was an increasing
tendency to build country residences in which to spend portions of

1 French's " Gazetteer of the State of New York " (1SG0), p. G97.

f. %

&*? Cyf^^C^^-C

Ceo/?-

566 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the year or to lead lives of retirement after the termination of emi-
nent or otherwise successful careers.

The most distinguished citizen of our county during- the period
whose history has been traced in the present chapter was unques-
tionably the noble statesman, John Jay. His death in 1829 at his
home in Bedford, where he spent the last twenty-eight years of his
life, has already been noticed. Another of the great Revolutionary
fathers, Gouverneur Morris, retired to his ancestral estate in this
county in the fullness of his honors and fame, and was buried in our
soil.

Throughout the Revolution Gouverneur Morris was a resident of
Philadelphia, serving the government for a portion of the time as
a member of congress, and later as assistant superintendent of the
finances. His mother meantime had continued to live at Morrisania,
where Gouverneur visited her at the conclusion of the war, after an
absence of seven years. By purchasing the rights of his brother,
General Staats Long Morris, of the British army, he became possessed
of all the Morrisania estate east of Mill Brook. He did not, however,
abandon his residence in Philadelphia, and in 1787 he was elected
a delegate from Pennsylvania to the federal constitutional conven-
tion. He spent the next ten years in Europe, and during the most
violent period of the French Revolution was the American minister
at Paris. While abroad he was employed in other important diplo-
matic connections. Returning to this country in 1798, he established
his residence at Morrisania, where he built a new house. From 1800
to 1803 he served as United States senator from New York. " A
change in parties prevented his re-election, and with the expiration
of his term his political life ended. He passed the remainder of his
life at Morrisania. ' An ample fortune, numerous friends, a charm-
ing retreat, and a tranquil home were the elements of his happiness
and filled up the measure of his hopes.' " x The leisure of his closing
years was devoted to study, literary pursuits, and the advocacy of

1 This citation well indicates the tastes and Wlm vice, in all its pomp and power,
temperament of the man. He possessed a very Can treat with just neglect;

lovable nature, though marked by great dignity And piety, though cloth'd in rags,
of character. Asked to give his description of Religiously respect,

a gentleman, Gouverneur Morris wrote the

following lines: -,,. , , . .. , .. ,

A\ ho to his plighted words and trust
'Tis he whose every thought and deed Has ever firmlv stood;

By rule of virtue moves, And_ tbougli he promised to his loss,

Whose generous tongue disdains to speak Hl, nmkes his promise good.

The tiling his heart disproves.

AVlm never did a slander forge, Whoso soul in usury disdains

His neighbor's fame to wound; His treasures to employ,

Nor hearken to a false report Whom no reward can ever bribe

By malice whispered 'round. The guiltless to destroy.

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1*42

567

useful schemes of public policy, especially internal improvements.
He was one of the projectors and earnest promoters of the Erie Canal.
He died at Morrisania on the 6th of November, L816, in the sixty-
fifth year of his age. " His remains were buried where Saint Anne's
Church now stands, the east aisle covering their original resting-
place. They were afterward transferred to the family vault, which
is the first one east of the church. His wife caused a marble slab to
be placed over the temporary tomb, and that still remains."

Several of the most notable literary characters of the first half
century of the republic were identified with Westchester County by
residence.

James Fenimore Cooper, born in Now Jersey and reared on the
frontiers of New York, married, on the
1st of January, 1811, Susan Augusta,
daughter of John Peter de Lancey, of
Mamaroneck, and great-granddaughter
of Colonel Caleb Heathcote. Cooper
was at that time in his twenty-second
year. The young couple made their
home in Mamaroneck, where Cooper
wrote his first novel, "Precaution."
Contracting the acquaintance of John
Jay, he obtained from him the sugges-
tion for his second work, " The Spy," or
" Tale of the Neutral Ground," which
formed the basis of his literary
reputation. Thus the beginnings of
Cooper's fame were incidental exclu-
sively to his resilience in Westchester
County.

The gifted Joseph Rodman Drake, known equally as the poet of
the American flag and the poet of the Bronx, lived in our Town of
West harms and lies buried in the ancient family cemetery of the
Leggetts, Willetts, and Hunts, on Hunt's Point. Many of his poems
were written while musing by the side of the Bronx. His career
was cut short by consumption at the early age of twenty-five. He
died on the 21st of September, 1820. His grave and the simple monu-
ment which marks it long ago fell into extreme neglect. In the
present march of city improvements in the Borough of the Bronx
the plans adopted for street extensions involve the complete ex-
tinction of the old graveyard. Efforts have been made by the Society
of American Authors to preserve the spot where Drake lies buried
and to have a substantial monument raised upon it.

RODMAN DRAKE.

568

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

The residence of Washington Irving at Sunnyside began in the
year 183G. Irving was born in New York City, April 3, 1783. He
" first came to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow when a lad ot fourteen
or fifteen. He spent some of his holidays here, and formed an attach-
ment for the spot which never left him." At frequent intervals in
his literary career he visited Tarrytown, sometimes as a guest of his
nephew, Oscar Irving. In a letter to his sister in 1832 he wrote:
11 I am more and more in the notion of having that, little cottage
below Oscar's house, and wish you to tell him to endeavor to get
it for me." This cottage was a small stone Dutch dwelling, the iden-
tical " Wolfert's Roost" of his well-known sketch, built in early
times by a member of the Acker family, and at the period of the
Revolution occupied by Jacob Van Tassel as a tenant of Frederick
Philipse. Irving purchased it, with about fifteen acres of land, in
June, 1835. During that year and 1836 he had extensive alterations
made, giving the name of Sunnyside to the place as then remodeled.
Over the south entrance he placed a Dutch tablet, whose translation
is as follows : " Erected in the year 1656.1 Reconstructed by Washing-
ton Irving in the year 1835. Geo. Harvey. Architect." In October,
1836, he moved in.

Ever afterward Sunnyside was his home. There he wrote his " Life
of Washington." He was constantly visited by men of distinction.
During the first year of his residence he entertained Prince Louis
Napoleon, afterward Napoleon III. Interesting reminiscences of his
Sunnyside years appear in Scharf's History.2 He was " a regular
worshipper at Christ's Church, Tarrytown. . . . Mr. Irving was
rarely absent from his pew at the morning service. . . . He was

1 This date was purely presumptive. There
are sufficient reasons for believing that the
house was not built until many years later.
Irving always inclined to the opinion that
Tarrytown was settled previously to 1650, and
he even concluded that some of the graves in
the Sleepy Hollow cemetery went back to that
year. But Irving was entirely unacquainted
with the early chronology of Westchester
County. His historical studies, confined mostly
to the immediate purposes of his own profitable
writings on subjects of universal interest, did
not descend to such local minutiae. His pub-
lished writings having reference to Tarrytown
and vicinity are exclusively of the " quaint "
variety. In 1835 Bolton had not yet be-
gun his indefatigable researches into the
early history of Westchester County; and
indeed Irving, cogitating about the probable
antiquity of his acquisition, must have had no
other means of calculation than that of tradi-
tion, assisted by his gentle imagination. The

original Wolfert Acker (the supposed builder
of the house, and the first known Acker in this
county) was certainly not a resident of Phil-
ipseburgh Manor until about 1680. This Wolfert
Acker (or Ecker) was married March 4, 1680,
to Maritje Sibouts. The record of the mar-
riage, preserved in the register of the old Dutch
Church of New York, describes him as " a
young man of Midwout " [Long Island], and
adds that both he and his spouse were at the
time " on Frederick Philips land," and were
•' married on Frederick Philips land." (See
Raymond's " Souvenir of the Revolutionary-
Soldiers' Monument Dedication at Tarrytown."
p. 101.) This is conclusive evidence that Acker
could not have built the house at the period
conjectured by Irving. Manifestly Irving's
Sunnyside inscription belongs to the all too
numerous list of ill-authenticated graven his-
torical remembrancers in Westchester County.
- ii., 235-241.

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842 569

a devout and real believer. . . . He accepted freely and gladly
the great truths of the Bible, and guided his life by them. His gentle
ways, his simplicity and kindness of manner, his courtesy to all, and
his frequent mingling with the neighbors, who made up all sorts and
conditions of men, women, and children, made him very popular and
much loved." He died at Sunnyside suddenly and peacefully on the
28th of November, 1859. His funeral was an event never to be for-
gotten by the people of Tarrytown. The whole village was in mourn-
ing, and all conditions of men came from far and wide to pay the last
tributes of honor to the great and good man. He was buried in the
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, beside his mother, where his remains still
repose. Over them is a perfectly plain stone, inscribed as follows:

Washington Irving,

Born

April 3, 178.3,

Died
Nov. 28, 1859.

The Fordham residence of Edgar Allan Poe, that gloomy and
peculiar but resplendent and immortal genius — our American Mar-
lowe,— dates from the year 1S4C>, a period slightly later than the one
selected for the termination of the present chapter; yet our mention
of Toe may more appropriately occur here than in a subsequent con-
nection.

Poo became a resident of New York City in 1844, having removed
there from Philadelphia. At that time most of his magnificent tales
had been written, and indeed he was at the zenith of his fame. But
those were days of very slight recompense, and also of very uncer-
tain employment, for authors not blessed with an acquisitive tem-
perament and discreet character and habits. Though his genius was
recognized and lie had many sincere friends, he did not attain sub-
stantial success in New York City. It is related that his principal
regular employment after coming there was as a writer for the
Evening Mirror, on a salary of ten dollars a week. While living in
New York he wrote the " Raven." In the spring of 1846 lie removed
to Fordham, renting for a hundred dollars a year a little frame cot-
tage. The house was "pleasantly situated, with cherry trees about
it, but was of the humble description and contained in all but three
small rooms and a kind of a closet. It was furnished with only the
necessary articles ami a few keepsakes, among them presentation
copies of the works of Mrs. Browning, to whom Poe had dedicated his
poems, and from whom he had received the kindest acknowledg-
ments. " It is said that he procured the means to take the Fordham
cottage and maintain existence there for a time from the proceeds
of a libel suit, which yielded him several hundreds of dollars.

570

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

With him he brought to Pordham his wife Virginia — his " Annabel
Lee " — and her mother, the tender, devoted Mrs. Clemm. Virginia
Olemm was his cousin, whom he had married in her girlhood. A
professional singer, she had ruptured a blood vessel some four years
previously, and had ever since been in declining health. Even while
they were living in Philadelphia she kt could not bear the slightest
exposure, and needed the utmost care; and all those conveniences
as to apartments and surroundings which are so important in the
case of an invalid were almost matters of life and death to her. And
yet the room where she lay for weeks [in Philadelphia], hardly able

to breathe, except as she was
fanned, was a little place with
the ceiling so low over the nar-
row bed that her head almost
touched it. But no one dared
to speak, Mr. Poe was so sen-
sitive and irritable. k quick as
steel and flint,' said one who
knew him in those days. And
he would not allow a word
about the danger of her dying;
the mention of it drove him
wild." At the time of the re-
moval to Pordham she was but
a shadow of her former self,
and was plainly doomed to an
early death. A recent writer
in a New York newspaper re-
lates that in 184G he was sent
twice, as a messenger boy, to

/;>■■:■■ l

EDGAR ALLAN POE.

liver proofs to Poe and wait for the reading of them. " Un Doth
occasions I saw Mrs. Poe, then an invalid. On the first visit she
was sitting in the sun on the little porch of the cottage, wrapped
in what appeared to be a counterpane, her husband on one
side of her and her mother on the other. At the next visit she
was on a couch covered with a man's overcoat, for the weather
was chilly and the house was cold. The recollection of her appear-
ance is still vivid as of a picture of a saint seen long ago in a receding
light. Probably in full health she was a beautiful girl, but at this
time whatever vital beauty she had was already mystic if not spec-
tral. Her face was thin and white, the kind of pallor that Carlyle
calls ' the herald of the pale repose,' and her large dark eyes were

GENERAL COUNTY HISTORY TO 1842

571

strangely and wonderingly obtrusive by contrast. I remember that
they affected me with something like a searching omnipresence while
I was waiting. ... I remember that while I was waiting for
him, his wife, who had gone into another room, coughed once or twice,
and I saw him wince at the sound.'" During his first year at Ford-
ham Poe also was in delicate health, and probably for much of that
time he was held in powerful bonds by his besetting sin. He accom-
plished little literary work of importance, and when the winter of
1847 came on the family was in great destitution. " Mrs. Gove, hear-
ing of this, visited the family, and found the dying wife with only
sheets and a coverlet on the bed, wrapped in her husband's coat.
She appealed to Mrs. Maria Louise
Shaw, who immediately relieved
the necessities of the family and
raised a subscription of 800."
Shortly afterward the plain facts
were published in the New York
newspapers, and further relief was
forthcoming. The poor little lady
died on the 30th of January,
1817, and was buried in the
churchyard of the old Fordham
Dutch Church. There her bones
rested until 1878, when they were
disinterred by Mr. William Fear-
ing (Jill, for the purpose of de-
positing them beside Poe's remains
in Baltimore.

The Fordham cottage continued
to be Poe's home for the brief
remainder of his life. Mrs. Clemm
remained with him, and took
loving motherly care of him. His literary
the period of his Fordham abode are mostly of the hack variety,
although interspersed among them are such gems as " Annabel Lee,"
" The Pells," the " Cask of Amontillado," the " Domain of Arnheim,"
and "Lander's Cottage." Also "Eureka" and " Ulalume " were
written at Fordham. lie died at Baltimore on the 7th of October,
1819, aged thirty-eight.

The Poe Cottage at Fordham is still preserved. Originally and
until a quite recent period a plot of ground, containing perhaps a
quarter of an acre, was attached to it. The writer of this History
vividly recalls a visit made to the spot fifteen years ago, when the

PAULDING.

pr<

ductions assignable to

572 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

ground was yet intact. Soon afterward it was announced in the
press that the property had passed into now hands, and would prob-
ably be laid out into city lots. Sympathetic souls protested, and
there were practical endeavors to prevent the impending desecration,
which had no result. To-day several " modern " houses, of a distinctly
indifferent order of architecture, occupy all of the laud except the
single lot where the cottage stands. We believe that the permanent
preservation of the cottage has been provided for, and that it is
intended to remove it ultimately to a new city park in the neigh-
borhood.

The late J. Thomas Scharf, in his History of Westchester County,
dovotes a separate chapter to the literati identified by birth, resi-
dence, or otherwise with our county. Among the names which we
have not previously mentioned, belonging to the first half of the
nineteenth century, are those of William Leggett, the able journalist,
a descendant of Gabriel Leggett, of West Farms, and a resident of
New Rochelle, who died in 1839 at the early age of thirty-seven;
Samuel Woodworth, author of the " Old Oaken Bucket," who lived
a) Westchester; and James K. Paulding, the friend of Irving and a
very forcible and esteemed writer, who was of Westchester County
extraction and received his education in this county.

CHAPTER XXV

GENERAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY CONCLUDED

T the time of the introduction of the Croton water into New
York, the summer of 1842, trains were running on the New
York and Harlem Railroad as far as Williams's Bridge.
It took more than two years longer to extend the road to
White Plains, and it was not until June, 1847, that the line was
opened to Croton Falls on the border of Putnam County. The early
operation of this first railway in Westchester County was naturally
conducted in very imperfect fashion, but its completion through the
whole extent of the county was an event of great importance, not
only to the people residing along the route, but to those of all other
sections, stage communication with the various stations being imme-
diately established from villages east and west as the work pro-
gressed.

Before the construction of this central route had been finished, the
two other principal railways that now pass through Westchester
County had been chartered and put on a basis assuring their early
completion.

The New York am! Albany division of what is now the New York
Central and Hudson River Railroad was originally called the New
York and Hudson River Railroad. In the early years of the New
York and Harlem enterprise the idea of another line following the
river shore had been scouted as both chimerical and inexpedient. In
a sober official report it was declared that the chief value of a river
route would be its " novelty," whereas the already chartered road
"leading from the City of New York through the heart of West-
chester County, at nearly equal distances from the waters of the
Hudson on the one hand and of the East River and Long Island Sound
on the other, and extending from thence through the upper valley
of the Croton River near to the eastern border of the State," was
the only satisfactory project for bringing the whole country as far
as Albany into communication with the commercial metropolis. It
was also argued that the same central route would serve the purpose
of railwav intercourse with New England, a road from Boston to

574: HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Albany having previously been built, which, by the way, was a
grievous thorn in the side of New York, as that thoroughfare had
operated to divert a heavy volume of the Erie Canal commerce to
Boston. Capitalists were slow to formulate new plans of railway
development centering in New York; but during the first half of the
decade 1840-50 both the Hudson River and the New York and New
Haven undertakings began to take shape.

The New York and Hudson River road was chartered by the legis-
lature in May, 1846, and the company was soon after organized, Mr.
John B. Jervis, the engineer of the Croton Aqueduct, being em-
ployed as chief engineer. Work was begun toward the middle of
1847, the entire line being placed under contract by sections, and the
work was prosecuted so diligently that by the 29th of September,
1840, passenger travel was commenced between New York and Peek-
skill. " The average number of passengers per day for the first
month (October) was 830, and the total number 21,593. ... At
this time it was calculated that the land taken for the roadway in
Westchester County had cost the company, exclusive of agencies and
other charges, $185,905.02, and also that the grading had involved
an expenditure of not far from a million dollars, which was about
|300,000 above the cost as estimated by the original lettings in
L847."1

It was a single track road, with "turnouts" where needed. This at once caused the New
York and Albany stages to be withdrawn, and it also competed with the steamboats. The
following advertisement was published in the New York Herald: "Passenger trains will
commence to run between New York and Peekskill on Saturday, the 29th instant (September,
1849), stopping at the following places and at the rate of fare respectively stated, viz.:
Manhattan ville, twelve and one-half cents ; Yonkers, twenty-five cents, etc. Omnibuses will
be provided at the junction of Chambers Street and Hudson Street to convey passengers who
furnish themselves with tickets at the engine-house, at Thirty-first Street, until the rails are
laid to that point. Trains will start at 8 a.m., 12 noon, and 4 p.m. N. B.— Stockholders
during the present week free of charge." ~

Originally the Hudson River road followed the straight line to the
foot of West Thirty-first Street.

The New York and New Haven Railroad (now the New York, New
Haven, ami Hartford* was in full operation nine months before the
opening of the Hudson River route to Peekskill. This road was built
downward from New Haven through the Towns of Rye, Harrison,
Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Pelham, and Eastchester, to its junction
with the New York and Harlem at Washingtonville, a distance in
our county of 13.0 miles. The first through train from New York to
New Haven, bearing a party of stockholders, was run on Christmas

Rev. W. S. Coffey, in Scharf's History, i., 480. ■ Allison's Hist, of Yonkei

from 1842 to 1900 575

Day, 1818, and the next day the road was opened for business. " It
was at first a single track road. . . . The numerous curves on
the road were caused by the restricted financial condition, making
it necessary, as far as possible, to avoid cuttings and embankments.
The desire had been to build the road in a substantial and permanent
manner, but it was found difficult to complete it in any shape. .
It is a curious fact that when the trains first commenced to run
the passengers were booked as in the old stage-coach times, their
names being duly reported by the conductors to the company. "

Thus by the dawn of the second half of the nineteenth century
the three great railway routes which traverse Westchester County
had been completed and put in successful operation. The other two
railways now existing — the Harlem River Branch of the New York,
New Haven, and Hartford, and the New York and Putnam — were noi
built until many years later. The former, at first called the Harlem
River and Port Chester Railroad, running on its own line from Morris-
ania to Now Rochelle, and thence over the New Haven track to Port
Chester, was undertaken in 1872, and was from the beginning leased
by the Now York, New Haven, and Hartford Company. The present
New York and Putnam Railroad at its inception (1871) was designed
to run from High Bridge to Brewsters, and there connect with the
so-called New York and Boston. This road was not finished until
1881. It was long styled the Now York and Northern. Its complete
development was effected by the extension of the line from High
Bridge to the terminus of the Elevated Railway at One Hundred and
Fifty-fifth Street, and by the building of the branch from Van Cort-
landt Station to Yonkers. In common with the New York and Har-
lem, the Now York and Putnam is now incorporated in the New
York Central and Hudson River system, with which also the New
York, New Haven, and Hartford is closely affiliated; so that all the
steam railways of Westchester County are substantially under one
management.

Aside from the building of the railways, there were not many events
of local importance in Westchester County from tin- completion of
the Croton Aqueduct until 1850.

Two new townships were erected — Ossining (1845) and West Farms
(1840), and the territorial dimensions of four others were somewhat
changed by the annexation of a portion of North Salem to Lewisboro
in 1844, ami of a portion of Seniors to New Castle in 1840.

From 1810 until 1845 Mount Pleasant, embracing the village of
Sing Sing, had been the most populous township of the county. The
federal enumeration of 1840 gave it a population of 7,307. It was also
one of the largest townships in area, and chiefly on this account its

576

HISTORY OF WESTCIJ ESTER COUNTY

division was determined upon. By a legislative act passed May 2,
1845, the present Township of Ossining was erected from it. "The
meaning of the term ' Ossining ' and its derivation," says Dr. Fisher,
- wore given by Mr. Henry M. Schoolcraft in 1844, at the request of
General Aaron Ward, member of congress from this district at the
time. We arc told that the word ossin, in the Chippeway language,
signifies 'a stone'; that ossinee or ossineen is the plural for 'stones.'
This etymology was accepted, and in May, 1845, when our town was
taken from Mount Pleasant, it received the name of ' Ossm-sing/

In March, 1846, it was
changed (by dropping the
third s) and made to read
k Ossiii-ing,1 and still later
the hyphen was omitted." 1
Including in its limits Sing
Sing Village, Ossining natu-
rally took a prominent place
among the towns of the
county from the start.

The Town of West Farms
was carved out of West-
chester by a law passed
May F5, 1846. The new
township comprehended all
of the ancient patents of
West Farms, Morrisania
Manor, and F 0 r d h a in
Manor, Westchester Town
retaining only the territory
east of the Bronx River.
The three component pans
of West Farms Township,
being much more accessible to New York City than Westchester
proper, had increased far more rapidly in population, and as they
were separated from the parent town by a broad line of natural
division, the Bronx River, it was esteemed very proper to organize
them into a distinct political unit. West Farms Village, as has been
noticed in the previous chapter, had become a locality of some manu-
facturing importance, on account of the utilization of the water of
the Bronx River to turn mill wheels. Mr. John Copcutt and Mr.
Alexander Smith, men Who became conspicuous in founding the
manufacturing industries of Yonkers, originally had their mills at

1 Scharf, ii., 322.

WILLIAM \V. SCRCGHAM.

FROM 1842 TO 1900

577

West Farms. In view of the rapid growth which the Township of
West Farms experienced after the opening of the Harlem Kailroad,
it was found advisable in 1855 to subdivide it and set apart Morris-
ania as a separate town.

In 1846 a final radical revision was effected in the State constitution
of New York. Judges, district attorneys, and other officers formerly
appointive were made elective. The first county judge elected in
Westchester County was John W. Mills, of White Plains (1851-56);
the first surrogate, Lewis C. Piatt, of White Plains (1848-56); the first
district attorney, William W. Scrugham,1 of Yonkers (1848-51); the
first county treasurer, Elisha Ilorton, of White Plains (1849-52).

At the State census of 1845 — the last enumeration taken before
the railways came into operation — Westchester County had 47,394
inhabitants, some 1,300 fewer than the number awarded the county
by the federal census of 1840. The greater population of 1840 was
probably due to the inclusion in the census at that time of the numer-
ous workmen employed on the Croton Aqueduct. As classified by
occupations in 1845, the adult males of the county included 4,369
farmers and agriculturists, 364 manufacturers, 275 merchants, 101
clergymen, 62 physicians and surgeons, and 42 lawyers. There were
in that year 142 common schools and 69 select schools.

With the completion of the railways a great change at once trans-
pired in local conditions in Westchester County. In the ten years
from 1845 to 1855 the population rose from 47,394 to 80,678 — a gain of
more than 68 per cent. The following table shows the population by
towns in 1845 and 1855, with the valuation of real estate and per-
sonal property in 1858:

Bedford

Cortlandt

Eastehester . . . .
Greenburgh . . . .

Harrison

Lewisboro

Mamaroneck. . . .
Morrisania 1 . . .
Mount Pleasant.

New Castle

New Rochelle..
North Castle . . .

POPULATION,

1845

2,725
6,738
1,309
3,205
1,039
1,541
780

POPULATION,

1 S55

llation for 1845 included

Westehest*

1 Mr. Scrugham also had the honor of being
the first citizen of Westchester County elected
to the office of justice of the Supreme Court of

2,778
1,495
1,977
2,010

1855 in West Farms.
e State. He was cb

3,464
8,468
4,715
6,435
1,271
1,775
1,068

3,677
1,762
3,101
2,415

IN;",!!,

1867.

VALUATION,
REAL ESTATE
& PERSONAL,

1858

$1,602,170

3,116,750

1,460,550

4,538,657

865,110

955,427

629,695

2,583,862

1,846,745

846,210

1,780,700

794,358

that position
il his death

578

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

TOWNS

North Salem

POPULATION,

1845

1,228

3,312

POPULATION,

1855

1,528
5,758

833
1,439
3,468

445
1,744
3,464
12,436
1,512
7,554
2,346

VALUATION,

REAL ESTATE

& PERSONAL

1858

1,004,177
1,820,433

486

746,750

Pouudridge

Scarsdale

Somers

Westchester

1,727

2,180

341

1,761

5,052

424,508
1,997,315

421,412
1,366,533
2,231,815
2,229,774

White Plains

Yonkers

1,155

2,517

2,278

942,365

4,887,668
1,246,377

Total

47,394

80,(578

40,343,401

Population for 1S45 included in Westchester.

During the ten years the total population increased 32,284, of which
increase 22,401 was in the Towns of West Farms (including West-
chester), Yonkers, Eastchester, and Greenburgh — that is, in the
localities brought within a comparatively short and inexpensive rail-
way ride of New York. In former times, before railways existed, the
local gains in population had invariably been without special refer-
ence to nearness to New York. A journey to the business sections
of the city, even from Morrisania or Fordham, then involved a ride by
carriage or stage of protracted duration; and thus for persons having
daily business in New York, regular residence in any section of West-
chester Comity was out of the question. Indeed, the tendency had
steadily been toward a much larger growth in such remote towns
as Sing Sing and Peekskill than in the nearby communities. Now,
however, there was a reversal of this ancient order of things, and
although Sing Sing and Peekskill, as well as New Rochelle, live, and
all other places through which the railway lines passed, made
respectable advances, the principal gains were in the section from
which New York could be reached in the briefest time and at the
minimum of expense, indicating the immigration of a large class of
former New York residents. This fact is quite as strikingly evidenced
by the nearly stationary condition of the exclusively agricultural
townships of the northern portions of the county — such as Lewis
boro, North Castle, North Salem. Pouudridge, Somers, and York-
town. Pouudridge, not entered by any railway line, actually lost
some 300 people in the ten years.

Amongst the significant local results thus brought to pass, the
most interesting and important, whether considered in its original

from 1842 to 1900 579

aspects or ill relation to its later developments, was unquestionably
the foundation of the Village — now the prosperous and handsome
City — of Mount Vernon. Unlike any other considerable community
of Westchester County, Mount Vernon owes its very existence to
the railroad. Yonkers, Tarrytown, Sing Sing, Peekskill. New
Kochelle, Mamaroneck, Rye, and Port Chester, with White Plains,
Bedford, and various other villages scattered through the central
and northern parts of the county, existed before the period of rail-
ways, and doubtless would have enjoyed respectable growth if no
railway had ever been built. Rut Mount Vernon had no such prior
existence. In 1850 there was not even an elementary settlement on
the site of the present city. Its very name belongs as strictly to the
latter half of the nineteenth century as does the name of Irvington.
Larchmont, or any other hamlet exclusively conceived and erected,
within the memory of men still living, on the foundations of extem-
porized enterprise.

Although the Township of Eastchester, at least at its southern ex-
tremity, was one of the earliest settled localities of the county, no
village of any noticeable pretensions or expectations had been estab-
lished within its limits until Mount Vernon sprang into being. The
hamlet of Eastchester, at the head of sloop navigation where Hutch-
inson's River or Eastchester Creek empties into Eastchester Ray.
has associations as an organized community scarcely less venerable
than those of Westchester Milage. In 1850 some live hundred people
were living there and in that vicinity. The total population of the
township in the same year was 1,709. There was also a settlement
of some size at Tuckahoe, resulting from the opening of marble quar-
ries there about 1823. and Tuckahoe was consequently one of the
original stations of the Harlem Railroad.

In 1850 there was organized in New York City an association called
the " New York Industrial Home Association No. 1," composed mostly
of tradesmen, employees, and other persons of small means. Its an-
nounced object was to see what could be done by co-operative action
toward securing homes for its members where they could be relieved
from the exorbitant rentals then exacted by landlords in the city;
to which end it was proposed to purchase land and build a village
within convenient distance of New York. One of the fundamental
conditions on which the association was based was that a thousand
members should be secured, and this object was accomplished in six
months' time. Various men of influence in the city lent their hearty
support to the project — among them Horace Oreeley, the editor of
the Trihime. The most active man in the enterprise was Mr. John
Stevens, who was appointed purchasing agent.

580 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

It is said that the selection of the site for the desired village was
determined by a suggestion from Gouverneur Morris (son of the states-
man of the same name), who, commenting on the extensive growth
attained by Morrisania, observed that the next large settlement
should naturally be at a point near the intersection of the New York
and Harlem and the Now York and New Haven Railroads. Some
one hundred farms in different parts of Westchester County were
offered to the association, but the location pointed out by Mr. Morris
was chosen by unanimous agreement. The land bought consisted of
five farms, owned by Colonel John R. Hayward, Sylvanus Purdy,
Andrew Purdy, and his two sons, .John and Andrew Oscar Purdy —
the aggregate area of the purchase being about three hundred and
seventy acres. The first check in payment for the land, $3,400, was
dated November 1, 1850. Among tin1 names originally proposed for
the place were Columbia, Fleetwood, Rising Sun, Stevensville, Jeffer-
son, Thousandville, Palestine, New Washington, Monticello, Wash-
ington, Lafayette, Little New York, Linden, Olive Branch, New Am-
sterdam, Enterprise, Homesville, Industria, Youngfield, and Indus-
try.1 The name of Monticello was selected, but, as there was already
a Monticello in the State of New York, this was soon changed to
Monticello City. The postal authorities were still dissatisfied, how-
ever, and on the 10th of January, 1851, the present name of Mount
Vernon was adopted. On the 12th of November, 1850, the site was
visited by a large number of members of the association and prac-
tically dedicated to the uses of the new village, Mr. Greeley making
an address in which he spoke in complimentary terms of tin1 wisdom
displayed in the choice of locality and predicted rapid growth for
the community about to be established.

In the spring of 1851 the village was laid out into streets and ave-
nues, various contracts for grading were effected, and the distribution
of the one thousand quarter-acre lots among the members was made.
A depot was erected at the expense of the association, and presented
to the New Haven Railroad Company. In October there was a
jubilee in celebration of the rapid progress attained in the space of
a single year. On the 12th of December the president of the asso-
ciation, Mr. Stevens, reported that fifty-six houses had either been
completed or were in various stages of construction, and this num-
ber had on the 6th of August, 1852, been increased to three hundred.
" One of the causes of this rapid progress was the reversionary clause
in the deeds given, which required tin1 erection within three years
or a forfeiture of the land. This provision in the deed undoubtedly

from 1842 to 1900 581

was not legally binding, but effected the purpose for which the mem-
bers of the association freely placed themselves under its seeming
risks. The lots not improved, as so required, were, however, in a
few years relieved from this incumbrance by releases freely given." 1

By the fall of 1853 the settlement of the place had been so satis-
factorily accomplished, and its preparation in other respects for or-
ganized government so far advanced, that its people were ready to
consider the question of its incorporation as a village. This plan
was agreed to by a majority vote in December. The first election for
village officers was held on the 7th of March, 1851, when Stephen
Bogart, John B. Brennan, Joseph S. Gregory, M.D., Thomas Jones,
and William Saxton were chosen trustees. Dr. Gregory was the
first president of the village, but resigned soon after his election and
was succeeded by Thomas Jones. A census taken at the time of in-
corporation gave the place 1,370 inhabitants, of whom 561 were par-
ents, 623 children, and the remainder unmarried adults and appren-
tices.

The original settlement of Mount Vernon was where the principal
business portion of the city now is, on the line of the New Haven
Railroad, and mainly on the southern side of that line, although a
lew houses were built at an early period to the northward of the
railway. Contemporaneously, however, with the foundation of the
village on the New I la von road, another village on the Harlem road
was inaugurated, called West Mount Vernon. This also was begun
under the auspices of an association organized on principles of econ-
omy— the Teutonic Homestead Association, composed, as its name
indicates, mostly of Germans. The number of the Teutonic asso-
ciates was five hundred, and The land which they bought consisted
of about one hundred ami thirty-one acres. Subsequently a third
settlement, Central .Mount Vernon, was built up between the two
villages. Central and West Mount Vernon were incorporated as one
village in 1869, and were consolidated with Mount Vernon in 1878.
Various other outlying localities gradually came into being. After
a career of about thirty-nine years as a village, Mount Vernon became
a city in 1892, taking in, of course, all these connected districts.

The fundamental object of the founders of Mount Vernon, to es-
tablish a community of homes, is perpetuated by the motto of the
official seal of the city, Urbs Jucundarum Domium — "A City of
Happy Homes." But after serving its original purposes the asso-
ciation gradually underwent disorganization, and the ultimate de-
velopment of the place was the result of private enterprise, con-

Rev. W. S. Coffey, in Sebarf's History, ii., 722.

582 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

ducted under the ordinary conditions of local progress. On the other
hand, it is undeniable that the peculiar character given the com-
munity at the beginning operated continuously to attract to it, in
the succeeding years, citizens of the same general spirit, aims, and
conditions of life as the original associators — men chiefly of moderate
means, but of providence, thrift, foresight, and energetic traits. For
many years few men of large wealth, either inherited or self-acquired,
came to live in Mount Vernon; but it could not be otherwise than
that substantial and even opulent fortunes should in the course of
time be gained by numerous citizens of a community erected on
such a basis as that of Mount Vernon. Thus from a settlement of
humble home-seekers it steadily grew into a flourishing suburb, with
a population representing all degrees of individual prosperity.

Yonkers, when last noticed, had just acquired the essentials of
serious development by the partition of the Wells estate, which oc-
curred soon after the death of Lemuel AVells in 1842. The village
was not incorporated, however, until 1855. During the thirteen years
there was a steady improvement of the natural manufacturing facili-
ties afforded by the power of the Nepperhan River, and with the
opening of the Hudson River Railroad in 1819 the population began
to receive large and valuable accessions from New York City. Some
considerable local improvements were introduced. New streets were
opened, a tire company, gaslight company, and library association
were organized, and new churches and schools were built. In 1851
Mr. Robert P. Getty erected the Getty House at a cost of between
|40,000 and f 50,000, and other public-spirited citizens were active
in promoting the general good. Meantime several new settlements
were founded in the Township of Yonkers. In 1852 Elias Johnson,
David B. Fox, and Joseph R. Fuller, of Troy, N. Y., purchased land
near Spuyten Duyvil inlet and had surveys and plans made for a
village, which it was at first intended should be called Fort Inde-
pendence, but received the name of Spuyten Duyvil. Riverdale was
laid out in 1853. To this period also belongs the erection of Edwin
Forrest's famous home, which in 1850 was purchased by the sisters
of Saint Vincent de Paul and took the name of Mount Saint Vincent.
According to Allison, there were in 1852 537 buildings in the Town
of Yonkers, lk not including those in the southern portion subse-
quently set off."

The Village of Yonkers was incorporated by an act of the legis-
lature, April 12, 1855. " It extended one mile and seven-tenths along
the Hudson River. Its average breadth was eight-tenths of a mile.
Edward F. Shonnard's farm was on the north and Thomas W. Lud-
low's on the south. The area of the incorporated village was about

M V

H ^

r,„ °« Pasture

ABOVE THE R , V£

WVEBEKCEAv-OeENE

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YONKERS MAP, 1847.

584 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER county

nine hundred acres." The population of the whole township at this
time was 7,554. Five hundred and four votes were cast at the first
village election, the officers chosen being: President, William Rad-
ford; Trustees, William C. Waring, Jacob Read, Lemuel W. Wells,
Thomas ( ). Partington, Reuben W. Van Pelt, and Fielding S. Cant;
Clerk, William II. Post; Treasurer, John M. Stillwater; Collector,
Lyman F. Bradley.

The settlement of Mount Vernon unquestionably operated ma-
terially to intercept the natural growth of New Rochelle after the
opening of the New Haven Railroad. As the first important stopping
place on that road above Fordham, and as a long established, beauti-
fully located, and eminently substantial community. New Rochelle
would naturally have drawn to itself a very considerable element
of the large numbers of New York people who sought homes in
Westchester County after the completion of the railways, had it not
been for the organization of the new village, which offered superior
advantages to most persons of that class. Thus the immediate prog-
ress of New Rochelle was effectually retarded. The growth of the
township in the ten years from 1845 to 1855 did not compare with
that of West Farms, Eastchester, Yonkers, or Greenburgh, being only
1,021. The population of the township in 1830 was 1,271; in 1S35,
1,201; in 1810, 1,816; in 1815, 1,977; in 1850, 2,518; in 1855, 3,101.

Nevertheless, the village had long possessed every requirement for
organized government. A town hall had been built as early as 1828,
with money bequeathed for that purpose by a public-spirited citizen,
William Henderson. In 1851 a cemetery, known as the Beechwood
Cemeti ry, was located in New Rochelle by authority granted by tin1
board of supervisors. The community was inhabited by many peo-
ple of substance and progressiveness. A village charter was accord-
ingly applied for, which was conferred by tin1 legislature on the
5th of ( )ctober, 1857. The first meeting of the officers of New Rochelle
Village was held January 21, 1858, when Albert Smith was elected
president of the board of trustees. The original charter of New
Rochelle continued in effect until April 20, 1801, when a new charter
was obtained from the legislature. The village, from its organiza-
tion in 1858, endured until 1899, when the present City of New
Rochelle was instituted.

It is noteworthy that the three cities of Westchester County —
Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and New Rochelle — all had their birth as
incorporated villages in the decade 1850-60.

In this decade also the Township of Morrisania — now the most
populous portion of the old County of Westchester — came into being
as a separate political division. By the act of 1788, which divided

prom 1842 to 1900 585

the county into towns, Morrisania was designated as a distinct town-
ship, but shortly afterward it was restored to its ancient position
as a portion of the Town of Westchester. In 1816 it became a pari
of the new Township of West Farms, carved out of Westchester. Hal
the great growth of this new township in population, consequent
upon the railway development — a growth of some 8,000 in the five
years from 1850 to 1855, — made its subdivision necessary, and on the
Tth of December, 1855, the Town of Morrisania was created. Its
" north line began at Harlem River, near the present Aqueduct
Bridge, and extended east to Union Avenue, which was practically
the east bounds of the Morrisania Manor. Its east boundary was
Union Avenue, continued to the head of Bungay Creek, and thence
to Harlem Kills, and its south and west boundaries the Harlem River
and Kills/' The first supervisor of the town was Gouverneur Morris,
son of the famous statesman. Morrisania Milage was incorporated
in 1801, when the town was divided into four wards, in each of which
three trustees were elected.

The history of Westchester County to 1800 comprehends several
matters of general interest in addition to the facts of development
which have been noted in the preceding pages of this chapter.

In the year 1848 the original edition of Bolton's 'k History of West-
chester County " was published. Giving duo consideration to the
conditions under which this work was compiled and to the volume
ami variety of its contents, it stands unapproached by any other early
contribution to American local history. The unique value of the
first edition of Bolton is now so well recognized that it has become
a much prized book from the collector's point of view. Robert Bol-
ton was born in the City of Bath, England, April 17, 1814, being the
eldest of the fourteen children of the Rev. Robert Bolton, who, re-
moving to America, became rector of Christ's Church at Pelham,
this county, whence, however, he subsequently returned to England.
The son studied medicine in England, but did not practice that pro-
fession. In 1830, at the age of thirty-two, he engaged in farming
pursuits at Bronxville in the Town of Eastchester, and ever after-
ward he was a citizen of our county. He lived at various times in
New Rochelle. Tarrvtown, Bedford, Lewisboro, and Pelham. For
many years he conducted select schools, but later was ordained a
clergyman in the Episcopal Church and appointed to the parish of
Saint John's in Lewisboro, his only charge. He died at Pelham
Priory,1 October 11, 1877. His original researches for his " History
of Westchester County " covered a period of some ten years. That

1 Pelham Priory was an estate purchased by a school for young ladies, conducted by the
his father. The residence was converted into Misses Bolton.

5S6 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

was before the publication of the colonial and other historical docu-
ments, yet by great perseverance he was able to procure, in manu-
script, nearly all the important original documents bearing upon
the history of our county. His labors also included " personal visita-
tion of every spot of interest and nearly every person of advanced
age.'' In addition to his History of the county, he published a " Guide
to New Kochelle " and a " History of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in Westchester County." At the time of his death he had nearly
completed a revision of his History of the county, which was issued
under the editorship of his brother, the Rev. C. W. Bolton, of New
Kochelle, in 1881.

On the 4th of December, 1851, occurred the first serious railway
accident in the history of the county. This was of a decidedly sen-
sational nature. An afternoon up train from New York was stopped
by the conductor above Croton to put off two men who did not pay
their fare, and was run into by an engine without cars, several pas-
sengers suffering injury. Another up train which followed it — an
express train — was switched off to the west track and halted to
render assistance; whereupon it was run into by a down train, re-
sulting in more casualties. This double accident caused much news-
paper comment.

The Village of Tarrytown was the scene of a notable monument
dedication on the 7th of October, 1853. On the spot where Major
Andre was captured by Paulding, Williams, and Van Wart, Sep-
tember 23, 1780, a monument in commemoration of that event was
unveiled with much ceremony, the governor of the State and other
distinguished guests being in attendance. In a previous chapter the
particulars of this event and also of the dedication of the " new "
monument on the same spot in 1880 have been given (see p. 493).

The burning of the Hudson River steamboat " Henry Clay " on the
28th of July, 1857, the most terrible disaster of that period, is vividly
remembered by many citizens of Yonkers still living. The " Clay ,f
was a fast passenger boat plying between New York and Albany,
and had a competitor, the " Armenia," operated by another manage-
ment. It was alleged that the two boats frequently raced, especially
on the down trip, and although there was no conclusive evidence that
they were engaged in racing on the day of the disaster, the burning
of the " Clay " was supposed to have been attributable to the care-
lessness engendered in the crew by these efforts for undue speed, very
inflammable material being sometimes thrown into the furnaces, in
addition to the ordinary fuel, to increase the heat of the boilers. The
two vessels came down the river on the afternoon of the fatal day,

from 1842 to 1900 587

the " Clay " being slightly in advance. As she passed Yonkers, mov-
ing at a high speed, smoke was seen issuing from her sides. She was
at once headed for the dock at Riverdale, but meantime the flames
had burst forth and it was necessary to beach her with all the haste
possible. " Mr. Edwin Forrest, the actor, who lived near, was there,
and soon others came. It was an awful sight. The steamer struck
the shore and ran up so far that the bow lay across the western rail-
road track. The passengers were either pitched into the river by the
sudden stopping of the boat as it struck the river bank, or they jumped
overboard. The bodies were laid along the shore. Eighty or more
were drowned or burned. All the bodies were not recovered on the
day of the fire. They washed ashore at irregular intervals. This
necessitated holding inquests through a period of two weeks. The
coroner was Mr. William II. Lawrence. The inquests were held at
the Yonkers railroad station. The captain of the boat and other
officers escaped from the burning steamer." x Many of the bodies
were buried in a plot in Saint John's Cemetery, Yonkers, and over
their graves a marble column was erected, which still stands, al-
though in a state of decay.

The year 1857 witnessed the completion and occupation of the
present court house of the county at White Plains. kt The commis-
sioners in charge of the construction of the court house and jail were
Supervisors Abraham Hatfield, of Westchester; States Barton, of
New Kochelle; Daniel Hunt, of Lewisboro; William Marshall, Jr., of
Somers; and George C. Finch, of North Salem. R. G. Hatfield was
architect and D. I. Stagg assistant and superintendent; Theodore
Hunt, builder of the court house; Seth Bird, of Tarrytown, builder
of tie- jail. The amount appropriated to cover the cost of the build-
ing was |120,000. The hall of records was erected, as a wing of the
court house, in 1894. Supervisors Moses W. Taylor, of Mount Pleas-
ant; Joseph B. See, of North Castle; Odle Close, of North Salem; and
Jacob Read, of Yonkers, were the commissioners in charge; Edwin
A. Quick, architect."2

We have already noticed the political changes introduced by the
State constitution of 1846, so far as they affected Westchester County.
The further political history of the county to I860 includes nothing
of importance, aside from the party struggles on the great questions
of the times. The presidential votes of W7estchester County from
1S48 to I860, inclusive, were as follows;

1848.— Lewis Cass (Dem.), 2,146; Zachary Taylor (Whig), 4,312; Martin Van Buren
(Free Soil), 1,312.

1852.— Franklin Pierce (Dem.), 5,283; Winfield Scott (Whig), 4,033; scattering, 61.

i From the narrative of an eye-witness. Allison's Hist, of Yonkers, 187.
a Smith's Manual of Westchester County, 35.

;88

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

1856. — James Buchanan (Dem.), 4,600; Millard Fillmore ( Whig), 4,450; John C. Fre-
mont (Rep.), 3,641.

1860. — United vote of Stephen A. Douglas, John C. Breckinridge, and John Bell, 8,100;
Abraham Lincoln (Rep.), 6,771.

The divided condition of the Democratic party in 1848 caused the
county, for the first time in its history, to give a plurality for the
opposition candidate for president, but this was only a transient
fickleness. The generally conservative character of our population is
capitally evidenced by the result in 1S5G, when the new Republican

WKSTC'HESTKR COUNTY COURT MOl'SK,

party, organized on the issue of non-extension of slavery, made its
first appearance, with John C. Fremont1 as its candidate. Fremont
received less than thirty per cent, of the total vote. In I860, despite
the great distractions from which the conservative forces suffered,
they still rallied a united vote some 1,300 larger than that cast for
Lincoln.2

1 General Fremont resided at one time at
Mount Pleasant, in the house built by General
James Watson Webb.— Seharf, L, 599.

2 It is of interest to record the names of the
delegates from Westchester County to the
State conventions held for the purpose of

from 1842 to 1900 589

The congressional district to which Westchester County belonged
was represented at Washington by William Nelson, of Peekskill, from
1847 to 1851; Jared V. Peck, of Rye, from 1853 to 1855; and John II.
Haskin, of Westchester, from 1857 to 1861.

In 1817 the first division of Westchester County into assembly dis-
tricts was made, two districts being created, to which a third was
added in 1858. The late Judge William II. Robertson began his pub-
lic career as a member of the assembly from Westchester County in
1849 and 1850. He also served one term as State senator (1854-55),
and in 1850 took his seat on the county bench, where he continued
until 1868. He was one of the Lincoln presidential electors in 1800.

The total population of Westchester County in 1860 was 99,497 — all
but reaching the hundred thousand mark.

So far in our narrative, whilst progressively noticing the principal
aspects of local change and development, we have not devoted any
formal attention to the minuter facts of conditions in the townships
and their numerous localities severally; and as the year 1800 is a
convenient one for such a detailed review, we shall now give the need-
ful space to it, avoiding, however, unnecessary repetitions. We shall
here take the townships in alphabetical order, including under each
township head various pertinent particulars for the local communi-
ties. The population statistics by towns are from the federal census
of 1800; most of the other facts (including village populations) are
extracted from a valuable work published at Syracuse in 1800 — the
"Gazetteer of the State of New York," by J. II. French.

THE TOWNS AND THEIR VILLAGES IN 1800.

Bedford. Population, 3,639. Local particulars: — 1. Bedford; contained a court house

(still in use in 1860), two churches, the Bedford Academy, a Eemale Institute, and thirty
houses. 2 Bedford Station, on the Harlem Railroad; contained ten houses. 3. Katonah;
contained thirty houses. 4. Mount Kisco, a station on the Harlem Railroad; contained 200
inhabitants. 5. Whitlockville, « a station on the Harlem Railroad near the north border."

Cortlandt.— Population, 10,074. Local particulars :— 1 . Peekskill ; an incorporated village ;
population, 3,538; contained ten churches, the Peekskill Academy, four boarding schools, a
bank, newspaper office, six iron foundries (chiefly engaged in the manufacture of stoves and
plows, and giving employment to 300 men), two machine shops, two tobacco factories, a pistol
and gun factory, tannery, and gin distillery; connected by a steam ferry with Caldwell's
Landing and by a daily steamer and line of sloops with New York. 2. Verplanck's Point;
population, 1,456; contained a church, steamboat landing, and important brick manufactories,
whose number in 1858 was thirty-four, giving employment to 1,350 men and turning out an-

selecting State delegates to the national con-
ventions nf tin' two parties in the historic yeai
1m;o. The Westchester County delegates to the
Democratic Stale convention were Thomas
Smith, Gilherl S. Lyon, and Abraham Hyatt.
William Radford, of Yonkers, was a contesting
delegate from the nth congressional district
(embracing Westchester County) to the Charles-
ton national convention. To the Republican

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590

HISTORY OP WESTCIIKSTHR COUNTY

nually from 80,000,000 to 90,000,000|bricks. 3. Croton (formerly called Collaberg Land-
ing); population, 400 ; a station on the Hudson River Railroad ; contained four churches, a
rolling mill, wire mill, and several brickyards. 4. Crugers J (Boscobel p. o. ); a landing and
railroad station. 5. Annsville; a small village, containing a church and wire mill. 6. Cort-
landtville; contained a church, planing mill, and about twenty houses. 7. Oregon, on the line
of Putnam County; contained a rolling mill and wire mill. 8. Croton Point; devoted chiefly
to vineyards. 9. Montrose's Point.

Eastchester. — Population, 5,582. Local particulars: — 1. Eastchester; population, 551: con-
tained two churches. 2. Mount Vernon; an incorporated village; contained " four churches and
several private schools." 3. West Mount Vernon (630 inhabitants), 4. East Mount Vernon
(275 inhabitants), 5. Waverly, and 6. Washington ville, are described as " suburban villages,
inhabited principally by mechanics and men doing business in New York." 7. Bronxville; a
railroad station; contained a manufactory of carriage axles. 8. Tuckahoe; a railroad station
near the marble quarries. 9. Fleetwood, and 10. Jacksonville, places projected by building
associations.

Greenburgh. — Population, 8,929. Local particulars: — 1. Hastings; population, 1,135; a
railroad station and a steamboat landing; contained two churches, steam marble works, lime-
kilns, and a limited number of manufactories. 2. Dobbs Ferry;'- population, 1,040; a rail-
road station and a landing on the river; contained three churches. 3. Irvington;3 population,

SrXNYSIDF., WASIITXIiTDX IRVIXCS HOME.

599; a railroad station and a lauding on the river; contained two churches. 4. Tarrytown ;
population, about 2,000; a steamboat landing and railroad station; contained four churches
and the Pawling Institute. 5. Hart's Corners (Morningville p. o.); a station on the Harlem
Railroad. 6. Middletown; a settlement below Tarrytown. 7. Hall's Corners; a neighbor-
hood in the northern part of the town, and 8. Ashford; a settlement three miles below. 9.
Abbotsford; a locality near Dobbs Ferry. 10. Greenville; a neighborhood in the southern
part of the town.

Harrison. — Population, 1,413. The only locality mentioned by French in this town is Pur-
chase (Harrison p. o.), a hamlet in the northern part, containing two Friends' meeting houses.

Lewisboro. — Population, 1,885. Local particulars: — 1. South Salem; a scattered village, con-
taining a church and fifteen houses. 2. Cross River; contained two churches, several manu-
factories, and twenty houses. 3. Golden's Bridge; a station on the Harlem Railroad. 4.
Vista; a small settlement. 5. Lewisboro; a postoffice in the southern part.

Mamaronei'k. — -Population, 1,351. Local particulars: — 1. Mamaroneck; contained two

1 So called for Colonel John P. Cruger, whose
csiatc including Oscawana Island, was ad-
jacent. " Boscobel " (the original name) was
the residence of Staats Morris Dyckrnan.

- So called for .'in early family named Dobbs.
who k<-pt a ferry.

:; Sci called for Washington Irving, whose
homestead of Sunnyside was a short distance
above. The village was formerly called Dear-
man's, or Dearman's Landing.

from 1842 to 1900 591

churches and "several manufactories, not at present in operation." 2. Orienta,1 3.
Washingtonville, 4. Chatsworth, and 5. Hickory Grove, are described as " village plats and
prospective villages." 6. Kelloggsville, on the line of New Rochelle, had an extension tide-
mill.

Morrisania. — Population, 9,245. Local particulars: — 1. Morrisania; population, 2,587; a
railroad station; contained Saint Joseph's Ursuline Convent, an academy, and free school. 2.
Mott Haven;2 population, 843; contained two churches and an extensive iron foundry. 3.
Port Morris; 3 prominent for its harbor, sixty feet deep, where it was "proposed to land ves-
sels that draw too much water to enter New York Harbor"; connected with Melrose by a
branch of the Harlem Railroad two and one-half miles long. 4. Wilton, 5. Old Morrisania,
6. East Morrisania, 7. West Morrisania, 8. South Melrose, 9. East Melrose, 10. Eltona, 11.
Woodstock, 12. Claremont, and 13. High Bridgeville, are described as " suburban village
plats."

Mount Pleasant. — Population, 4,517. Local particulars: — 1. Pleasantville; 4 population,
358; contained two churches. 2. Unionville (Nepperhan p. o.); population, 97; a station on
the Harlem Railvoad. 3. Beekmantown; population, about 1,500; a suburb of Tarrytown;
contained five churches and the Irving and Tarrytown Institutes. 4. Sleepy Hollow, 5. Up-
per Cross Roads, and 6. Lower Cross Roads were hamlets.

New Castle. — Population, 1,817. Local particulars: — 1. Mount Kisco; a small village and
railroad on the line of Bedford. 2. New Castle; a small scattered village near the Bedford
line. 3. Chappaqua; a railroad station. 4. Sarlesville; a hamlet near the center of the
town, where the town business was generally transacted.

New Rochelle. — Population, 3,519. Local particulars: — 1. New Rochelle; an incorporated
village; population, about 2,000; contained six churches and several private schools; a portion
of the village and the lands surrounding it were " occupied by elegant villas and country resi-
dences of persons doing business in New York " ; the steamboat landing was " half a mile
southwest of the village, on a small island connected with the main land by a stone cause-
way." 2. West New Rochelle, 3. Petersville,5 and 4. Upper New Rochelle were scattered
villages, mostly inhabited by Germans.

North Castle. — Population, 2,487. Local particulars: — 1. North Castle; contained a church
and a few houses. 2. Armonk; 6 contained three churches, a woolen factory, and twenty
houses. 3. Kensico; 7 population, 103; contained several manufactories. 4. Quarter Station;
in the extreme southern part of the town, on the Harlem Railroad.

North Salem. — Population, 1,497. Local particulars: — 1. North Salem; contained two
churches, a paper mill, and thirty houses. 2. Salem Center; a hamlet, the seat of the North
Salem Academy. 3. Purdy's Station; a station on the Harlem Railroad; contained two
churches and a small woolen factory. 4. Croton Falls; a station on the Harlem Railroad.

Ossining. — Population, (5,760. Local particulars: — 1. Sing Sing; an incorporated village;
population, about 5,300; contained four churches, the Mount Pleasant Academy, a female
seminary, and several other popular female schools. 2. Prospect Hill;8 a scattered settle-
ment on the southern border. 3. Spring Valley and 4. Sparta were hamlets.

Pelham. — Population, 1,025. Local particulars: — 1. Pelhamville; a newly surveyed village
and station on the New Haven Railroad. 2. Prospect Hill; a locality near the center of the
town. 3. Pelham Priory; the seat of a young ladies' seminary, "established by the late
Rev. Robert Bolton, and conducted by his daughters."

Poundridge. — Population, 1,471. Local particulars: — 1. Poundridge; a small settlement
with two churches. 2. Boretontown; a hamlet on the northern corner.

Rye. — Population, 4,447. Local particulars: — 1. Rye; population, about 300; a railroad
station, and contained three churches and a private seminary. 2. Milton; a hamlet, with one
church. 3. Ryebeach; " a place of resort during the hot season." 4. Port Chester; popula-
tion, 1,695; a railroad station, containing five churches, several private seminaries, and ex-

> For,,,

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592 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

tensive manufactories, which included a foundry, edge tool factory, tide gristmill, and a last
and shoe factory. 5. King Street; "a fine agricultural district, extending nearly seven miles
north of Port Chester." 0. Glenville; a hamlet on the Byram River.

Scarsdale. — Population, 548. Local particulars: — 1. Scarsdale; contained a church and a
few houses. 2. Scarsdale Station; a station on the Harlem Railroad.

Somers. — Population, 2,012. Local particulars: — 1. Somers; contained two churches, a
bank, and twenty houses. 2 Croton Falls; on the line of North Salem; a small village and
station on the Harlem Railroad; had a good water power. 3. West Somers; a hamlet.

Westchester. — Population, 4,250. Local particulars:— 1. Westchester; population, about
1,000. 2. Bronxdale; population, about 400; had an extensive tape factory and a dye and
bleach works. 3. Sclmylerville; population, about 300; a scattered village on Throgg's
Neck. 4. Integrity; near Bronxdale; had a tape factory. 5. Connersville, 6. Wakefield,°7.
Centreville, and 8. Unionport, were "modern villages." Fort Schuyler, at the extremity of
Throgg's Neck, was begun by the United States government in 1833, and was built to ac-
commodate 1,250 men and to mount 318 cannon.

West Farms. — Population, 7,098. Local particulars: — 1. West Farms; a "large village,"
containing four churches, a carpet factory, molding mill, and gristmill. 2. Fordham; a rail-
road station; contained four churches and Saint John's College.1 2. Tremont,3 3. Cen-
tral Morrisania, 4. Williams's Bridge, and 5. Fairmount, were "modern villages." 6.
Claremont; a small village on the line of Morrisania.

White Plains. — Population, 1,846. The only locality mentioned by French is White Plains
village, containing the "old and new county buildings, three churches, and several private
seminaries," and having a population of about 1,000.

Yonkers. — Population, 11,848. Local particulars: — 1. Yonkers; an incorporated village;
population in 1859, 0,800; contained nine churches, several private seminaries, two banks,
two newspaper offices, and various manufactories 2. Spuyten Duyvil; the seat of several
large foundries; inhabited chiefly by operatives. 3. Tuckahoe; a station on the Harlem Rail-
road; Hodgman's rubber goods manufactory employed about seventy -five hands. 4. Kings-
bridge. 5. Riverdale; "a group of villas, and a railroad station." 6. South Yonkers ; a post-
office.

Yorktown. — Population, 2,231. Local particulars: — 1. Crompond (Yorktown p. o.), 2.
Jefferson Valley, and 3. Shrub Oak, were hamlets. A rolling mill, wire factory, gristmill,
and sawmill had been erected two miles west of Croton dam.

Intense partisan feeling characterized the discussion of political
issues in Westchester County in the electoral campaign of 1860. At
that time the leading newspapers of the county were the Eastern
State Journal, of White Plains, the II i<ililan<l Ih mocrat, of Peekskill,
and the Yonkers Herald ; and all three were aggressively Democratic.
They took the election of Lincoln with very bad grace, and indeed
never became entirely reconciled to it or to the prosecution of the
war with the seceding States. Such a spirit in the County of West-
chester, which had always been on the conservative side politically,
was naturally to have been expected. It was a spirit conspicuously
manifest in the editorial conduct of very able newspapers in New
York City, which gave nearly thirty thousand majority against Lin-
coln. The dominant political party of the metropolis had always
been the dominant political party of Westchester County; and
opinions which had been insisted on and stood the test of popular

1 This institution of the Roman Catholic 2 Formerly Upper Morrisania, South Fordham,

Church was opened for students Juno 24, 1841, Adamsville, and Mount Hope
and incorporated April 10, 1*46.

from 1842 to 1900 593

appeal through all the rears of the slavery agitation were not to be
resigned when the long expected crisis arrived.

On the other hand, the sentiment in the county favorable to the
national policies for which Mr. Lincoln stood at the election of 1800
was, even in the conditions of mere partisan strife then obtaining,
not very seriously in the minority. There had been a remarkable
growth in this sentiment since the campaign of 1856. Fremont re-
ceived only 28.7 per cent, of the total vote in Westchester County,
but Lincoln's percentage was 45.5. Everywhere in the county the
Republican organization had most influential supporters. At' elec-
tions in the kk oil' " years it was formidable. In 1860 the most digni-
fied official position in this county, that of county judge, was occupied
by one of the leading Westchester Republicans, the lion. William H.
Robertson. Even the member of congress for the 9th district, which
included Westchester County, the lion. John B. Haskin, had been
elected mainly by Republican votes. Mr. Raskin's position was
unique. First chosen to congress as a Democrat in 1850, he became
disaffected toward the administration on account of President Bu-
chanan's extreme pro-slavery bias in dealing with questions arising
out of the organization of local government in Kansas. Consequently,
when up for re-election in 1S5S, the regular Democratic organization
repudiated him. lie ran nevertheless, receiving the support of the
Republicans and of Democrats who approved his course. The election
was bitterly contested, but he won by a small majority, and again
took his seat in congress as an avowed opponent of the Democratic
administration. " An incident in congress, of a startling nature, in
the early part of 1860, brings to notice the continued, determined,
and ardent part taken, after his re-election, by the representative of
Westchester County in the fulfillment of his duties. While address-
ing the house Mr. Haskin accidentally let fall from the breast pocket
of his coat a loaded revolver. On the question of the propriety of
carrying this weapon into the house, not only in congress, but among
his constituents and throughout the country, warmest discussions
followed. The explanation given was preparation for self-defense in
the unprotected neighborhood in Washington in which Mr. Haskin
resided, in which much lawlessness prevailed. Many years have
passed since this incident, but, taken in connection with the Rebellion
which soon followed, and the tragic and dastardly scenes in it, it
illustrates the dangers in public life at the time and the unflinching
determination of those called to mingle in the discussions introduc-
tory to the strife." x

Rev. W. S. Coffey in Scharf, i., 4SS.

BISTORT

ts which
- States faring on ?!

- z for 7a

_ - prompt
North, of t

- . - -

the su] " ■ -

merits - . -- -

■

- '

from 1842 to 1900 595

of various amounts. Mr. Waring therefore pledged his word that
this aid should be forthcoming, a pledge which he faithfully kept.
He was subsequently reimbursed by the town. The company left
Yonkers on the 25th of April, and was incorporated in the West-
chester Chasseurs. Its original officers were: captain, Charles IT.
Smith; lieutenant, Gardner S. Hawes; ensign, Romeyn Bogardus;
orderly sergeant, George Reynolds; sergeants, John C. Coates, Thomas
Ilill, and George Andrews; corporals, Edwin Cumberbeach, C. Wigo
French, Alfred Bowler, and W. J. Townsend.

Another village which gave an almost instantaneous response to
the president's appeal was Port Chester. It contributed a body
known as Company B of the 17th Infantry — the kk Westchester Chas-
seurs." This company consisted of seventy-eight officers and men.
Its officers were: captain, Nelson B. Bartram; 1st lieutenant, John
Tickers; 2d lieutenant, Charles Hilbert; 1st sergeant, James Fox;
sergeants, Thomas Beal, Louis Neething, and August Dittman; cor-
porals, William Crothers, John Beal, Joseph Beal, and Robert Magee.
The response of the Port Chester company was to the call for two
years' volunteers, and the men left on the 30th of April. Meantime
several patriotic citizens of the place joined in a " Union Defense
Committee," of which James H. Titus, a prominent Republican, was
president, and John E. Marshall, a prominent Democrat, was treas-
urer, having for its object to raise sufficient money to forward the
men to camp and to make weekly payments to such of their families
as required help during their absence.

The 17th Infantry, or Westchester Chasseurs, to which both these
first companies of Yonkers and Port Chester (together witn the volun-
teers from Westchester County) belonged, was a mixed organization,
including troops not only from our county, but from New York,
Rockland, Wayne, Wyoming, and Chenango Counties. The ladies
of Yonkers presented it with seven hundred havelocks. Captain Nel-
son B. Bartram, of Port Chester, ultimately became its lieutenant-
colonel. " It left for the seat of war June, 1861, and participated in
the siege of Yorktown and battles of Hanover Court House — where
it captured the first cannon taken from the enemy by the Army of
the Potomac, — Groveton (known as the second battle of Bull Run),
where it lost thirteen officers and 250 men, killed and wounded, An-
tietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. It was mustered out
in the spring of 1863 after two years' service, was immediately reor-
ganized for three years' service, ami took the field in September,
being the first of the thirty-nine old regiments to report for duty:"
The number of men lost by the regiment at the second Bull Run
was almost half the whole number who went into the battle.

590 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Mr. Frederick Wkittaker, author of the article on the Civil War
in Scharfs History, after giving the particulars of the organization
of the Port Chester company (he docs not mention the Yonkers com-
pany), says:

The Town of Cortlandt, almost at the same time, sent out sixty men, raised by Mr. Ben-
jamin R. Simpkins. For the want of the money that kept the Port Chester company to-
gether, tins tine body of young men became lost in the great City of New York, and drifted
into different regiments, so that not a man of the sixty was ever credited to the county, and
not a few of them returned home. Another party of sixteen went off to White Plains, under
the command of Mr. William M. Bleakly, of Verplanck's Point. On the roll of Company A,
27th Regiment, they appear as credited to Elmira, of all places in the world. Mr. Bleakly
afterwards became Captain Bleakly in the 27th, and was discharged in February, 18G2. The
company of Mr. Joseph J. Chambers is another instance of the same state of affairs; for,
though the men undoubtedly hailed from White Plains, they are likewise credited to Elmira,
their°captain being made lieutenant-colonel on the 21st of May. Yorktown also lost a great
number of men in the same way, no mention of them being found in the official records of the
two years' volunteers; and of other towns there is still less trace in any documents by which
official proof can be furnished of the facts. The whole history of the two years' volunteers,
in Westchester County, is one of men pressing their services on the government, which seemed
not to want them; and it cost more trouble, in the months of April and May, 1861, to get into
the army at all than it afterwards did to get out of the draft.

The 5th New York Volunteers, known as Colonel Duryea's Zouaves,
received a goodly number of Westchester County men, especially from
Yonkers. In this regiment Ralph E. Prime (afterward nominated by
the president to be brevet brigadier-general) was a captain. John
(1. Peene, another well-known citizen of Yonkers (subsequently
mayor of the city), was among the first to enlist.

The original demand for two-years' men was soon modified so as
to require a service of three years. From August 10 to November 15,
1861, the 4th New York Cavalry was mustered in, comprehending
three companies (B, C, and F) from Yonkers. The 5th Independent
Battery, mustered in November 8, 1861, included several privates
from Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and Peekskill, and in the 1st Regiment
Mounted Pities, mustered in all the way from August 31, 1861, to
September 0, 1862, there were volunteers from Tarrytown, Mount
Pleasant, and Harrison. "This," says Mr. Whittaker, ''concludes
the three years' volunteers in Westchester County as organizations
of whi(di the records are accessible in an official form," up to the
enlistment of the famous (itli New York Heavy Artillery.

The 6th New York Heavy Artillery was recruited obediently to a
call issued by the president in 1S62 for 300,000 volunteers for three
years. Governor Morgan appointed a union defense committee1 for

1 The iiM i

libers of tl

lis CO

mmittee were:

of Peeksk

ill: Go

iuverneur Morris, of Morris

William 11.

Robertson, (

if Kat

onab; Hezekiab

ania; Govj

iverneu

r Kemble, of Cold Spring

I>. Robertso

n. of Bedioi

•d; Cli

auneey M. Do-

(Putnam <

lounty)

: Lewis G. Morris, of Ford-

pew. of IV,

■kskill- Edw

.ml F

. Shonnard, of

bam; Mos

es G.

Leonard, of Rockland Lake

Yonkers: .7,

>] 1 1 1 .lay. of

Bcdf

ord; Tames A.

(Rockland

Count;

y); Saxton Smith, of Saxton

Hamilton, i

-f Dobbs F<

■m '

riiomas Nelson,

Valley (I'll

tnain

County); Silas D. (afford, of

from 1842 to 1900 597

the 8th senatorial district — then comprising the Counties of West-
chester, Rockland, and Putnam — which proceeded to raise the troops
required to make up the quota of the district. " It began its
work by promptly effecting the organization of an infantry regi-
ment of ten full companies of more than one hundred men each,
enlisted to serve for three years, which was designated by the au-
thorities of the State of New York as the 135th New York Volunteer
Infantry, and was named by the committee the Anthony Wayne
Guard." The original line officers were:

Company A. (Peekskill): Captain A. A. Crookston, Lieutenants Ceorge W. Smith and
Richard M. Gilleo.

Company B. (White Plains): Captain F. W. Anderson, Lieutenants Thomas W. Dick and
Horton R. Piatt.

Company C. (West Farms): Captain B. B. Valentine, Lieutenants James Smith and Georee
C. Kibbe.

Company D. (Somersj: Captain Eward Jones, Lieutenants W. S. Scribner and Piatt
Benedict.

Company E. (Port Chester): Captain C. H. Palmer, Lieutenants W. T. Morse and Ford-
ham Morris.

Company F. ( Yonkers) : Captain Edmund Y. Morris, Lieutenants Samuel Bassett and Henry
A. Chadeayne.

Company G. (Carmel, Putnam County) : Captain Webster Smith, Lieutenants Stephen
Baker and Charles F. Hazen.

Company H. (Morrisania) : Captain H. B. Hall (wounded), Lieutenants David Harmel
(mortally wounded) and Gouverneur Morris, Jr.

Company I. (Sing Sing): Captain Clark Peck, Lieutenants Charles C. Hyatt and J. H.
Ashton.

Company K. (Nyack, Rockland County): Captain Wilson Defendorf, Lieutenants John
Davidson and Frederic Shonnard, of Yonkers.

The villages mentioned in this list were the places where the
various companies were raised. Absolutely every township of the
county, and probably every hamlet, was represented among the
volunteers. It was distinctively a Westchester County regiment.
Yonkers was the headquarters of the enlisting officers. The regi-
ment Mas first assembled there about the end of August, 1862, and
it was mustered into the United States service on the 2d of Septem-
ber. Pending the appointment of field officers, Lewis G. Morris acted
as provisional colonel. The position of colonel was tendered to
Thomas Arden, a graduate of West Point, but he declined it. There-
upon Captain William Hopkins Morris, also a West Point graduate,
was made colonel. He had previously been an officer in active service
in the Army of the Potomac. Colonel Morris subsequently rose to
the grades of brigadier-general and brevet major-general of United

Morrisania; Munson I. Lockwood, of White Christie, of Nyack (Rockland County); John B.

Plains: Robert H. Ludlow, of Westchester; Wandle, of Piermont (Rockland County); An-

Jobn W. Mills, of White Plains: Chauncey R. drew E. Suffern, of Haverstraw (Rockland

Weeks, of Carmel (Putnam County); Abraham County): Edward J. Straut, of Nanuet (Rock-

B. Conger, of Rockland (Rockland County'!: land County), and Daniel Tomkins, of Stony

William Bleakley, Jr., of Cortlandt; Aaron L. Point (Rockland County).

598 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

States volunteers. To General Morris belongs the honor of having
attained the highest rank awarded to any citizen of Westchester
County during the War of the Rebellion. The appointment of lieu-
tenant-colonel of the regiment was given to Captain Ralph E. Prime,
then of White Plains, now of Yonkers, a gallant officer of the 5th
New York Volunteers. But for various reasons Captain Prime did
not assume this command, and the lieutenant-colonelcy fell to Cap-
tain J. Howard Kitching, of Dobbs Ferry, an officer in the 2d New-
York Light Artillery. By the promotion of Colonel Morris to the
rank of brigadier-general, Kitching became colonel of the regiment
(April 11, 1863). He was at that time only twenty-live years old.
His services as commander of the regiment were most brilliant. At
the battle of Cedar Creek, August 19, 1801, he received a wound from
which he died at Dobbs Ferry on the 16th of January, 1865. He was
succeeded in the command of the regiment by Lieutenant-Colonel
George C. Kibbe, who was commissioned colonel
; :~ March 17, 1865.

Jl __ O Although instituted as an infantry organization,

M^^W this regiment took the name of the 6th New York

if.-JS\^^ '" Heavy Artillery. "Nevertheless, during its whole

•'■^^^idtt: three years of arduous service with the 8th Corps,

*f "_ ' "^v! v with the Army of the Potomac, with the Army of the
"' ,v , U:'j)ykA> -lames, and with Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah,
" Y& "' ~ it continued to serve as infantry. On and after De-
gex. wm. h. morris, cember 26, 1862, the regiment was sent to Harper's
Ferry in detachments. . . . After six months or more
of very varied service in the Shenandoah Valley with other troops,
guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, performing skirmishing,
scouting, and general outpost duties, the regiment formally joined
the Army of the Potomac during the Gettysburg campaign, becom-
ing part of French's 3d Corps, which was held in the neighborhood
of Frederick City as a reserve to protect Washington, by the orders
of the war department. The regiment, first with General Morris's
brigade of the 3d Division, 3d Army Corps, then with the reserve ar-
tillery, and afterward with Ayres's division of the 5th Corps, partici-
pated in all the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac from Gettys-
burg, in July, 1863, to August 13, 1861, in the siege of Petersburg,
including the Bristol Station, the Mine Run, and the great Grant
campaigns, and has probably the unique record of having served in
battle with every corps of the Army of the Potomac, with Sheridan's
Army in the Shenandoah, and with the Army of the James. . . .
The last time the regiment was under fire was in a brief engagement
at Bermuda Hundred, April 2, 1865. The original members were nius-

from 1S42 to 1900 599

tered out of the United States service June 27, 1865. The remainder,
with a battalion of the 10th New York Artillery, became the con-
solidated 6th New York Artillery." *

About a year before the termination of its period of enlistment
the regiment unanimously tendered its services to the government
for another term of three years. This offer was declined on the
ground that the men would probably not be needed.

The 6th New York Heavy Artillery is recognized by all writers on
the campaigns and battles of the Civil War as one of the great fight-
ing regiments. It is estimated that during its career of less than
three years the total number of men who fought in its ranks — the
great majority of them from Westchester County — was fully four
thousand. Its surviving members retain to this day a fraternal or-
ganization, which holds annual reunions.

Another regiment to which Westchester County largely contrib-
uted was the 16th New York Cavalry, better known as the Sprague
Light Cavalry, mustered into the service between June and October,
1863. Companies K, L, and M of this organization consisted mostly
of men hailing from the Towns of Mount Pleasant, Yonkers, Green-
burgh, and White Plains.

No attempt can be made in the present work to embody a com-
plete or even a measurably thorough record of the contributions of
organized bodies of men by the different localities of our county to
the armies of the United States during the Rebellion. A previous
writer on this phase of the comity's history stales that in entering
upon his undertaking — which specially involved the satisfaction
of local readers — he had it in view to make a complete compilation,
but found that impracticable, ik while an incomplete one might give
just offense to men whose names would be unavoidably left out from
lack of information." ~ In a comprehensive history of the county con-
fined to reasonable limits it is of course out of the question to in-
troduce a precise record by localities, and none other would meet
the requirements of any formal treatment of the subject.

Several painstaking local historians of the county have carefully
calculated the total enlistments iu their respective townships, adding
other exact particulars of much interest.

Yorktown, according to the Rev. W. J. Gumming, " sent out approx-
imately 281 soldiers." He has been able to identify the regiments
to which 133 of these men were attached: they were nineteen in num-
ber, the 6th New York Heavy Artillery leading with 56. It is not
known in what regiments the remainder of the enlisting men from

Yonkers in the Rebellion.

600 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Yorktown — constituting a majority of the whole number — served.
This is a specimen case. In the hrst months of the war it was com-
paratively an easy matter to raise recruits, but as the struggle pro-
gressed bounties had to be paid aud drafts resorted to. " In accord-
ance with a resolution adopted at a town meeting held on September
23, 1803, a system of mutual insurance, as it were, agaiust draft, was
established, which provided that every person enrolled as liable to
military service who should pay into a common fund the sum of $30
should be entitled, if drafted, to receive from the town the sum of
$300 to procure a substitute or pay the government for his exemp
tion." Agreeably to this plan the bonds of the town were issued at
various times, according to the quotas required from the town under
different calls. " The total sum expended in Yorktown for volun-
teers was $87,745, and by the town itself, exclusive of the help re-
ceived by the State, . . . f 66,445." :

Mr. Charles E. Culver, the historian of Somers, gives the names
and dates of enlistment of sixty soldiers from that township, dis-
tributed among seventeen regiments. In addition to these, he says,
(here were twenty-three substitutes enlisted and twenty-five others
were enlisted from other places for the town. kk Every burial place
in the town contains the headstones of some of our soldiers." One
of the heroic dead of Somers was Major Edward Jones, of the 6th
New York Heavy Artillery, who fell at Cedar Creek. The amount
required to be paid in Somers for what Mr. Cumming styles the in-
surance against draft was only $25.2 In the Town of North Salem
Mr. Culver finds thirty-five records of enlistment.''

Mr. George Thatcher Smith, in his contribution to Scharfs His-
tory on the Town of Poundridge, presents a variety of interesting
particulars. At the election of 1860 there were only 328 votes cast
in the township, yvt " before the close of the war 94 residents had
enlisted in the army and three in the navy," there being also ten re-
enlistments; and in addition about thirty-six non-residents were pro-
cured by the supervisors as substitutes. The really remarkable cir-
cumstance is stated that of the ninety-seven residents who went to
the war sixty-one were shoemakers, only twenty-eight being farmers.
A payment of $10 sufficed in Poundridge to exempt from draft. The
total indebtedness incurred by the township on account of the war
was $35,280.4

In New Castle, says Barrett, the war debt amounted to about
$48,000,5 and in North Castle to $50,000.6 lie gives the names of 161
soldiers (including eleven colored men) from North Castle.

" P,ve," says the able historian of that town (the late Rev. C. W.

1 Scharf, ii., 452. - Ibid., ii., 477. 3 Ibid., ii., 502. ' Ibid., ii., 568. 5 Ibid., ii., 619. '; Ibid., ii., 635.

prom 1842 to 1900

601

Baird), kk furnished from the opening of the Rebellion about 350 men
for the war. Of these, 126 were residents of the town and wore volun-
teers under the first call; 138 enlisted under Governor Morgan's proc-
lamation of August 13, 1802; one man was drafted; forty-one sub-
stitutes were provided, and forty-five recruits obtained. The town
responded promptly to every call made for troops, either by national
or by State government, and provided bountifully for the families
of those who went forth to sustain the honor of the country. It is
supposed that in addition to the numbers already stated, as many
as fifty persons from the town enlisted in Connecticut regiments." ]
From Harrison, accord-
ing to Mr. Baird's re-
searches, there were
altogether 168 enlist-
ments.- ( hily one of the
Harrison men died from
a bullet wound — cer-
tainly a curious and
probably an unparal-
leled fact in view of
their considerable num-
ber.

Throughout the war,
in spite of the Y(kry
hearty responses of our
citizens to the numer-
ous calls for troops, the
majority of the people
of Westchester County

continued in sympathy with the prevailing political sentiment of New
York City. The three leading Democratic newspapers were so em-
phatic in their expressions that the grand jury of Westchester County,
in August, 1861, brought in a presentment against them. The follow-
ing is a portion of this interesting document:

The Yonkers Herald, Highland Democrat, and Eastern State Journal have, from the time of
the issue of the president's proclamation, immediately after the tiring on Fort Sumter, stead-
ily treated the war which has followed, in the extracts and articles they have published, as
an unholy and partisan war, unjustly commenced and prosecuted by the administration. In
so doing it has evidently been their purpose to consolidate a party by the aid of whose op-
position and influence they might prevent enlistments and retard the successful prosecution of
the war.

The grand jurors therefore invoke the attention of the district attorney of this county to
the prosecution of the editors and proprietors named if hereafter, after this public notice of
their evil course, they should persist in thus continuing to give aid and comfort to the enemies
of the government.

1 Ibid., ii., 681. 2 Ibid., II., 718.

602 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

No prosecutions resulted, and indeed the admonition thus given
had little effect upon the editorial attitude of the newspapers con-
cerned.

At the election of 1SG2, when Horatio Seymour was chosen gov-
ernor, Westchester County gave 7,866 votes for the Democratic State
ticket and 5,556 for the Republican, showing a Democratic gain in
plurality of more than a thousand votes since the election of 1860.

During the celebrated draft riots of 1803 in Now York City there
wore various sympathetic disturbances in Westchester County, which
are recorded with particularity by Mr. Frederick Whittaker in
Scharf's History. On the 14th of July — the second day of the
New York riots — " crowds visited the enrolling offices of Morrisania
and West Farms, tore up the enrolling lists, destroyed the telegraph
offices at Williams's Bridge and Melrose, ripped up some rails on
the New Haven and Harlem roads near the Bronx River, had pickets
on both roads as far as Mount Vernon to signal when a general at-
tempt to tear up tracks might be safe, but were quieted in Morrisania
and West Farms by appeals made by Supervisor Cauldwell and Mr.
Pierre G. Talman." On the 15th kt the Hudson River train was
stopped at Yonkers, the rails having been torn up between that
place and the city, so that the Canadian mail had to be taken to
New York on the boat. The citizens of Yonkers formed two com-
panies of Home Guards to keep property and life safe, but there was
no serious disturbance. The arsenal was guarded day and night.
At Tarrytown a guard was also formed, and procured a cannon to
overawe the mob, so that all was peaceful along the Hudson River."
A mob from the marble quarries at Tuckahoe marched to Mount
Vernon, with the avowed purpose of "burning down the houses of
all the Republicans in the place." They contented themselves, how-
ever, with noisy demonstrations and stone throwing. On the even-
ing of the 15th a large public meeting was held in the town hall at
Tremont. It was under the auspices mainly of influential citizens
of Democratic antecedents, who, whilst deprecating violence, were
strongly opposed to the draft on grounds of public policy, and hence
were in position to make their recommendations respected by the
excited populace. The principal speaker was Mr. John B. Haskin.
This meeting was instrumental in calming the passions of the time.

The vote of the county for president in 1861 stood: George B. Mc-
Clellan (Dem.), 9,353; Abraham Lincoln (Rep.), 7,593. In 1868 the
vote for Horatio Seymour (Dem.) was 11,067, and for Ulysses S.
Grant (Rep.) 9,641.

Between 1860 and 1865 only one new village was incorporated —

prom 1842 to 1900 603

that of Morrisania (1864). A notable event of this period was the
organization of the Woodlawn Cemetery in December, 18(13. The
improvement of the grounds was commenced in April. 1804, and the
first interment was made January 14, 1805.

The war interfered seriously with the growth of population in
Westchester County. In 1805 the total population was 101,197, a
gain of only 1,700 over 1800. The Milage and Township of Yonkers
had a combined population of 11,049, being considerably in advance
of that of any other political division of the county except the Town
of Morrisania. In 1805 the total number of people living in the por-
tion of the county which now constitutes the Borough of the Bronx
was about 20,000.

The Village of White Plains was incorporated by an act passed
April 3, 1800. The first officers of the village were: president, John
Swinburne; clerk, John M. Rowell; trustees, Gilbert S. Lyon, Edward
Sleath, II. P. Kowell, J. P. Jenkins, J. W. Mills, and Harvey Groot.

In 180)8 (May 14) Port Chester received a village charter. This
place was originally called Saw Pit. kk That very inelegant name,'"
says Baird, tk had its origin in the fact that a spot on Lyon's Point,
now part of the Village of Port Chester, was occupied in ancient'
times for the building of boats." The present name was adopted in
1837. Port Chester's growth has been rapid, owing to the develop-
ment of its manufacturing industries, and, with the exception of
New Rochelle, it is now the largest community of Westchester County
on the Sound.

During the decade 1800-70 two men who, with the late Judge
Robertson, are probably to be regarded as the most representative
public characters of Westchester County birth and antecedents in
our generation — Chauncey M. Depew and James W. Husted, — entered
political life. Mr. Depew, born in Peekskill in 1834, began the prac-
tice of law in his native village in 1859, and in 1801 was elected mem-
ber of the assembly on the Union Republican ticket from the 3d
assembly district. He was re-elected in 1802, and in 1803 was elected
secretary of state. In 1807 he was appointed county clerk of West-
chester County to fill a vacancy, but declined the office. His career
since then has been one of great prominence and usefulness in varied
connections; and probably no other American of our times has be-
come more widely known or enjoys a higher or more distinguished pop-
ularity. Mr. Husted (born in Bedford, October 31, 1833) was a class-
mate of Mr. Depew's at college, studied law with Edward Wells at
Peekskill, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. Although elected
school commissioner of the 3d district of Westchester County in 1859,
it was not until eleven years later that he began his phenomenal

604

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

career in the assembly. Meantime, however, he held important ap-
pointive positions under the State government. " He was first elected
a member of the assembly in 1869, to represent the 3d assembly dis-
trict of this county, and he continued being elected and re-elected
to the latter office up to and including the year of his death [1892];
serving from 1869 to 1878 from this county, 1879-80 from Rockland
County, and again in 1881 and 1883 to 1892 from this county. He

■ ;,>"

was speaker of the assembly in the years 1874, '76, '78, '86, '87, and '90.
lie had a longer legislative experience than any other man in the his-
tory of theState — twenty-two years; he also had the distinction of hav-
ing been speaker more times than any other man."1 He was only once
defeated as a candidate for the assembly — in 1882, by John Hoag.
In 18G8 John Thompson Hoffman, a native of Westchester County,

Smith's Manual of Westchest

from 1812 to 1900 605

was elected governor of the State. He was a son of Dr. A. K. Thomp-
son, of Sing Sing, and was born in that village on the 10th of Jan-
nary, 1828. After completing his general education he studied law,
was admitted to the bar, and engaged in the practice of law in New
York City. He soon became prominent both in his profession and
in politics. He served two terms as governor, being re-elected in
1870. It was unfortunate for him that his career in the executive
office was coincident with the Tweed Ring exposures, which involved
much criticism of his political affiliations with Tammany. Upon
the completion of his second term he retired from public life. He
died on the 24th of March, 1888.

Eighteen hundred and seventy was the last census year in which
Westchester County retained the bounds established for it under
the original county act of 1083. The population in 1870, by town-
ships and villages, was as follows:

TOWNS

Bedford

POPULATION
3,f>!>7

. . 11,694

Peekskill Village

Verplanck Village

Eastchester

Central Mount Vernon Village
East Mount Vernon Village. .

7,41)1

6,560
1,500

150

500

2,700

1,200

Greenburgh

Harrison

10,790

787

1,601

1,483

19,609

Mount Pleasant

Beekmantown Village

5,210

2.152

2,206

New Rochelle

3,915

New Rochelle Village

North Castle .

1,996

1,754

7,798

279

4,696

Pelham

1,790

Poundridge

1,194

Rve.

7,150

Port Chester Village

Soniers

Westchester

West Farms

1,721

3,797

6,015

9,372

1 71

Clairmont "

1 58

5( 18

Fordham

2,151

Monterey "

Mount Eden '•

118

11(1

606 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

TOWNS POPULATION

West Farms — Continued

Mount Hope Village 487

Tremont " 2,025

West Finns " 1,701

Williams's

Bridge « , 144

Woodstock " , 307

White Plains 2,030

Yonkers 18,357

Yonkers Village 12,733

Yorktown 2,035

Total 131,348

The steady growth of Yonkers had long foreshadowed the conver-
sion of that village into a city, and after the census enumeration of
1870 the important change began to be agitated. The legislative
act creating the City of Yonkers was passed on the 1st of June, 1872,
and received Governor Hoffman's signature the same day. By this
measure the whole of the former Township of Yonkers, excepting
a strip at its southern extremity, was incorporated in the new city.
The southern strip excluded from the city limits extended from
Spuyten Duyvil Creek to a point on the Hudson beginning at " the
northerly line of the land belonging to the Sisters of Charity, known
as Mount Saint Vincent de Paul," which line was continued east-
ward along specified bounds to the Bronx River. The portion of the
ancient territory of Yonkers thus reserved continued, however, to
belong to Yonkers Township until the 16th of December, 1S72, when
it was set off by the board of supervisors as a separate township,
receiving the name of the Town of Kingsbridge. The City of Yonkers
has preserved to the present day the exact limits appointed to it
by the act of 1872. It has an area of seventeen and one-half square
miles.

At the first election held for city officers, Mr. James C. Courter and
Mr. Robert P. Getty were, respectively, the Democratic and Repub-
lican candidates. Mr. Courter received a majority.1 John F. Bren-
nan, E. L. Seger, Albert Keeler, William MacFarlane, Ethan Flagg,
II. L. Garrison, Henry R. Hicks, and Z. H. Brower were chosen alder-
men. " When the city was incorporated," says Allison, tk it had no
asphalt avenues and streets, no waterworks to supply water for do-
mestic use, for power, and for extinguishing fires, no system of sewers,
no firebells, no electric fire-alarm, and no electric lights. There were
no steam cars running to Getty Square, no street cars." Prom the

1 Mayors of the City of Yonkers to the present Samuel Swift: 1884-86. William G. Stahlnecker;

time: 1872-74, James C. Courter; 1874-76, Joseph 1S86-90, J. Harvey Bell; 1890-92. James Mill-

Masten; 1876-78, William A. Gibson; 1878-80, ward: 1892-94. James II. Weller; 1896-98. John

Joseph Masten; 1s,nii-nl'. Norton P. Otis; 1882 S4, G. Peene; 1S9S-1900, Leslie Sutherland.

from 1842 to 1900 607

first the seat of the city government was the Philipse Manor House,
which in 18G8 had been purchased by the village from its owner,
Judge William W. Wood worth.

The presidential campaign of 1872 is ever memorable as the one
in which Horace Greeley, the great editor of the New York Tribune,
ran against General Grant. Mr. Greeley was for some twenty years
a citizen of Westchester County. He was one of the early incomers
from New York City after the opening of the railways. In the sum-
mer of 1850 he lived with his family on the Todd Bailey estate in
the Town of North Salem.1 We have seen that during the same year
he took a very prominent part in the steps which led to the settle-
ment of Mount Vernon. In 1851 he purchased a farm of seventy-five
acres at Chappaqua in the Town of New Castle. Unlike most other
prominent New Yorkers who came to Westchester County to live,
Mr. Greeley sought a strictly rural abode without any of the acces-
sories of aristocratic pretension. He wished to be a plain farmer,
and to prosecute agricultural pursuits in a perfectly serious way.
His purposes in moving to Chappaqua were thus eloquently expressed
in an address delivered before the Indiana Agricultural Society in
1853: "As for me, long tossed on the stormiest waves of doubtful
conflict and arduous endeavor, I have begun to feel, since the shades
of forty years fell upon me, the weary, tempest-driven voyager's long-
ing for land, the wanderer's yearning for the hamlet where in child-
hood he nestled by his mother's knee, and was soothed to sleep on
her breast. The sober down-hill of life dispels many illusions, while
it develops or strengthens within us the attachment, perhaps long
smothered or overlaid, for ' that dear hut, our home.' And so I,
in the sober afternoon of life, when its sun, if not high, is still warm,
have bought a few acres of land in the broad, still country, and, bear-
ing thither my household treasures, have resolved to steal from the
city's labors and anxieties at least one day in each week, wherein
to revive as a farmer the memories of my childhood's humble home.
And already I realize that the experiment can not cost so much as
it is worth. Already I find in that day's quiet an antidote and a solace
for the feverish, festering cares of the weeks which environ it. Al-
ready my brook murmurs a soothing even-song to my burning, throb-
bing brain; and my trees, gently stirred by the fresh breezes, whisper
to my spirit something of their own quiet strength and patient trust
in God. And thus do I faintly realize, though but for a brief and
flitting day, the serene joy which shall irradiate the farmer's voca-
tion, when a fuller and truer education shall have refined and
chastened his animal cravings, and when science shall have endowed

1 Scharf, ii.. 515.

608 HISTORY OP WESTCHESTER COUNTY

him with her treasures, redeeming labor from drudgery while quad-
rupling its efficiency, and crowning with beauty and plenty our boun-
teous, beneficent Earth."

Mr. Greeley was accustomed to come up to Chappaqua Saturday
morning, returning to the city Sunday morning. He converted the
place into a model farm, and his celebrated book, kt What I Know
About Farming," was the result of his experiences in developing his
Chappaqua land. " It was his custom," says Barrett, in his His-
tory of the Town of New Castle, "always to vote, both at general
and local elections, and it was usual for him to spend the whole day
at the polls when the election was important, discussing public ques-
tions with those who would gather about him for that purpose."
He retired to his farm toward the close of the presidential canvass,
and there, worn out by his exertions and sorely afflicted by the fatal
illness of his wife, received the news of his crushing defeat. lie died
on the 29th of November, 1872, at the residence of Dr. Choate, several
miles distant from his home. The Chappaqua farm ultimately be-
came the property of his daughter, Gabrielle, now the wife of the
Rev. F. M. Clendenin, of Westchester.

Westchester County gave Greeley 11.112 votes, against 10,223
for General Grant.

The advisability of annexing a portion of Westchester County to
the City of New York began to receive some consideration many years
before the formal annexation movement was inaugurated. As early
as 1864 it was proposed to combine the Towns of Morrisania and West
Farms under a special city charter, but owing to opposition on the
part of land owners in West Farms the idea was abandoned. Morris-
ania, however, received in that year a village charter, which " con-
ferred upon the trustees nearly all the powers of a city corporation
without the incidental expenses; and this act enabled the town au-
thorities to pioneer annexation by proceeding to make such improve-
ments in streets and highways as were demanded by an increasing
population flowing in from below the Harlem River." About the
same time some new cross streets were indicated in the sections
adjacent to the Harlem River, and were numbered in continuation
of the streets below the river— a proceeding significant of the general
belief in the early upward expansion of the city.

In an article on the history of the annexation movement, Mr. Will-
iam Cauldwell, one of the fathers of that movement, says:

"The first positive move in the legislature toward annexation was
in the year 1869, when Mr. Cornelius Corson, then a resident of Mount
Vernon, Westchester County, and a close adherent to what was
known as the Tweed regime, having prepared a bill providing for

■MHMH^

from 1842 to 1900 609

the annexation of the Towns of Morrisania, West Farms, Westchester,
and Mount Vernon to the City of New York, had notice of such pro-
posed bill given by the late Senator Genet. I had the honor at the
time of representing, among other localities, the Westchester towns
in the State senate, and regarding it as an act of discourtesy that
such a move should have been made without consultation, and with-
out the request of my immediate constituents, on the spur of the
moment I arose in my place in the senate and gave notice that I
would, at some future time, present a ' bill to annex the City of New
York to the Town of Morrisania.' This sarcasm hit the nail on the
head, and nothing further was heard of the Corson bill; for soon
thereafter the adherents <»f the Tweed liing got to quarreling and
battering each other's heads, and the combination was utterly de-
stroyed." 1

The earliest definite measure looking to annexation was the action
of the legislature at the
time of the passage of [
the Y o n k e r s c i t y
charter, June 1, 1872,
in excluding from the
territory of the < !ity of
Yonkers all that por- *
tion of the old Town of
Yonkers lying below i
Mount Saint Vincent.
This exclusion was
clearly with a view to
reserving the section ^v't'v^
thus cut off for subse-
quent incorporation in
the City of New York. On December 1(5, 1872, a further step in the
same direction was taken by the erection of the excised strip into a
new ''town" called Kingsbridge. Meantime the annexation enter-
prise had been fairly launched. In the autumn of 1872 some of the
principal property-owners of Morrisania and West Farms held con-
ferences, which resulted in the preparation of an annexation bill by
Samuel E. Lyon, a well-known lawyer. The bill was introduced in
the assembly early in 1873 by William Herring, representative from
the 1st district of Westchester County. " The city authorities," says
Mr. Cauldwell, " did not take kindly to the project of annexation,
and the animosity then existing between the department of public
works and the department of public parks nearly throttled the bill

1 The Great North Side (published by the North Side Board of Trade. 1S97), 22.

! i rj s i Hoi j

SAINT JOHN S COLLEGE, FORDHAM.

•

from 1842 to 1900

611

existence. Its annual meetings are held on the 28th of October, the
anniversary of the battle of White Plains.

In 187b two distinguished New Yorkers of Westchester County
antecedents were candidates for president of the United States —
Samuel J. Til den and Peter Cooper.

Mr. Tilden several years previously had become a resident of
Yonkers by purchasing from Mr. John T. Waring the magnificent
Greystone estate. This continued to be his country home for the
remainder of his life, aud he died there on the 4th of August, 1880.
One of his last public appearance's was on the occasion of the dedi-
cation of the new monument to the captors of Andre at Tarry town,
September 23, 1880. He was the presiding officer. His Greystone
estate is now the property of Mr.

Samuel Unterinyer, the prominent .dt^SSR^fc.

New York lawyer. Westchester JP" 'H^

County gave Mr. Tilden, at the elec- w~ AJ^

tiou of 1870, 12,050 votes, a majority ^0 igj fc|<

of 2,17b over Mr. Hayes, his principal I ^ **pw

opponent. ( 3&^ lj

Peter Cooper, in his boyhood, lived
in Peekskill, where his father con- \=^\^fi>

ducted a small beer brewery. Fie sQiS^ ->

went to New York City at the age of JmjFjr^ ""'

seventeen to seek his fortune, and was /w^m 4^' ~~7- jfl

not subsequently, to our knowledge, / .Jr Wm

connected with our county. 7 ^'- J[ If

Six new villages were incorporated / Zr' /
between 1870 and 1880 — Tarrytown

(1870), Irvington (1872), Dobbs samuel j. tilden.

Ferry (1873), Mount Kisco (1875),

North Tarrytown (1875), and Hastings (1879). It is noteworthy that
four of these places belonged to the Town of Greenburgh, while a
fifth was located on its borders.

Population of Westchester County in 1880:

towns POPULATION

Bedford 3>731

Mount Kisco Village 728

Cortlandt 12>664

Peekskill Village ^ M93

Eastchester 8'737

Mount Vernon Milage ^ 4,686

Greenburgh 8,934

Tarrytown Village 3,025

Harrison 1,494

Lewisboro l,bl-

612 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

POPULATION

2,684

TOWNS

Mamaroneck !'8^3

Mount Pleasant 5'450

North Tarrytown Village

New Castle 2>297

New Rochelle °>276

North Castle i'818

North Salem 1>693

Ossining 8>769

Sing Sing Village 6>578

Pelham 2>5^

Poundridge 1'°^

6,576

Rye

Port Chester Village

Scarsdale 61f

Somers 1'639

Westchester °>78J

White Plains 4>094

White Plains Village

18,892

2,481

: 5,254

2,381

Yonkers City
Yorktown. .

Total 108>988

The loss of population as compared with 1870 was the consequence
of the transfer of the three Towns of Morrisania, West Farms, and
Kingsbridge to the jurisdiction of New York City. The population
of these three towns in 1880 was 42,898, a growth of about 10,000
since 1870.

From 1880 to 1882 the governor of New York was the Hon. Alonzo
B. Cornell, a descendant of Thomas Cornell, the grantee of Cornell's
Neck (1645), and a son of Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell Uni-
versity. Governor Cornell has at various times been a resident of
this county.

in the sensational transactions in national politics which began
with the nomination and election of James A. Garfield to the presi-
dency in 1880, Judge William II. Robertson, of our county, was a
conspicuous figure." The nomination of Garfield by the Republican
national convention was a compromise between the faction which
favored Mr. Blaine and that which, under the leadership of Roscot
Colliding, urged a third term for General Grant. At the Republican
State convention held to select delegates to the national convention
Conkling had overcome all opposition and secured the choice of a
delegation bound by the unit rule. Judge Robertson, however, with
several other friends of Blaine, undertook to dispute the Colliding
supremacy and break the unit rule. The determined spirit thus
shown by an element of the party in New York was one of the in-
strumentalities which prevented Conkling from forcing Grant's
nomination and led to the selection of Garfield. After Garfield's

FROM 1842 TO 1900

613

inauguration one of his first acts was the appointment of Judge
Robertson as collector of the port of New York. This gave mortal
offense to Mr. Conkling, and impelled him to resign his scat in the
United States senate and appeal to his New York constituents for
vindication — a proceeding in which he was joined by his colleague,
Mr. Piatt. Hence resulted the bitter feeling which first caused a
lunatic to assassinate the president, and subsequently brought the

WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON.

Democratic party back to power. Judge Robertson's part in the
political strife of those memorable times has been reviewed with
great fairness and discrimination in a public address by the Hon.
Chauncey M. Depew.1

In theVear 1880 works for increasing New York City's water supply
from Westchester County were commenced, which are still in prog-
ress; for although the new Croton Aqueduct was completed in 1891,

1 See Smith's Manual of Westchester County, 95.

614 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

the great dam, which is to convert the present Croton Lake into a
body eleven miles long', is not yet finished.

Complaints about the insufficiency of the old aqueduct began to
be expressed as early as 1875, but the city officials were slow to
embark upon the necessarily elaborate and costly enterprise required
— a new aqueduct from the Croton River. In 1880, however, the
ancient project to obtain a supply from the Bronx watershed and
the Rye Ponds was revived, leading to the construction of the so-
called Bronx River Conduit from the dam near Kensico Station to
the receiving reservoir at Williams's Bridge. This work was con-
cluded in 1881. The quantity of water thus provided, however,
afforded only incidental relief, and it was recognized that a grand
new aqueduct was indispensable. On the 1st of June, 1883. the legis-
lature authorized the construction of the necessary works, and on
the 21th of June, 1891, the second aqueduct was finished and turned
over to the department of public works of New York City. Since
1888 the building of subsidiary basins and reservoirs in Westchester
and Putnam Counties has been steadily prosecuted. It was originally
proposed to construct the new Croton Dam at Quaker Bridge, but
that plan was abandoned, and in August, 1892, the contract was
awarded for the Cornell Dam, now approaching completion, about
a mile and a half above the Quaker Bridge site. No fewer than
seven of the townships of Westchester County have made extensive
contributions of land for the purposes of the new works, involving
the extinction of several settlements. On this point a recent writer
says :

"The additional land required for the construction of theNewCroton
Reseiwoir has been taken from the Towns of Cortlandt, Yorktown,
New Castle, Bedford, Somers, Lewisboro, aud North Salem, in West-
chester County, covering an area of 0,398.244 acres. From the Town
of Cortlandt, 752.654 acres were taken; from the Town of Yorktown,
1,752.932 acres were taken; from the Town of New Castle, 151.697
acres; from the Town of Bedford, 801.860 acres; from the Town of
Lewisboro, 850.23(5 acres; from the Town of North Salem, 351.823
acres; from the Town of Somers, 1,925.012 acres, making a total of
6,398.211 acres. Takings, under provisions of Chapter 490 of the
Laws of 1883, were commenced in the years 1892, 1891, 1895, and 1897.
" Many attractive residence localities in the territory taken will
soon be, if not so already, among the things of the past. What was
known as the Village of Katonah, in the Town of Bedford, has be-
come extinct, and is now only a matter of history; its buildings,
appraised and sold by order of New York City, have vanished; many
of the frame dwellings and business structures were removed, intact,

from 1842 to 1900 615

one mile distant south to the new settlement where old residents
of Katonah are establishing new homes and a new resident village,
to be known as New Katonah. Whitlockville and Wood's Bridge,
also in the Town of Bedford, will pass out as did old Katonah, and
its people will find habitations elsewhere. The thriving locality of
Purdy Station, or a greater part thereof, shares the fate of Katonah,
and will lie in peace hereafter as a part of the bed of the new reser-
voir; Purdy Station, within the Township of North Salem, and Pine's
Bridge, in the Town of Yorktown, lying close to the borders of Croton
Lake, attractive and popular as a summer resort, and famous as the
scene of numerous hard-fought and exciting political conventions,
held in the interest of all parties, likewise will be submerged. Croton
Falls, in the Town of North Salem, will contribute a portion of its
territory, a section lying near and just west of the Harlem Railroad
station. A tribute has also been laid upon Golden' s Bridge, in the
Town of Lewisboro, and it will relinquish a portion of its land, near
the railroad station. The Huntersville section of the Town of Cort-
landt, well known to sportsmen, as it is famous for its excellent trout
brooks; the Quaker Meeting House locality, in the Town of New
Castle, the Wiremill Bridge, iu the Town of Cortlandt, and other
localities of historic interest, are among the places that will be ex-
tinguished and k go under with the Hood.'

« To give some idea of the amount of property recently acquired in
Westchester County for this reservoir, mention is made of the fact
that the distance around said property is seventy-five miles. Not
only handsome residences and choice building sites, but church
edifices and public school buildings, are among the property con-
demned. As might be expected, numerous cemeteries were found
located within the territory required and taken; at the expense of
the City of New York bodies were removed from these cemeteries
and re-interred elsewhere in accordance with the wishes of relatives
or friends. The old highways on the condemned land, taken by the
city, have been left open for public travel until such time as the city
shall substitute others, which right the city is now endeavoring to
obtain from property-owners." 1

The daily delivering capacities of the three aqueducts leading
through Westchester to New York City are, according to Wegman:
Old Croton Aqueduct, 95,000,000 gallons; Bronx River Conduit, 28,-
000,000 gallons; New Croton Aqueduct, 300,000,000 gallons— total,
425^000,000 gallons. With the completion of the works now in their
last stages, the supply obtainable by New York City from the Croton
watershed will be exhausted, and it will be necessary to seek new

1 Smith's Manual of Westchester County. 27.

616

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

supplies from other quarters. Already there is a demand for addi-
tional works. In the early part of 1900 great public- interest and
not a little bitter feeling- were excited by the action of the city au-
thorities in arranging with the so-called Ramapo Water Company
for a further supply on the basis of $70 per million gallons. The
Ramapo Company, a private corporation, proposed to bring water to
Now York from the west bank of the Hudson River, and had made
preparations toward securing a monopoly of rights in the section
whence it designed to draw its supply. The price which it proposed
charging for its water was deemed exorbitant — hence the public
indignation and the present defeat of the plan. On the other hand
it is the general opinion of experts that the city's water problem
will again become serious before many years pass by. According to

a report submitted to
Controller Coler in
May, 1900, embodying
a careful study of the
whole matter, the pres-
ent supply will safely
meet all demands for
live years to come, and
if proper measures are
taken to curtail the ex-
cessive waste of water
now prevalent, a period
of ten years of abun-
dance can reasonably
be calculated on; but
in either eventuality
(lie need of immediate steps to secure new supplies is insisted on.

The local water supply systems of the cities and principal villages
of Westchester County are entirely independent of the New York
City system. To Y'onkers belongs the credit of having been the first
community to erect waterworks of any dignified character. The
Yonkers water board was organized in 1873, the year after the in-
corporation of the city, and in 1874 steps were taken which resulted
in damming the Sprain and Grassy Sprain Brooks, the building of
an extremely creditable system of works, and the distribution of a
plentiful supply. Equally commendable enterprise in this particular
has been displayed by the other leading communities of the county.

The selection of Peekskill as the locality for the New York State
Military Camp was determined on by a military commission, acting
in behalf of the State government, in the spring of 1882. The need

:M-;*

\ i

if1!

SCKNE IN PEEKSKILL DURING THE BLIZZARD OF 1888.

from 1842 to 1900 617

of establishing an annual encampment for the national guard had
been impressed upon the attention of the authorities for several years,
but no definite action had been taken. In March, 1882, Governor
Cornell appointed a commission with instructions to make a thorough
investigation. Mr. James T. button, a public-spirited citizen of Peek-
skill, at once entered into communication with this body, and also
procured from the owners of the land on which the State Camp now
stands an option of purchase for three years. When the commis-
sioners visited Peekskill they at once recognized the unequaled ad-
vantages of the site suggested by Mr. Sutton, and on the 30th of
May they leased the ground for three years with the privilege of
purchase. The place was immediately prepared for occupation, and
on the 1st of July the 23d Regiment arrived and inaugurated the
camp. In April, 1885, the legislature appropriated $30,000 for the
purchase and improvement of the site, and shortly afterward the
purchase of the land, consisting of about a hundred acres, was con-
summated. The camp is situated on a plain one hundred feet above
the river, amid scenery of great beauty. The New York Central and
Hudson Eiver Railroad has a station at Roa Hook, and during the
camping season brings thousands of visitors to the spot.

An interesting event of the year 1882 was the Manor Hall celebra-
tion in the City of Yonkers. We have already noticed the purchase
of the Philipse Manor House by the municipal authorities in 18G8,
and its use as the seat of the local government. In 1877, during the
mayoralty of the Hon. William A. Gibson, resolutions (offered by
Frederic Shonnard) were adopted by the board of aldermen pro-
viding for the appointment of a permanent " committee on history
and historical relics," among whose members were to be four promi-
nent private citizens, and giving to this committee certain respon-
sibilities in connection with matters relating to the Manor Hall build-
ing and its grounds. This action was instrumental in stimulating
interest in the early history of Yonkers, and it was decided to hold a
grand celebration of the bicentennial of the founding of the Manor
House. The 18th of October, 1882, was selected as the date for the
important event. The resulting demonstration was the greatest in
the history of Yonkers. The oration was delivered by the Rev. Dr.
David Cole.1

In 1883 proceedings were begun on behalf of the City of New York
for the acquisition of land for new public parks in the " annexed
district," and also in territory at that time still belonging to West-
chester County. Up to that year the city had been very deficient in
park area, not fewer than five cities in the United States exceeding

i The Soldiers' Monument in front of Manor Hall was dedicated September 17, 1891.

",;#iim

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiii

i >4

»».;«

fit

S-:.!!:'!!!.,:;!- .ii!.!:-,'!F i ..;

-•

,iB^)Eg ~<mg&sm

FROM 1842 TO 1900 619

her in that respect, and many other small eities almost equaling
her. The movement for locating new parks on the north side of
the Harlem was started by some public spirited citizens of that sec-
tion, and on the 19th of April, 1883, the legislature passed an act
authorizing the appointment of commissioners to select park lands.
The commissioners appointed were Luther R. Marsh, Louis Fitz-
gerald, Waldo Ilutchins, 0. L. Tiffany, George W. McLean, Thomas
J. Crombie, and William W. Niles. As the outcome of their labors,
three great and three small parks were laid out, as follows: Pelham
Bay Park, 1,750 acres; Van Cortlandt Park, 1,131.35 acres; Bronx
Park, 661.60 acres; Crotona Park, 141.65 acres; Claremont Park, 38.05
acres; Saint Mary's Park, 28.70 acres— total, 3,757.35 acres. Van
Cortlandt Park was constructed mainly out of the ancient Van Cort-
landt estate of the Lower Yonkers. The city's purchase included
the historic mansion (erected by Frederick Van Cortlandt in 1748),
which was placed in the custody of the Colonial Dames of the State
of New York, and by them converted into a historical museum. Van
Cortlandt Park is now utilized for military reviews. Bronx Park
and Pelham Bay Park are noted for their diversified natural scenery,
and whatever improvements may be made in their grounds in the
course of time, they will doubtless always retain this distinctive
characteristic. Crotona Park, at the intersection of Third and Tre-
mont Avenues, is the seat of the tine municipal building of the
Borough of the Bronx.

No new village was incorporated in Westchester County between
1880 and 1890. The population of the county in 1890 was 146,772,
distributed as follows:

POPULATION
TOWNS

Bedford or-Q

Part of Katonah Village jj<°

Mount Kisco " bd2

n ,, n, 15,139

Cortlandt ft r„a

Peekskill Village J^TO

t- 1 i << . l.olo

\erplanck

Eastchester ' ' w 1 ,. aciri

Mount Vernon Village iU>8dU

Greenburgh „ .Rr,

Dobbs Ferry Village . ^jj

Hastings " v>'29g

I™^on " 3,562

Tarrytown "

Part of 9„„

White Plains "

rT . l,4o.)

Harrison 1 4.1 7

Lewisboro . ±(>

Part of Katonah Village ^ 14b

Mamaroneck

620 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

TOWNS
Mount Pleasant

POPULATION

5,847

3.179

2,110

9,057

1,475

i:v,\

Part of

Mount Kisco "

New Rochelle Village

North Castle

163

8,217

1,730

Sing- Sing Village

Pelhani

City Island

10,058

............ 3,941

9,352
1,206

830

Rye

9,477

5,274

G33

1,897

Westchester

10,029

Williams's Bridge Village

White Plains

4,508

1,685

Part of White Plains Village

3,819

Yonkers City

32,033

2,378

Total

146,772

The old Westchester County Towns of Morrisania, West Farms, and
Kingsbridge, annexed to New York City in 1874, had a population
in 1890 of 71,085 according to the federal census, and of 81,255 ac-
cording to the police enumeration.

In 1892 a State census was taken, which gave Westchester County
a total of 117,830, and the three annexed towns a total of 86,757.
Local enumerations in the cities and villages of the county were made
in 1898, whose1 results will be included at the end of this chapter.

The incorporation of the City of Mount Vernon was effected by
a legislative act passed March 12, 1892. At the first city election,
held in the succeeding May, Dr. Edward P. Brush was chosen mayor.1
By the organization of the city the old Town of Eastchester was dis-
membered— in fact, divided into two remotely separated parts, with
Mount Vernon lying betwixt them. The lower part of Eastchester
Town lias since been annexed to New York City. The development of
Mount Vernon in all municipal regards has been extremely rapid and
most creditable during the eight years of its existence as a city. There
is no doubt that its population has more than doubled since its incor-
poration.

1 Mayor Brush served for one term. He was is Edwin W. Fiske, who was first elected in
succeeded by Edson Lewis, who served from 189G, and re-elected in 1S9S and 1900.
1S94 to 1S96. The present mayor (August, 1900)

from 1842 to 1900 621

Iu 1802 the City of Yonkers still retained the primitive system of
milldanis which iu early times had been constructed to furnish
water-power to the local industries. These dams, forming stagnant
ponds in the Nepperhan River, which in the summer season were
quite pestilential, had come to be regarded by the general public as
a nuisance; yet the city officials had been loath to assume the respon-
sibility of summarily removing them. To the administration of
Mayor James H. Weller (1892-94) belongs the honor of instituting
the necessary proceedings and accomplishing the wholesome work.
Mayor Weller, finding it impossible to deal otherwise with the prob-
lem than summarily, and believing the dams to be a public nuisance
which should be abated by arbitrary methods in the absence of other
remedy, caused them to be torn down. It was a courageous act,
similar to the one of the
citizens of Westchester in
forcing open Macomb's
Dam in 1838. In the legal
processes that resulted the
mayor and city govern-

iiiciii were fulh sustained ^

by the courts. ~

In 1895 (June 1) the sec- £ -^A

ond and (up to the present _ j

time) last annexation of
Westchester County terri-
tory to New York City was I
made. This important an ^SBm "i
nexation was accomplished *v
mainly at the instance of
citizens of the Town of ^ ^
Westchester, who felt thai
the time had arrived when

their section ought to be chauncey m. depew.

brought within the city

limits and enjoy a measure of attention corresponding to that
o-iven to the districts west of the Bronx River. In addition to the
whole of Westchester Town, parts of Eastchester and Pelham (in-
cluding City Island) were embraced in the annexation act of 1895—
" all that territorv (to quote the words of the act) comprised within
the limits of the* Towns of Westchester, Eastchester, and Pelham
which has not been annexed to the City and County of New York
at the time of the passage of this act. which lies southerly of a

622 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

straight line drawn from the point where the northerly line of the
City of New York meets the center line of the Bronx River, to the
middle of the channel between Hunter's and Glen Islands, in Long-
Island Sound, and all that territory lying within the incorporated
limits of the Village of Wakefield, which lies northerly of said line,
with the inhabitants and estates therein."

The additional territory thus severed from the County of West-
chester and given to the City of New York comprehended about 14,500
acres, in which were some forty-five villages, islands, and other defi-
nitely named localities. The annexation included the sites of four
of the most ancient settlements of our county — Pelham Neck, West-
chester, Cornell's Neck (Clason's Point), and Eastchester.

The annexation of June 1, 1895, was really incidental to the
" Greater New York " project, which, although not yet brought to
its fruition, had passed the stage of agitation and seemed reasonably
certain to be soon carried to a successful issue. The popular refer-
endum on the Greater New York proposition occurred November G,
1894, the annexation question being submitted not only to the peo-
ple of Westchester, Eastchester, and Pelham Village, but also to
those of the City of Mount Vernon. In these several localities the
vote on the question of consolidation with New York City stood:
Mount Vernon, 873 for and 1,603 against; Eastchester, 374 for and
200 against; Westchester, 620 for and 621 against; Pelham Village,
251 for and 153 against. The large adverse majority in Mount Vernon
caused the advocates of the Greater New York programme to omit
that city from their calculations; but notwithstanding a majority
of one against consolidation in Westchester Town, there was no hesi-
tation in preparing to annex the other three localities interested.
The present City of New York, with its five Boroughs of Manhattan,
the Bronx, Richmond, Brooklyn, and Queens, came into official ex-
istence on the 1st of January, 1898.

In noticing the changed conditions which were brought to pass in
the former Towns of Morrisania, West Farms, and Kingsbridge after
their annexation to the city in 1874, it has been observed that for
many years their progress was not what had been hoped for by the
more sanguine promoters of the change. This comparatively un-
satisfactory state of things was felt to be largely due to neglect of
their local interests by the general city authorities. It finally be-
came the firm conviction of the public spirited citizens of the " North
Side " that the special concerns of their section ought to be under
the care of a separate department of the city government organized
and administered with exclusive reference to North Side circum-
stances and needs. In 1887 a movement was begun by property-

FROM 1842 TO 1900

623

owners' associations in behalf of such a reform, and in 1889 a bill
was submitted to the legislature which provided for the creation
of tk a department of street improvements of the 23d and 21th wards
of the City of New York." This measure did not pass, but the State
senate appointed a committee to make an investigation and report
as to the necessity of the proposed department. The reasons in favor
of the plan were ascertained to be so strong that in 1890 a law was
enacted creating the new department, which was to be under the
direction of a commissioner elected by the people of the two wards.
The act took effect on the 1st of January, 1891, the first incum-
bent of the position being Louis J. Heintz. He died in 1893, and

THE I'OE COTTAGE, FORDHAM.

was succeeded by Louis V. Haffen. With the inauguration of the
department of public improvements a new order of things obtained
in the North Side, and it presently began to be realized that the so-
styled " annexed district " was something more than an outlying
locality, and was in process of rapid transformation into an integral
part of the metropolis. When it is considered that the portion of
the present Borough of the Bronx west of the Bronx River nearly
equals Manhattan' Island in area, while the portion east of that
stream exceeds it, the difficulty of the problems to be dealt with in
building up the city on the North Side will be readily appreciated.
With regard to the district annexed in 1871, these problems have

624 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

already been largely solved, and the outcome arrived at, viewed in
its grand proportions, is not merely impressive from the circum-
stance of the material results accomplished, but is peculiarly satis-
fying in its esthetic aspects. New York City above the Harlem has
been laid out with pre-eminent good taste, and the greater public
works in that quarter have been characterized by breadth and gen-
erosity of conception and alacrity and thoroughness of execution.
One of the most valuable improvements of the last ten years, ap-
parent to anybody who makes a trip out of the city over the Harlem
road, is the depression of the tracks of that railway, so that from
the Harlem River to above Bedford Park it nowhere crosses a public
thoroughfare at grade. Magnificent avenues and parkways have been
opened, and there is now in process of construction a grand con-
course and boulevard which, when completed, will be the finest drive-
way in the world.

The most conspicuous public improvement connected with the his-
tory of the North Side is the Harlem Ship Canal, opened to commerce
on the 17th of June, 1895. After the tearing down of Macomb's Dam
by Lewis G. Morris and his companions in 1838, there was no renewed
attempt by private persons to obstruct the navigation of the Harlem
River. Attention was given at various times to the question of
dredging a navigable waterway through to the Hudson River, sur-
veys were made, and two Harlem Ship Canal companies, organized
by private capitalists, were incorporated. It was finally deemed ex-
pedient to undertake the work as a public enterprise, and the matter
was brought to the attention of congress, which in 1874 ordered
a government survey and in 1875 made the first appropriation. The
work was planned by General John Newton, best remembered for
his connection with the clearing of the Ilellgate channel. Tt was
carried to completion under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel
George L. Gillespie, of the United States army. At the time of the
opening of the canal, in 1895, 550.000 tons of rock had been removed,
102,000 cubic yards of earth excavated, 1,000,000 cubic yards of earth
and mud dredged, 5,000 cubic yards of retaining walls built, and
2,000,000 tons of dynamite exploded. The canal follows the course
of the Harlem River to near Kingsbridge, where it leaves the natural
waterway and passes through an open cut in the " Dyckman
Meadows" to its junction with Spuyten Duyvil ('reek. Additional
improvements have1 been prosecuted since 1895.

Much of the credit for the great progress made during the last
decade in the portion of New York City annexed from Westchester
County is due to the North Side Board of Trade, an organization in-
corporated in 1894 for the purposes of " diffusing information as to

from 1842 to 1900 625

the many advantages of the section as a business and commercial
center, as well as a district of homes; of attracting capital, manu-
facturing interests, and desirable residents; of promoting the devel-
opment and patronage of local business enterprise; of advancing
public improvements; and of encouraging public spirit and a local
community feeling."

At the first election under the Greater New York charter, held in
ISO", Mr. Louis F. Ilaft'en, the former efficient commissioner of the
department of street improvements, was chosen president of the
Borough of the Bronx. The following striking facts of progress in
the Borough of the Bronx are taken from a recent statement by Mr.
James L. Wells :

"The fact should be realized that in point of population the 23d
and 24th wards constitute the fourth largest city in the State, leav-
ing New York out, of course, and that, with the rapid transit road
to aid in development, it will be but a very few years until that
section will rank second in population to the aggregation of humanity
on Manhattan Island.

" If the increase of population continues proportionately in only
the same ratio as in the recent past, the population of that section
of the cin above the Harlem River should in 1910 be 330,000, in 1920
should be 660,000, and in 1930 may reasonably be expected to be
1,300,000; and that this growth will be attained when the proposed
rapid transit road is constructed is beyond question. And it need
not be feared that there is not territory enough for such a large popu-
lation. With the newly annexed territory the portion of the city
above the Harlem River is double the size of that below, and if you
can put two millions on Manhattan Island, there is surely ample room
for a million and a half in twice as much space.

-In 1874, when the original 2:5(1 and 24th wards were annexed to
New York, the total assessed value of the property was about $23,-
000,000. The total assessed value for the year 1896 was .fS<>,405,405.
The first large increase after 1S74 was in 1890, when the valuation
went up to |44,000,b00; but from 1890 to 1897 it ran up to $96,000,000
—more than doubling in seven years with the improved transpor-
tation facilities, while it required sixteen years for doubling prior
to the creation of such facilities. In ten years, when the rapid transit
road is built, the assessed value of the property in the city limits
north of the Harlem River will be $200,000,000."

In Westchester Countv proper there has been a steady and quite
uniform development during the last decade. The most noticeable
feature of this growth is, of course, the advance in population in
Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Pelham, and New Rochelle, along the New

626

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

York City line — an inevitable concomitant of the great strides made
in the annexed territory. A potent factor of the general improve-
ment in this section has been the introduction of trolley roads, afford-
ing quick transit and a practically universal " transfer " system. In
1894 the elevated railway established a uniform fare of five cents
from the Battery to the end of its suburban line at Tremont. This
produced a vast increase in the trans-Harlem traffic: in 1893, while
the ten-cent fare still prevailed, the suburban branch of the elevated
road carried 5,867,848 passengers, but in 1897, after a brief trial of
the five-cent rate, the number had increased to 11,145,134. Mean-

time electric cars were being substituted for horse cars throughout
the annexed territory, and also in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and New
Rochelle. In 1899 the culmination was reached by establishing «i
single five-cent fare from Yonkers to New Rochelle by way of Mount
Vernon, and from all these places to the Harlem River; and in ad-
dition the elevated railway instituted a transfer arrangement by
which trolley passengers were carried to the Battery, or elevated
passengers to Mount Vernon, Yonkers, and New Rochelle. for a total
of eight cents. This remarkable cheapening of fare for the long ride
is but an incident of general concessions to the public which leave

from 1842 to 1000 627

nothing to be desired except improvements in the service commen-
surate to the enormous growth in the trolley traffic.

The trolley is likewise exercising a peculiar developing influence
in the Hudson River municipalities, where the steepness of the ascent
from the railway and from the village centers to many of the resi-
dence localities has always been a hindrance to diversified progress.
Two trolley routes now cross the county: one from Yonkers through
Mount Vernon to New Rochelle, the other from Tarrytown through
White Plains to Mamaroneck.

Nine new villages have been incorporated during the present
decade: Pelham Manor and Larchmont in 1801, Mamaroneck in
1805, Pelham, North Pelham, and Ardsley in 1896, Pleasantville in
1897, and Bronxville and Croton in 1898.

This volume is issued before the appearance of the census returns
of 1000 for Westchester County proper. J In 1808, however, local enu-
merations were made in the villages of the couniy, with the following-
results in the incorporated places : ?

VILLAGES

POPULATION

New Rochelle (Town of New Rochelle) 12,297

Peekskill (Town of Cortlandt) 9,496

Sinn Sing (Town of Ossining) 8,160

White Plains (Town of White' Plains) 7,363

Port Chester (Town of Rye) 7>25 '

Tarrytown (Town of Greenbnrgh) 4,674

North Tarrytown (Town of Mount Pleasant) 4,011

Mamaroneck (Towns of Mamaroneck and Rye) 3,729

Dobbs Ferry (Town of Greenbnrgh) 2,840

Irving-ton (Town of Greenbnrgh) 2,013

Hastings (Town of Greenbnrgh) 1,712

Mount Kisco (Towns of Bedford and New Castle) 1,374

Croton (Town of Cortlandt) ] >'->44

Pleasantville (Town of Mount Pleasant) 1>181

Larchmont (Town of Mamaroneck) ' H

North Pelham (Town of Pelham) G27

Pelham Manor (Town of Pelham) 436

Bronxville (Town of Eastchester) 391

Ardsley (Town of Greenbnrgh) 3< 2

Pelham (Town of Pelham) U-

In the same year the estimated populations of the < ities of Yonkers
and Mount Vernon were, respectively, 40,000 and 23,000. Thus the
total urban population of the county in 1808, contained in two cities
and twenty incorporated villages, was about 133,000.

New Rochelle was incorporated as a city by an act of the legislature
of 1800, which received the governor's signature on the 24th day of
March. The first city election was held April 2r>, 1899, resulting in
the election of Michael J. Dillon (Democrat) as mayor, the other city

" i The population of the Borough of the = From Smith's Manual of Westchester

Bronx for 1! (official) is 200,507. County, 152,

028

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER C JTY

officers i-liust ii being : treasurer, -I Arthur I Inn gton; police justice,
John A. Van Zelni; assessors, Augustine Smii, \ 15. Brady, and 11.
\V. Tassler; aldermen ai large, Henry (\ Kuc i. Jacob llollwegs,
John Stephenson, John Kress, and Crank Ilolh : aldermen, William
II Xeilson, Koberl C Archer, John Grab, Civ: X. Griflen, II. A.
Siebrecht, Wr., and IVter Cunneeii; supervisor orge II. Crawford,
Jacob U. Wilkins, and I'eter Doern. The .ii overnmcnl was or-
ganized on the 28th of April following.

read

. i •• What."
._• ,:.r (if the
I lord, as

. p~„ ■ Rfathen-

,:i" read

. .,,1— the first
■:- city gov-

.vement at

GENERAL INDEX

Abbat
Acker

i. Willii
house,

mi. 478.
The 56S.

Action

at Tar

rytown, '

riic.

507.

Alexai

tder, Ja

mes, 241,

244,

248.

;, zo.

Ports Clinton and Montgomery, 433: rout of
Donop's yagers, 440; tin- Ward's House affair,
-142: ambuscade of the Stockbridge Indians at
Cortlandt's Ridge, 37. 442: the Babeoek's House
affair, 443: Burr's capture of the West Farms
Allison, C. E. (Rev.), 261, 329, 528, 538. 559, 582, blockhouse, 4)\; storming of Stony Point, 452:
"■- <ra Tarleton's raid on ['oundridge, 456; British at-

ompond, 458; Hopkins's fight with
(59: American descents on Morris-
Sastchester (17791. 459, 460; the
.use affair, 461; American attacks
ia (early in 1780), 462; Hull's raid on
January, 1781), 198; the surprise of
ene on the Croton, 500; the action
n (.July 15, 1781), 507; engagement
i of Rye (1781), 517: the surprise at
iuary, 1782), 517: American attacks
ia (1782), 518.
icholas, 168, 204, 205.
township and village), included in
haniel Turner's purchase (1640), 87;
n rnderhill's Indian fight, 101; set-
: a participant in the Rye Rebellion,
\y's residence at, 223. 545: burning
eton, 457: the court house at. 526;
iwn by the act of 1788, 532; the town
mes in 1860, 589; population at vari-
, 226, 539. 542, 577, 589, 605. 611. 619;
■reiices. 16. 26. 125, 233, 305, 311, 462,
589. 614.

Mrs. Gerard G. (Cornelia Van
427. 527. 530.

lliani. of the Youkers Land. 144.
rvey. sec Crosby, Enoch
onei. Expedition by. against Peek

louse. 427.

■k Tract. The. 156.

•ok, 11. 124.

Irian. 59.

the British snips on in.,.Mo„„,..,^ ...„., . Everardus, 88.

344; battle of Long Island, 346; first blood of the Bolton's ••History of Westchester County,"

Revolution in Westchester County, 348: battle 5N5.

of Harlem Plains, 350; affair at Randall's Island, Borough Town of Westchester, 229.

353; battle of Westchester Creek. 353, 365: en- Boston Post Road, 146, 195. 291.

gagement at Pelham (October IS, 1770), 375; at- Boundaries of Westchester County, 1, 6, 197.

tack on the Queen's Rangers at Mamaroneck, Boudary dispute, The. 120, 132, 136, 199.

382: engagement at Hart's Corners. 389; battle Boyce, Broni, 424.

of White Plains. 3N9: fall of Fort Washington, Boyd. Ebenezer (Captain), 468.

406; sieji-e of Fort Independence. 425; engage- Bridges. 5. 7, 55. 157. 213, 228, 399. 541, 542, 552.

inent near Peekskill (March, 1776). 427; fall of Bronck, Jonas. 87, 150.

(328 HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

officers chosen being: treasurer, J Arthur Huntington; police justice,
John A. Van Zelm; assessors, Augustine Smith. P. B. Brady, and II.
\V. Tassler; aldermen at large, Henry C. Kuchler, Jacob Hollwegs,
John Stephenson, John Kress, and Franh Holler; aldermen, William
II. Neilson, Robert C. Archer, John Grab, Ulric X. Griffen, II. A.
Siebrecht, Si-., and Peter Cunneen; supervisors, George 11. Crawford,
Jacob R. Willdns, and Peter Doern. The city government was or-
ganized on the 28th of April following.

ERRATA

Page vi, Chapter XXIV— for « concluded " read
" continued."

Page 296, first word— for "That" read " What."
Page 349, Mary Philipse was the daughter of the
second lord of the manor, and not of the third lord, asj
printed.

Page 501, and succeeding pages— for " Weathers- 1
field" read " Wethersfield."

Page 511, foot-note— for "Philip Freeman" reacj
" Philip Forman."

Pages 627, 623, City of New Rochelle— the firsi|
city election was held April 18, 1899, and the city gov'
ernment was organized April 25, 1899.

Page 638, top of second column— for " movement a
Crompond " read " monument at Crompond."

GENERAL INDEX

Abbatt. William. 478. Forts Clinton and Montgomery, 433: rout of
Acker house. The. 56S. Donop's yagers, 440; the Ward's House affair,
Action al Tarrytown, The, 507. 442: ambuscade of the Stockbridge Indians at
Alexander, James, 241. 244. 24s. Cortlandfs Ridge, 37. 442: the Babcock's House
Alipconr-k, 25. affair, 443: Burr's capture of the West Farms
Allison, C E. (Rev.), 261, 329. 528, 53s. 559, 582, blockhouse, 44S; storming of Stony Point, 452;
5S7, 606. Tarleton's raid on Poundridge, 456; British at-
Almshouse, The. 544. taeks on Orompond, 458; Hopkins's fight with
Amackassin, 106. Emmerick, 459: American descents on Morris-
Amerindian names in Westchester County, 45. ania and Eastchester (1779), 459. 460; the
Andre, Major. 454. 464-406. Youngs's House affair. 461; American attacks
Andre's Brook. 478. on Morrisania (early in 1780). 402; Hull's raid en
-Annabel Lee," 57o. Morrisania (January. 17S1), 40s: the surprise of
Annexation of a portion of North Salem to Colonel Greene on the Croton, 500; the action
Lewisboro, 532: of a portion of New Castle to at Tarrytown (July 15. 1781), 507: engagement
Somers, 533: of portions of Westchester County in the Town of Rye (1781), 517: the surprise at
to New York city. 608, 621. Orser's (January. 1782), 517; American attacks
Ann-Hoock, 27. 92, 115. on Morrisania (17s2i. 518.
Anthony's Nose. 2. 4. 8, 5.",. 310, 341. 415. Bayard, Nicholas. 168, 204, 205.
Appleby Island. 532. Bedford (township ami village), included in
Aqueducts, 0. 11. 548, 013. Captain Nathaniel Turner's purchase (1640), 87;
Archaeology of Westchester County. 20. Captain John Underbill's Indian fight, 101; set-
Archer. John. 13s. 144. tlement, 221: a participant in the Rye Rebellion,
Ardsley (incorporated village), 027. 222; John Jay's residence at. 223. 545: burning
Arnold. Benedict, 428, 464-496. of. !>> Tarleton. 457: the court house at. 520;

Astor, John Ji

■ated a town by the act of 17ss. 532: the town

Juist hi Williams (Major), 402. and its villages in I860. 580: population at vari-

Vverv Fi.hraim (Rev) 400 ous periods. 220. 530. 542. 577, 589. 605. 611. 619;

Babeo'ck, Luke (Rev.), 301, 302, -143. various references. 16. 20. 125. 233. .305. 311, 462.

Babcock's House affair. The, 442. 533, 539. 542. 580. 014.

Baird, C. W. (Rev.), 34. 124. 2n2. 215. 218. 221. Beekman, Mrs. Gerard G. (Cornelia Van

4iiii 444 517 601. Cortlandt), 427. 527. 53a.

Barbadoe's, 130, 150. Betts. William, of the Yonkers Land. 144.

Barrett Joseph 223 224. 420. 457. 600. Birch, Harvey, see Crosby. Enoch

Barretto Point, 5. Bird. Colonel, Expedition by. against Peek

Bartow. John (Rev.). 233, 203. skill. 420.

Battles and engagements:— Slaughter of In- Birdsali House. 427.
dians by Captain John Underbill in Bedford
101; battle of Golden Hill. 2S0; affair of the tire
ships. 341; attack by the American -alleys oi
the British ships off Tarrytown (August 4. 1770)

344: battle of Long Island. 340: first bl 1 of tin

Revolution in Westchester County. 348; battle 585.

of Harlem Plains. 350: affair at Randall's Island, Borough Town of Westchester. 229.

353; battle of Westchester Creek. 353. 365: en- Boston Post Road. 146. 195. 291.

gagemenl at Pelham (October lx. 1770). 375: at- Boundaries of Westchester County, 1. 6. 197.

tack on the Queen's Rangers at Mamaroneck, Herniary dispute. The. 120. 132, 136, 199.

382: engagement at Hart's Corners. 389; battle Boyce, Brom, 424.

of "White Plains 389; fall of Fort Washington, Boyd. Ebenezer (Captain), 468.

406- Siege of Fort Independence. 425; engage- Bridges. 5. 7, 55. 157. 213, 228, 399, 541. 542, 552.

me'nt near Peekskill (March, 1776). 427; fall of Bronck, Jonas. 87. 150.

I'.issiL
Blind
Block

htick Tract. Th
Brook, 11. 121.
Adrian. 59.

•, 156.

Bogai

dns. Everardus,

88.

Bolto

l's "History of

West

•ster County

630

GENERAL INDEX

I'..

)f th

2. 89. 95, 603, 623. 625,
Manor, Kingsbridge,
,-ni(l West Farms.

Morrisania, Westchester

Bronx Kills. -1.

Bronxland, 87, 142, 150.

Bronx Park. G19.

Bronx River, 5. 11. 89, 373, 3SS. 389. 506, 549.
550. 551. 553, 502, 567.

Bronx River Pipe Line. 11. 548, 014.

Bronxville (incorporated village), 590. 627.

Budd, John, of Bye. 124.

Budd's Neck, 124.

Burgoyue's expedition, 433.

Burr, Aaron, 419, 446. 549.

Byram Lake. 13.

Byram Point. 2.

Byram River, 11, 124, 200, 450.

Carleton, Sir Guy, 51S, 522.

Castle Philipse, 160, 162, 530.

Cauldwell, William, 602, 60S.

Cedar Tree Brook, 115, 129, 141.

Chappaqua, 16. 518, 591, 607. 620.

Chatterton's Hill. 388, 389, 393. 395. 506, 550.
Chenowith, Alexander C, 21. 42. 51.
Chevaux de frise at Port Washington, 351,
361, 373.
Christiansen, Henry, 59.
City Island, 6. 174, 352, 532, 620, 621.
(Mason's Point, 5.
"Clermont," The, 538.
Clinton, De Witt (Colonel), 548. 550.
Clinton. George (Governor), 345. 372. 388, 401.
429, 434. 525.

Clinton, Henry (Sir), 389, 43.°.. 439, 451. 454, 463.
512, 51S.

Clinton, James (General), 375, 401, 434, 474.

Cobbling Stone, The. 15.

Cockoo, the Indian interpreter, 127.

Coo, John, of Bye. 124.

Coffey, W. S., Rev., 282, 581. 593.

Colden, Cadwallader, 29, 273. 281.

Colo. David (Rev.), 57. 146. 161, 255. 561, 617.

Colon Donck, 105.

Coles's Bridge, 541.

Collect. The, 90.

Commit! in Correspondence, 287, 292, 297.

Committee to Detect Conspiracies, 327.

Continental Bridge, 399, 156.

Continental Village, 415. 127, 436.

Cooper, James Fenimore, 177. 420, 462, 567.

Cooper, Peter, 611.

Cornell, Alonzo B.. 94, 612.

Cornell, Ezra, 94, 548.

Cornell. Thomas. 93.

Cornell's Neck, 5. 93, 116, 138, 228. 275. 622.
Cornwallis, Lord. 399.
Corsa, Andrew. 424, 509.

Cortlandt (township), created a town by the
act of 1788. 532: the town and its villages in
1860, 589; population at various periods, 533, 539,
542, 577, 589, 605, 611, 619; Other references, 170,
269, 614.

Cortlandt Manor. 157. 168, 226. 268. 305. 338, 527.
Cortlandt own. 466.

Cortlandtville, 415.

Cortlandt's Ridge, Battle at. 37. 442.

Couch. Franklin, 4i'.4.

County commit! .f 1775, .-.05.

County convention of 1774. 293; of 1775, 300.

Court houses. 198. 335. 402, 526, 5S7.

Cowboys. The. 417.

Crompond. 158, 469. 501, 516. 520.

Cronkhites, The. 167.

Crosby. Enoch, 177, 420.

Cross River, 9.

Croton (incorporated village), 466, 590, 627.

Croton Aqueducts, 518. 613.

Croton Bay. 9.

Croton Falls, 474, 547, 562. 591.

Croton Point. 15. 137, 166, 422. 456, 467. 477, 505.

Croton River, 9, 107. 350. 399, 500. 550, 552.

Culver. Charles P.. 16, 424, 600.

dimming, William J. (Rev.), 197, 599.

1 tankers. Jasper, 73, 158.

Davenport's Neck, 5, 37*.

David's Island. 6.

Davids. William. 424.

Dawson. Henry I!.. 287, 317, 319, 323, 324, 310,
315, 364, 373, 376. 377. 3SS, 393. 394.

Dean, John, 447. 470. 47N.

Declaration of Independence proclaimed at
White Plains. 336.

De Grasse, Count. 501, 503. 510. 513. 516.

De Kay. Jacobus, 167.

He Lancey. Edward P.. 65. 68, 137. 175, 181, 1S5.
269. 383.

De Lancey, James (Governor), 182, 241. 264.

De Lancey. James I Lieutenant-Colonel), 266,
2S9, 112. 461. 462. 500. 504. 517. 51S.

Do Lancey, John Peter. 181, 266.

Do Lancey. Peter. 230, 206. 2S3.

De Lancey, Stephen, 266. 269.

De Lancey Cove. 5.

De Lancey family. 13d. 168. 264.

De Lancey Point, 5.

Do Lancey Town, 527.

Do Lancey's Mills, 448.

Deinont, William. 404.

Depew. Chauncey M.. 495, 522. 596, 603, 613.

Do Peyster. 168, 223. 536.

Dermer, Captain Thomas. Voyage of through
Long Island Sound. 67.

])<■ Tries. Margaret Hardenbroek, 158.
Disbrow. Peter, of Bye, 124. 127.

Dobbs Perry (incorporated village), occupation
by Howe's army. 400; junction of the American
and French armies. 506; battery at (1781), 50S;
the departure for the Yorktown campaign, 516;
concerning the meeting of Washington and Sir
Guy Carleton, 522; the village in 1860, 590: incor-
poration. Oil : various references. 3, 25. 156, 160,
344, 351, 403, 410. 428. 440. 450, 465. 466, 477. 510,
514. 519, 520, 619, 627.

Dongan, Governor, 1. 166, 173.
Doughty, Elias, 98. 144.
Douglass, Major, 552.
Draft Riots. The, 602.
Drake, Joseph Rodman, 567.

GENERAL INDEX 631

Duer, Willian

. Letters on tlie military situa-

tion, 359. 368, 31

.).

Duke's Laws.

The, 126.

Duke's Trees.

The. 202.

Dumas. Coun

Duryea's Zou

ives'. r,:«.;'

Dutch East I

idia company. 55, 58.

i Hitch wars \

-itli tlie Indian-. 33, 96.

Dutch West

mlia Company. CI. 196.

Dwight, Timi

thy (Dim. 118.

Dyckinan, Al

rahain. 424, 462, 518.

Dyckman, Mi

diael. 424. 51S.

Eastchester i

ownshipi. purchase of lands by

Connecticut mi

n from Thomas Pell. 139; sup-

port given to L

•isler. 2ns: designated as a par-

ish. 233: the el

.,-tion on the green (1733), 243:

created a town

by the act of 1788, 532; settle-

lUellt of Menu

the City of Mi

unt Vernon. 620; annexation of

a portion to N

•w York. 621; population at va-

rious periods. 2

26. 533, 539. 577, 590. 605. 611, 619;

■es. 1. 298. 305, 323. 125, 112. 460.

Eastchester I

lay. 5, 375.

Eastchester

'reek. 11. 144.

Eastern Stat<

Journal, The. 565, 592. 601.

East Patent.

The. 1S3

Edsall, Samu

■\. vs. 150.

Edsall, Thorn

is H., 145.

Election of 17

.;:;. 243; of I860. 588, 592.

Emmerick, I

ieutenant-Colouel, 112. 443. 45S,

rh army in Westchester Countj

's Xeck. see Throgg's Neck.

m. Robert, 53s.

ace Brook, 9.

iws Hill. 132. 474.

lcral Jackson." Tim. 563.

igv of Westchester County. 13.

lolden Hill- Battle of. 2S0.
lolden's Bridge, 122. 590, 614.
; rahain, Robert (Dr.), 335, 429.

Iravelly P.i k. 113. 129. 141.

Ireeley. Horace, 579, 607.

ireonburgh (township), created a town by
■ act of 17ss. 531: the town and its villages
I860, 590; population at various periods. 533,
'. 512. 577. 590, 605, Oil. 619; other references,
. 459. 599.

Evarts. J

till

■s. of East*

Fairfield
Faneuil,

Pet

tin.), 115, 1
•r. 251.

■■Farmer

W.." 2S9. :

Farmers'

idge, The.

11 . 3

542.

Ferry, Verveelen's, 142. 146; f

1(17: from live to oyster Baj

Do!, l,s Ferry and King's Fen

(irei

ne. Christopher (Colonel), 500.

(irei

ne. Nathaniel (General), 405.

1 Ifei

nwieh (Conn.), S7, 90. 100, 124, 125.

137

Hai

is. Godfrey, of Rye. 314.

Hal.

. Nathan, 494.

■Ha

If Moon." The. 27, 53.

Hah

ey House. The, 535.

Han
Han

iltoii. Alexander. 387, 390, 394, 438, 466
ilton. Andrew, 249.

549

Han

ll.ir
liar

iver, 527.

em Plains. Battle of. 350.

em River, 4. 310. 540. 554. 557.

Har

isoii (township), original purchasi

mis

by Peter Disbrow and others. 124:

pur

Fireships. 1

base by John Harrison and others. 215: created

: town by the act of 17SS, 532: the town in

860, 590; population at various periods. 533.

IS w- 539, 577. 590, 605. 611, 010: other references, 182,

274. 325. 527. 60

George J.. 543. 576. Harrison. John. 215.

Major, oho. Harrison, Katherine, 228.

Hart Ish

Flanagan, Betty, 102.
Fordham (ancient settlement), 1. 145.

Fordham (station). 547. 569. Haskin. John P.. 593. 602.

Fordham Manor, 113, 117. 531. 570. 606. Haslet,' Colonel, :>2. 389.

Forfeiture. Commissioners of. 52s. Hastings (ancient village on the Sound), 125.

Forman. General David. 511. 513. Hastings-ou-the-Hudson (incorporated vil-

Fort Clinton. 110. 125. 434. ].,-ei. :«4. 590. OIL 619, 627.

Fori independence (Kingsbridge), 310, 321, 351. Haverstraw Pay. 3.

381, 3X0. 405. 412. Hawley. Thomas (Rev.), of Ridgefield, 225.

Fort Independence (Peekskill), 415. Haydeii, William, of Eastchester. 141.

Fort Lafavette, 415. 410. 451. 156. Heath. General, 351. 353. 365, 375, 381, 395. 401.

Fort Lee. 310, 4H7. 107. 409, 415. 425. 452. 455. 400. 101. 402. 500, 517. 520.

Fort Lookout, 415. Heathcote, Caleb. 130, 17s. 217. 230, 231. 354.

Fort Montgomery, 410. 431. Heathcote Hill. 181.

Fort Schuyler, 5. 592. Heermans, Augustine, 158.

Fort Washington, 31a. 351. 372, 386, 400, 4n4. Hellgate, 4. 59, 6S.

Fox Meadows. The. 180, 129. Henly, Major. Death of. 353.

Fowler, Judge Jonathan, 301, 302, 315. ••Henry Clay." The. 586.

(532 GENERAL INDEX

Hessians, Engagements with in Westchester 106: attack on Fort Washington from. 406; stra-
Count'v, 377. 386, 387, 3S9, 440. tegic importance, 412; Heath's siege of Fort In-

High Bridge, 10, 557. dependence, 425: Washington's purposed attack

Highland Democrat, The. 592, 601. on (17S1), 504; Macomb's tide mill, 541; set off

Highland Patent, The Great, 258. from Yonkers as a town, 606; annexed to New

Highlands of the Hudson, 2. 310, 401, 41 i, 415. York, 609; various references. 5. 74, 113, 144. 156,
42S. 433, 438, 517. 350, 372, 380, 381, 386, 417. 418, 432, 438, 442, 508,

Hoffman, John T., 604. 543.

Holmes. Elisha, 423. King's Kerry. 2. 310, 409, 436, 439, 451, 463, 504,

Holmes, James (Colonel), of Bedford, 300, 305, 519; see also Verplanck's Poinl and Stony Point.
311, 457. Kiiinioiitt. Luther, 424. 457.

II h'ounds, The. 221. Kiseo River, 9.

Hopkins's tight with Emmerich, 459. Kitchawangs, an Indian tribe, 26.

Horton, Joseph, 183. Knapp's Corners, 544.

Horton's Pond, 388. Knyphausen, General, 378, 386, 388, 406, 440,

Howe. Robert (General), 455. 464. 488.

Howe. William (General Sin. arrival in New Krankhyte Patent, The. 167.

York Bay, 339; landing on Throgg's Neck. 365; Lafayette, .Marquis de, 474. 497. 535, 542.

movement from Throgg's Neck to Pelham Neck, Lake Mahopac, 9.

375; movement to New Koch. die and Scarsdale, Lake Mohegau, 13, 485.

37S; movement from Scarsdale to White Plains. Lake Waccabuc, 12.

389; conduct after the battle of White Plains. Larchmonl (incorporated village), 130, 027.

397; retirement to Dobbs Perry ami Fort Wash- Larchmonl Harbor, 6.

ington. 4(H). 403. La slier. Colonel. 381, 3S6.

Hudson. Henry, 27. 53. Lauzun, Duke de, 504.

Hudson River, 2. 310, 357. 361, 538. 503.
Huggeford, Peter (Dr.), 327, 531.
Huguenots. 174.

Hull, William. 393, 117, 151. 498.
Hunt, Josiah, of Westchester, 230.
Hunt. Thomas, of West Farms. 150.
Hunter's Island. 6.
Hunt's Point. 5.
Hurlbut, George (Captain), 508.
Hasted. James W. (General), 495. 603.
Hutchinson, Anne, 89.
Hutchinson River. 5. 11. 89, 140. 376.
incorporated villages, 540. 542. 544, 581. 582. 584.
585. 602, 603, 'ill. 627.
Indian Hill, 34.

Indian Names in Westchester County, 45.
Indians of Westchester County. 17-50.
Intemperance of the Indians. 40.
[nwood, Relics found at, 21. 51.
Irving. Washington, 161, 117. 127. 410. 15::. 463,
5oii. 525. 508.

Irvington (incorporated village), 156. 590. Gil.
619, 627.
Jameson. John (Lieutenant-Colonel), 172. 482.
Jay. Augustus, 171. 274. 201.
Jay. John (Chief Justice), 171. 223, 260, 291, 303,
325. 327. 332. 337. 421, 42S. 429. 138. 522. 535. 545.
Jay. John (Hon.), 546, 596.
Jay. Peter. 223, 291.
Jay. Peter Augustus, 545.
Jay. William (Judge). 545. lagei. purchase of by Richbell, 126: settlement,

Jervis. J. P.., 553, 571. 176: first encounter of the Revolution mi West-

Jessup, Edward, of West Farms, 150. Chester soil. 348: occupation by the Queen's

Katonah, 26. 27. 183. 221. 589, 614. 619. 382; creation of the town by the act of 1788.

Keskeskeck. Purchase of. 84. 532: James Fenimore Cooper's residence in. 567:

Kidd, William. 212. 454. incorporation of the village 627: population at

Kingsbridge (village ami former townshipl, various periods, 22.1. 533. 539, 577, 590. 605, 612,

fortification of. 308, 309, 341, 351: spiking of the 619; other references, 176, 182, 233, 264, 298. 316,

guns, 323; General Knyphausen encamps at, 323, 360, 400, 527. 590, 627.

I Charle

* (General), 323, 371

, 385, 387, 401,

7. 439. 453,.

Leggett. Ha

briel, of West Fat

ms, 150.

Leggett, Jol

n. 229.

Leggett, W

ilia in. 572.

Leisler, Jac

Lenni Lena

ib, 174. 204. 229.

Lent. Hercl

les. 167.

Leslie. Hen

■ral. 300.

Lewis, Join

, 532.

Lewisboro

township), this nai

ie substituted

.r South Sal

•in (18401, 532: popu

lation at vari-

is periods, 5

13, 530. 577, 590. 605.

611. 619: other

■ferences, V
Linooln. (J,

0, 225. 269. 614.
neral. 423, 504.

Lockwood,

Ebenezer, of Poum

ridge. 320. 325.

Long Islam

. Battle of, 346.

Long Islam

Sound. Discovery <

f, 59.

Low. C. P.

529.

Low. Isaac

287.

Lower Part

y. The. 417.

Lower Sal

■111. see Lewisbot

o and South

Ludlow (Y<

nkersl, 505.

MacCregor,

Hugh. 166.

Macomb's I

lam, 540, 554.

McDougall,

General, 390. 426.

438.

Magaw, Co

one!, 404.

Mamaronei

k (township and it

corporated vil-

GENERAL INDEX

633

Mamaroneck Harbor, 6, 368.
Mamaroneck River, 11, 137.
Manhattan Island, purchase of, 30; origin of
the name. 39; settlement, 71.

Manors of Westchester County, General ob-
servations mi, 185; sec also Cortlandt Manor,
Fordham Manor, Morrisania Manor. Pelham
Manor, Philipseburgh Manor, and Scarsdale
Manor.
Manussing Island. 124.
Martling, Isaac (Sergeant), 459.

Mather, YVaiiiam (Rev.), 233.

Matteawan Mountains, 7.

Merritt's Tavern. Engagement near. 517.

Mianus River. 11, 101.

Michaelius, Jonas, on the Indian character,
28.

Middle Patent, The. 183.

Mile Square, The, 144. 37:;. 377. 406, 156.

.Mills. Richard. Petition of to Governor Stuy-
vesant, 120.

Minerals of Westchester County, 15.

Mohansic Lake. 13.

Mohawk Indians, 21.

Mohican Indians. 21.

Mompesson, Roger, 221.

Montgomery, Richard (General), 321.

Morris. Fordham. 232. 351. 540, 556. 597.

Morris, Gouverneur, 254. 305, 306, 307, 308, 311,
327, 336, 337, 429. 534. 566.

Morris. Lewis, of Barbadoes, 150.

Morris. Lewis (Chief-Justice), 151. 154. 230, 235.

Morris. Lewis. Jr. (son of the chief-justice),
230, 253.

Morris, Lewis, signer of the Declaration of
Independence, 293. 297. 29S, 299, 300, 301, 303, 333.
336, 429. 525, 534. 541.

Morris, Lewis <;.. 556. 596.

Morris. Richard (Captain), 150.

Morris, Richard (Chief-Justice), 327. 429.

Morris. Roger, 25s, 349.

Morris, William H. (General), 597.

Morrisania (former township and village), tor
rible deeds by the British. 103; Hull's raid
(January, 1781), 498; American attacks on (1782),
518; evacuation of Westchester County by the
British i May 14. 1782). 525; created a town by
the act of 1788. but restored to Westchester
in 1791, 531; set off from West Farms (1S55), 585:
incorporation of Morrisania village, 603: an-
nexation to New York. 610; population at vari-
ous periods, 226. 591. 605: various references.
425. 461). 462, 565, 591, 597, 602.

Morrisania Manor. 154. 228, 235, 253, 527, 576.
Mount Kisco (incorporated village), 589. 591.
611. 619. 620. 627.

Mount Pleasant (township), created a town
by the act of 1788, 532: Ossining set off from,
575: the town and its villages in 1860, 591: popu-
lation at various periods, 533, 539. 542. 577, 591,
605, 612. 620: other references, 160. 544, 599.
Mount Saint Vincent. 6, 582.
Mount Vernon, sett lenient. 579: village in-
corporation, 581: The village in 1860. 590; incor-
porated as a city. 620; votes against annexation

New V,

•fere

Munro, Peter J., 130, 564.
Munro's Neck, 130.
Muscoot River, 9.
Xappeckamack, 47, 56.

106, 443, 50

416, 446.

514, 561,

New Amsterdam, 108.

Xew Castle (township), set off as a town
from North Castle (1791), 532; population at
various periods. 539, 577, 591. 605. 612. 620; other
references, 129, 600, 614.

New Netherland. 61. 69.

■• New Netherland." The, 71.

New Netherland Company, 61

New Rochelle (township, village, and city),
settlement, 174 • Howe's movement to. and
landing of General Knyphausen, 378; the farm
granted to Thomas Paine. 531: created a town
by the act of 1781, 532: incorporation of I lie
village, 584: the town and its villages in 1860,
591- incorporation of the city, 628; population
at various periods. 226. 533. 539. 577, 584. 591. 605,
012. 620. 627; various references, 29.8. 425. 527,

Newspapers. Early, 565.

Nimham. 24. 27. 37.

Norse Theory. The. 51.

North Castle (township). North Castle Indian

tirem'ent to the North Castle Hills. 397: General
Lee's encampment, 401, 4t)7; burning of houses
by Tarleton. 457: created a town by the act of
1788, 532: New Castle set off from (1791). 532;
population at various periods, 533, 539, 577, 591.
605, 612. 620; various references. 87, 125. 214, 305,
472, 482. 516. 527.

North Pelham (incorporated village), 627.

North Riding on the Main. The, 136.

North River. The. 70.

North Salem township), created a town by
the act of 1788. 532: population at various
periods. 533. 539. 578. 591. 605. 612. 620: various
references. 15. 170. 225. 266. 269. 470. 600. 614.

North Side Board of Trad.'. 624.

North Tarrytown (incorporated village), 611.

oak Point. 5.

Oblenus's Ford. 500.

Oblong. The. 201, 225, 527.

Odell Mansion. The, 507.

O'Neale. Hugh. 113. 114.

oostdorp, 116.

Orser's. The surprise at, 517.

ossining (township), set off as a town from
Mount Pleasant (1845). 575: population at vari-
ous periods, 578, 591. 605. 612, 620.

Oyster Bay (Long Island). 126. 131, 218.

Paine, Thomas. 531.

Palisades. 4. 13.

Papirinemen. 25. 113. 145, 146. 156. 157.

(534

GENERAL INDEX

Parks in the Annexed Districts. 617.

Parsons, Samuel H. (General), 389, 420. 474.

Patents (see also Purchases and Settle-
ments) :— to John Throckmorton, 92; to Thomas
Cornell. 93; to Adrian Van der Donck, 106; to
Hush O'Neale and wife, 113: to John Richbell,
129: to Westchester Town. 138, 228. 229; to
William Willett, 139; to John Archer of Fordham
Manor. 147; to Edward Jessup and John Rich-
ardson, 150; to Colonel Lewis .Morris (of Barba-
does), 152: to Frederick Philipse, 158: to Rich-
ard Abrainsen and others. 167; to Stephanus
Van Cortlandt. 168; to John Pell. 173; to Caleb
Heathcote, ISO, 183; to John Harrison and
others. 215; to Joseph Budd and others (White
Plains), 219: to the people of Bedford, 222: to
Roger Mompesson and others. 224; to Rev.
Thomas Hawley and others. 225: to Lewis
Morris (afterward chief-justice), 235: to Adolph
Philipse. 25S.

Patrick. Daniel. 87.

Patroonships, The. 77. 82.

Paulding, James K.. 491. 572.

Paulding, John, 170, 471. 476, 484. 486. 517.

Peach Lake, 13.

Peekskill (incorporated village), occupation
by General Heath after the battle of White
Plains. 401; Geueral Lee's demands on General
Heath, 409; Strategic importance, 413. 426; de-
fensive works, etc., 415; General McDougall
takes command, 426: Colonel Bird's expedition
against, 426; General Putnam supersedes Mc-
Dougall, 428; Sir Henry Clinton's expedition
against the Highland forts. 434: McDougall re-
sumes command. 438: military operations of
1779, 455; Washington's preparations in 1780 to
attack New York, 463- Washington prepares
to attack New York in conjunction with the
French (1781), 504; encampments at and near in
1782, 519, 520; incorporation. 512, 544: the village
in 1860. 589; various references. 26. 167. 226, 271,
354. 431. 440, 466. 468, 563, 565. 597. 605, 611, 616.
619, 627.

Peekskill Creek, 9.

Peekskill State Camp, 167, 616.

Pelham (incorporated village), 627.

Pelham (township), settlement of Anne
Hutchinson in. 89; battle of October 18. 1776,
375; created a town by the act of 1788, 532; an-
nexation of a portion to New York, 621; popula-
tion at various periods, 226. 533, 539, 578, 591.
605. 612. 620.

Pelham Bay, 5.

Pelham Bay Park. 619.

Pelham Manor, 141, 173. 233. 275, 527.

Pelham Manor (incorporated village), 627.

IN 4 ha m Neck. 5. 92. 142. 366, 375. 622.

Pell, John, 129. 173, 209.

Pell. Philip, 275. 301. 535.

Pell, Thomas. 92, 115, 138, 141.

Poningo Neck, 124.

Penn, William, 153.

Philipse, Adolph, 160, 256.

Philipse. Catherina (wife of Frederick 1st).
159, 163. 256.

1st. 144, 156, 204.
2d. 160, 241, 243, 260.
3d, 289, 293, 297, 29<

330, 383. 529,

226. 255.

Philipse. Eva (wife of Jacobus Van Cort-
landt). 160.

Philipse, Frederick

Philipse. Frederick. 3d. 289. 293. 297, 299, 301,
313. 327. 328.

Philipse, Margaret (wife of Frederick 1st),
159.

Philipse, Mary (wife of Roger Morris). 263,
349.

Philipse, Philip, 157, 160. 256.

Philipse Manor House, 160, 26
559, 617.

Philipseburgh Manor, 113, 157
341. 350. 527. 528.

Pinckney, Philip, of Eastchester, 140.

Pine's Bridge, 399, 413, 462. 469. 500, 516, 615.

Piracy. 6. 130, 158. 159. 212. 256.

Pleasantville (incorporated village). 26. 474,
591, 627.

Pocantico River. 10.

Pocantico Tract. The. 156.

Poe, Edgar Allan, 569.

Ponus. .26. 87. 115.

Population. 226. 418, 533. 539, 542, 546, 565, 577,
603. 605. 611, 619, 627.

Port Chester (incorporated village). 565, 591,
595, 597, 603, 605, 612. 620. 627.

Port Morris. 5. 591.

Poundridge (township), settlement. 225: Tarle-
ton's raid. 456: created a town by the act of
1788. 532; population at various periods, 533, 539,
578. 591. 6()5, 612, 920; various references, 87, 135,
170. 269. 527, 600.

Provincial assembly of 1775. 296.

Provincial congresses, 305. 320. 325. 331.

Provincial convention of 1775. 297.

Purchases (see also Patents and Settle-
ments):—of Keskeskeck. 84; of lands running
to the Norwalk River, 84: of Connitelsock, 85;
of the Toquams, x7: of lands by Daniel Patrick.
87; of Bronxland by Jonas Bronck, SS: of
Colon Donck by Adrian Van der Donck, 106;
of Weckquaesgeck by Stuyvesant, 114: of lands
by Thomas Pell, 115; Turner's purchase, 115; of
Rye and adjacent lands by Peter Disbrow
and others, 124: of Mamaroneck lands by John
Richbell, 126: of Eastchester lands from
Thomas Pell, 140: of Fordham Manor lands by
John Archer. 141: of West Farms by Edward
Jessup and John Richardson, 150: of Bronxland
by Saninei Edsall, 150: of the same by Richard
and Lewis Morris. 151: of lands by Frederick
Philipse, 156; of lands by Stephanus Van Cort-
landt, 166; of lands near Peekskill by Jacobus
De Kay, 167; of Ryck's Patent by Richard
Abrainsen and others, 167: of lands in the
Lower Yonkers by Jacobus Van Cortlandt 171;
of lands in Bedford by the same. 171: of New
Rochelle lands by Leisler, 174; of the Richbell
lands by Caleb Heathcote. 178; of the Fox
Meadows by the same, 180: of the " Three
Great Patents" by the same and associates,
183; of Harrison lands by John Harrison and

GENERAL INDEX

635

others. 215; of Oblong lands by Rev. Thomas

Putnam, Israel (General), 401, 429, 431, 432,
43."). 436, 438, 418.
Putnam, Rufus (Colonel), 310. 380, 415.
Quaker Bridge, 614.
Quakers, 124. 151, 153. 217. 224. 244.
Quaroppas Tract. The 177.
Queen's Rangers, The, 379, 382, 411. 432, 442.
44:'., 45,>.

Rahl, Colonel, 3S9.

Kail ways. 546. 573.

Randall's Island. 4. 34S. 352. 425, 509.

Raymond, Henry J.. 494.

Raymond, M. I>.. 159. 56S.

Reekgawawancs, an Indian tribe. 25.

Reconnoissanee of Now York. 509.

•• Restless," The 59.

Revel), Thomas. 127.

Revere, Paul, 291.

Richardson, John, of West Farms, 150.

Richbell, John, 126, 176.

Ridgefield Patent, The, 225.

Riverdale, 5S2. 592.

rjrin.jtnn'a X,;r York G„ -, It,;-- r , 294, 299, 317.

Robertson, William II.. 589, 593. 596, 612.
Robin, Abbe, Letters of, 515, 516.
Robinson, Beverly, 258, 349, 435. 465, 485.
Robinson's Bridge, 115.

Roehambeau's army in Westchester County,
504, 519.
Hodman's Neck, 5.
Rodman's Point, 375.

Romer, James. 470.

Ruttenber on the Hudson River Indians, 23.
12: on the fireships affair. 345.

Ryck's Patent. Hit',, 226, 271.

Rye (township and unincorporated village),
settlement of. 124: claims to the White Plains
tract. 177 : I lie Rye Rebellion, 201, 213; ferry to
Oyster Bay, 218; the Rye fair. 229: parish of,
233: attitude of citizens on the question of re-
sistance to Great Britain. 2:':,. 294; the whale-
boats, 44!: engagement near Merrill's Tavern
(1781), 317: created a town by the act of 1788,

tion at various periods, 220. 533, 539, 57S, 591, b0o,
612, 620; various references. 31. 291, 298, 305, 314.
373, 400, 446, 450, 527. 545. 591. 601.

Rye Neck. 5.

Rye Ponds. 11, :>9. 549, 614.

Saint Mary's Lake. 388.

Salem (former township), see North Salem
and Lewisboro.

Sand's Mills. 472.

Sawmill River, see Nepperhan River.

Sawpits, The. 400, 446, 603.

Scarsdale (township), created a town by the
acl of 1788, 532; occupation by the British
army, 379: General Howe's march from, 3S9:
population at v
592, 605. 612. 62

" Sehuldham." Capture of the, 144.
Seaburv, Samuel (Rev.), 301, 302, 313. 315.
Sears. Isaac (Captain), Westchestci Raid of.

See, Isaac, 470.
Segur, < ottnt, 520.
Senasqua, 26, 166.

Settlements (see also Patents and Pur
chases):— of Manhattan Island. 71; of Bronx-
land by Jonas Bronck, 87; of Anne Hutchinson
at Pelham, 89: of Throgg's Neck by John
Throckmorton, 92: of Cornell's Neck by Thomas
Cornel!, 93: of Colen Donck (Yonkers, etc.) by
Adrian Van der Donck, 106; of Westchester
Town by Thomas Pell's settlers, 116; of Rye by
Peter Disbrow and others. 124: of Eastchester
by Philip Pinckney and others. 140; of Ford-
ham Manor, 145: of Croton Point by the Tellers.
166; of Ryck's Patent. 107: of Oortlandt Manor.
168; of New Rochelle by the Huguenots. 174;
of Mamaroneck. 176; of Harrison by John
Harrison and others. 215: of White Flains by
Rye men 219; of Bedford by Stamford men, 221;
of North Castle by Quakers, 224; of Poundridge
by Connecticut men, 225; of the Oblong by
Ridgefield men. 225.

Sheldon. Colonel, 339. 456. 487, 508.

Shoemaking industry of Poundridge, 225. 600.

Shoraokappook. 25, 113.

Silliman. Gold Selleck (General), 380.

Shnooe Lieutenant-Colonel, 37. .382. 442, 443.

otts periods, 226. 533, 539, 578.
various references, 129, 182,

Scarsdale Manor. 130, 180, 203. 5:

Siwanovs, an Indian tribe, 26.
Sin- Sin- (incorporated village), 14, 16. 26,
105, 150. 540. 543. 553. 565. 591. 597, 612. 620, 627.
Sing Sing Kill. 10.
Sint Sines, an Indian tribe, 26.
Sixtli New York Heavy Artillery, 596.
Skinners. The. 417.

Slavery, 151. 153. 193. 223, 226. 263. 429. 537. 545.
Sleepy Hollow Church, 161, 163. 265. 505.
Smith. George Thatcher, 225, 600.
Smith. Henry T. Manual of Westchester
County, 335. 527, 535, 5S0. 587.
Smith. Joshua Hett, 465, 467. 469.
Smith, William. 241. 244. 248.
Snakapins, The. 93.
Solomon, Captain. 36.

Somers (township), this name substituted for
Steplientown (1808), 533: population at various
periods. 5.33, 539, 578. 592, 605, 612. 620; various
references to, 16. 170. 269. 424, 597, 600, 614.

Somers Museum, The, 565.

South Salem, a former name for Lewisboro.

Sprague Light Cavalry. 599.

Sprain Brook, The. 506. 614.

Spuyten Duyvil, 25. 27. 56. 57, 58, 74. 106, 113,
140.

Spuyten Duyvil (village). 582. 592.

Spuyten Duyvil Creek. 4, 310. 540.

•• Spy." The. 177, 420.

Spy. Putnam and the, 432.

Stall. Jacob Jans, 88.

Stamford (Conn.). 13. 87. 99, 115, 201. 220.

Stamford Mill River. 11.

636

GENERAL INDEX

Stamp Act. The, 284.

Stark, General, 497.

State Convention, The. at White Plains. 337:
sessions in Westchester County en route to
Fishkill, 350.

Steamboats, 538. 563.

Stedwell, Thomas, of Rye, 124.

Steenwyck, Cornelius, 129, 147, 148, 196.

Stepkentown, see Somers.

Stevens, John. 579.

Stirling, General Lord, 380, 382, 399, 401, 474.

Stockbridge Indians. 37, 442.

Stone Hills. 7.

Stony Point, 3, 57. 410, 451. 454, 474.

Strang, Daniel. 432.

Tallinadge, Benjamin (Major). 423. 457. 479,
482, 480, 497.

Tankitekos. an Indian tribe. 20.

Tappan (Rockland County). 57. 174. 475. 490.

Tappan Sea. 3.

Tarleton. Lieutenant-Colonel, 442, 443. 450.
458.

Tarrytown (incorporated village), British
warships ascend to, 311: the attack by the
Clinton's feint (October, 1777). 134; incidents of
the military campaign of 1779. 458, 459; capture
of Andre, 470: the monument to the captors of
Andre. 493; the action at. July 15. 1781, 507:
Irving's residence near, 508; the village in 1860,
590: incorporation, 611; various references, 25,
156, 160, 255, 351, 410. 425. 438. 440, 446, 401. 505.
510, 002, 019, 027.

Tea Ships. The, 286.

Teller. William, of Teller's Point, 160.

Teller's Point, sec Croton Point.

Ten Farms. The. 140.

Tetard, John Peter (Rev.), 321.

Tetard's Hill. 140, 310.

Thacher. James (Dr.) 475. 498, 519. 520.

Thomas. John (Judge), 289. 314. 427.

Thomas. John, Jr., 29?., 305.

Thomas, Thomas (Major-General), 427.

Thomson. Lieutenant-Colonel. 401.

Three Great Patents. The, 183, 223.

Throckmorton. John, 92.

Throgg's Neck, defensive preparations of
General Heath. 353; General Howe's landing,
365; Howe's movement from. 375: adventure of
Washington and Rochambeau, 510: various ref-
erences, 5, 08, 110. 352, 452, 463.

Tibbett's Brook, 11. 144, 273.

Tilden, Samuel J.. 495, 611.

Tilghman, Tench (Lieutenant-Colonel), Let-
ters on the military situation, 359. 309. 370, 379.

Tippett, George, of tin- Yonkers Land, 144.

Titicus River, 9.

Tompkins, Jonathan G., 305, 300, 314, 325, 336,
348, 487, 536, 542, 564.

Tooker, William Wallace, 23, 25, 45, 127.

Toquams. The, 26, 87.

Tories, The. 312, 325, 326, 338. 361, 370, 3S2, 400,
446, 443, 522.

Townsend, Epenetus (Rev.), 338.

Township act of 1788. 531.

Trinity Lake, 13.

Trolley development. The, 626.
Tryon, Governor, 290. 420. 430, 448, 450.
Tuckahoe, 15. 385, 387, 442, 579, 590. 592. 002.
Turner. Daniel. 152.
Turner. Nathaniel (Captain). 20. 80.
Underhill, John (Captain), 90, 100.
Underhill, Nathaniel (Mayor). 301. 315, 327
Underhill, Nathaniel, of Yonkers. 459.
Unionville, 401, 591.
Upper Party, The, 417.
Upper Salem, sec North Salem.
Valentine's Hill (Kingsbridge), 323.
Valentine's Hill (Yonkers), 373, 383, 400,
505. 514, 520.

Valhalla Lake. 13.

Van Bursum, Cornelius, 106.

Van Cortlandt, Frederick, 171. 223, 273.

Van Cortlandt, Jacobus, 160, 104. 171, 223. 2^

Van Cortlandt, James (Colonel), 274, 305.

Van Cortlandt. Oloff Steveiise, 104.

It. Pierre (Lieutenant-Govern*

. 325. 335. 429, 43S, 525.

It. Stephen. 533.

It. Stephanus, 104, 204.

It estate of the Lower Yonki

Van Cortlandt Lake. 11, 144, 273.

Van Cortlandl Manor House. 167.

Van Cortlandt Mansion. Lower Yonkers. 107,
171. 274. 384. 619.

Van Cortlandt Mansion near Peekskill, 427.

Van Cortlandt Park. 160, 171. 619.

Van Dam, Hip, 239.

Vanderbilt, Cornelius, 563.

Van der Donck, Adrian. 38. 39, 42, 45, 105.

Van der Donck's planting field, 144.

Van Dyck, Hendrick, 97.

Van Blslandt, Claes, 117.

Van Rensselaer, Kiliaen, 168.

Van Tassel, Daniel, 523.

Van Tienhoven. Cornelius, 84, 118.

Van Wart. Alexander (Rev.), 461, 480.

Van Wart, Isaac. 470, 470, 485. 487.

Yarick, Richard (Colonel), 524, 525.

Verplanck. Philip, 168, 170. 189. 26S. 271.

Verplanck's Point, Sir Henry Clinton's oper-
tions of 1777, 435; military operations of 1779,
451, 455; junction of Washington's and Rocham-
beau's armies (1782), 519; sale to a New York
syndicate, 562; the brickmaking industry, 563,
5S9: various references, 2, 57, 166, 170, 344, 413,
116, 460. ION. 473. 476. 596. 619.

Verveelen, Johannes, 142, 140.

Vowles, Richard, of Rye, 126.

Vredeland, The, 93.

•' Vulture." The. 466. 467. 468, 477.

Walter, R.. 183.

Wading Place, The, 200.

Wampage, 115.

Wampum of the Indians, 44.

Wampus's Land Deed, 183, 224.

GENERAL INDEX

637

Wappinger Indians. 24.

War of 1812, 539.

Ward. Stephen, of Eastehester, 29S, 300, 305,
320, 442.

Ward's House affair. The, 442.

Ward's Tavern, 387.

Washington, George, on the patriotic services
of the Mohican Indians. 37: passes through
Westchester County to take command of the
army. 312: orders the removal of Frederick
Philips.'. 329; on the fireships affair. 340: Wash-
ington and Mary Philipse, 349: remarks on the
militia. 355: the White Plains campaign, 358-
396; address to the army after Howe's landing
on Throgg's Neck, 371; his headquarters at
the Valentine house, 383, at the Miller house
(White Plains). 385, at the Van Cortlandt
Mansion and Birdsall House (Peekskill), 427.
at Joseph Appleby's (Dobbs Ferry), 507;
on Howe's return movement from White
Plains. 100; departure from Westchester
Countv to New Jersey. 401; his consuming anx-
iety about the Hudson River and the High-

Peekskill. 426; his reproof of General Putnam.

43V; the operations of 1779 an-und Verplanck's
Point, 451: his communications to congress on
the capture of Andre, 475. 470: operations of
17X1 in Westchester Comity. 501-516: reeonnots-
sauce of New York. 509: his preparations for
news from de Grace's fleet. 511. 513; on the
action at Tarrytown. 50S; on the physical
features of the northern part of Yonkers, 514:
Sections to General Heath on leaving for
Yorktown. 517; junction with Rochambeau s
army at Verplanck's Point in 17x2. 519: re-
enters New York. 525.

Water Guards, The, 144.

Watts. John. Sr.. 268.

Watts. John, Jr.. 53);.

Wavne. Anthony (General). 452. 498.

Weatherstield conference. The, 501.

Weckquaesgeck Purchase, Tin.. 115.

Weckquaesgeck Tract. The, 150.

Weckquaesgeck*, an Indian tribe. 2». 9,.

Wegmann, Edward, 5-18, 015.

Wells, James P.. 025.

Wells, Lemuel, 559.

Westchester Chasseurs, The. 595.

Westchester County. Creation of, 19,.

Westchester County Historical Society, 396,

' Westchester Creek. 5. 11: battle of. 353. 305.

Westchester a The. 505.

Westchester Town. Pell's purchase of. 1654,
115- complaint of inhabitants about Dutch op-
pression, 134; first town patent. 138,141; the orig-
L.,1 Shire town of the county. 19S: second town
,,.'t,.)lt 228: witchcraft case, 22S: early -hip
bnildiil" industry, 229; the Westchester fair.
22c)- erected into a borough town. 229: desig-
nated as a parish.. 233: resolutions of 1774. 293:
r-iid of captain Isaac Sears. .315: battle of
Westchester Creek. 353. 365: British outrages.

Macomb's Dam expedition, 550; West Farms
set off from. 570; annexed to New York City.
021: population at various periods. 226, 533, 539,
512. 578, 592, 305, 612, 620; various references, 1.
L96, 29 . 301, 305, 123. 460, 527. 592.

W.'st Farms (former township ami village),
patented to Edward Jessup and John Liichard-
son, 150; incorporated in the Town of West-
chester by the act of 1788, 531: set off as a town
from Westchester (1846), 570: annexed to New
York city (1874), 610; population at various pe-
riods, 57s, 592, 605; various references to, 212,
268, 406, 448, 517, 502, 505. 570. 5X5, 597. 602, 606.
West Patent, The. 183, 224.
West P.. int. 415. 438. 401.
Whaleboats, The, 444.
White, Henry. 274.
While Oak Address. The. 299.
White Plains (township ami village), early
proprietary disputes, 177, 219: settlemve^ -
Westchester ('utility convention of 1774. 293;
caucus of March 28, 1775, 298; meetings of the
rival factions, April 11. 1775. 299; meeting of
May 8, 1775. 305; tin' proclamation of the Decla-
ration of Independence and organization of the
State of New York. 335: strategic importance.
305, 373: tin' true nature of Washington's
movement to. 374: tin" march of the American
army to, 380, 381, 383, 3x5- Washington makes
his headquarters at the Miller house. 385; bat-
tle of 3x9; Washington's retirement from. 398;
Washington's encampment of July. 177s. 139:
Burr's headquarters, 440: erection of tin- pres-
ent court house, 5x7; incorporation of the vil-
lage, 603; population at various periods, 533.
539. 578, 592. 000. 012. 620; various references, 129,
217. 325. 425. 409. 497. 510. 520. 526. 527. 547. 565,
590. 597, 599. 612, 02';. 027.
Whittaker, Frederick, 596, 602.
Wild Boar Hill. 413.
Wilkins. Isaac. 2X9. 297. 299. 301, 304.
Will's Purchases, 214.

Willett family of Cornell's Neck. 94. 138, 139,
23n. 243. 275.
Willett, Marinus, 3ns. 427.
Williams. Abraham. 470.
Williams, Daniel (Captain), 517.
Williams. David. 470. 470. 485, 487.
Williams. Roger, 93. 99.

Williams's Bridge, 323. 400. 505, 592, 602, 606.
Wood. James, 57.
Woodworth, Samuel, 572.
Wright's Mills. Six.
Yelks. J, dm, 470.

Yoiikers (township, village, ami city), origin
of the nana'. 107: the Philips.- purchase. 150: the
arrest of Frederick Philipse. 329; Washington's
headquarters at the Valentine house. 383; the
Babcock's House affair, 443: purchasers of for-
feited lands, 52s: created a town by the act of
17S8 531- beginnings of the village, 559: incor-
poration of 'the village, 582; burning of the
•• Henry Clay," 580: the village in 1860. 592: re-

638 GENERAL INDEX

sponse to Lincoln's .'all for troops. 594; Kings- Yorktown (township), the movement at Crorn-

bridge set oft', 606; incorporation of the city, pond. 501; encampment of the French army at

606; water system, 616; the Manor House eel,- Crompond (1782), 520; created a town l»v the act

1. ration. 017; removal of milldams, 621: popula- of 17SS. 532: population at various periods, 533,

tion at various periods, 226. 533. 539, 542, 57S, 539, 57S, 592. 606, 612, 620: various references 34

592, 606, 612, 620; various references, 56, 98, 233, 170, 269, 132, 458, 469, 4S5. 539, 596 600 614

261. 323, 344. 373. 377. 3S0. 407, 442, 505, 514, 527, 52S, Vomit's House, 459, 461.

546, 597, 599, 601. 602, 612, 626. Zenger, John Peter, 247.

9872

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