USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 12
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From Fairfield, the family removed to Eastchester, Westches- ter Co. The name of Nathaniel Tompkins occurs among a list of the first proprietors of Eastchester, in 1665. Of this family was Micah Tompkins of Milford, Connecticut, who secreted King Charles' judges when they fled to Milford. "The regicides Whalley and Goffe, (says Mr. Lambert) lived in the town from the 20th of Angust, 1661, for more than two years, till they went to Hadley. Here they were secreted by Mr. Tompkins, in the basement story of a shop standing near his dwelling. It is re- lated that Mr. Tompkins's daughters often spun in the shop, and sometimes would sing somne poetry which was composed about that time, concerning the martyrdom of King Charles, (in which they are mentioned) which much amused the judges. The girls were of course acquainted with their concealment.d After remaining in Eastchester a short time, the sons of Nathaniel and John Tompkins removed to Scarsdale and Greenburgh, where they purchased lands and permanently settled.
" The father of Daniel D. Tompkins was a member of the state convention, which adopted the Declaration of Independence and the first constitution of the state. He was a member of
a The fox meadow estate originally belonged to the Griffin family, and passed. from Jonathan Griffin to his adopted son, Jonathan Griffin Tompkins.
b Herring's Nat. Portrait Gallery.
c Shattucks' Hist. of Concord.
d Lambert's Hist. of New Haven, 144.
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the legislature during the whole period of the Revolution, also for many years first judge of the court of common pleas for this county ; and on the institution of the university, was appointed one of the regents, which situation he held until his resignation of it, in 1808. He died after seeing his son elevated to the sec- ond office in the gift of his country.
Governor Tompkins was educated at Columbia college in the city of New York, and received the first honors of his class in 1795. He was admitted to the bar of the supreme court in the capacity of attorney, 5th Aug., 1797.ª In 1801, he was elected a representative of the city, in the convention to revise the con- stitution of the state ; in 1802, was chosen to the state legislature ; and in 1801, was appointed a judge of the supreme court of the state, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the election of Chief Justice Lewis to the gubernatorial chair. In the same year he was elected a member of congress for the city, as a colleague of the late Dr. Mitchell. Gov. Tompkins (continues his biogra- pher) seemed to embody within himself, the peculiar character- istics of the citizens of his native state, activity, energy and per- severance, and his talents constantly and variously as they were tried, were always found equal to any emergency. At the bar in the city of New York during the early part of his life, he sustained an honorable rank ; on the bench of the supreme court of the state, amid the bright constellation of judicial talent, learning and eloquence which then adorned it, he was conspicu- ously distinguished while yet a comparative youth, and we ven- ture to say, that no judge since the formation of our government, ever presided at nisi prius, or travelled the circuit with more popularity. Dignified in his person, peaceful and conciliating in his address, and thoroughly amiable in his character, he won the respect and confidence of the bar, and the admiration of the
a As attorney in the court of common pleas in N. Y. and Westchester Co., 26 Sept. 1797 ; counsellor in court of common pleas, 26th Sept. 1797; counsellor in Mayor's court, Feb. 24, 1801 ; counsellor in supreme court, 2 May, 1801 ; solici- tor in court of chancery, 5 June, 1801 ; elected representative of city to convention on revision of constitution, 7 June, 1802 ; solicitor in circuit court of the U. S., 1804 ; justice of supreme court, 2 July, 1804, member of congress for N. Y., 1804, judge of district court, March, 1805. - Editor.
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public. The distinction which he gained in his judicial ca- pacity, soon elevated him to a different theatre of action, the gubernatorial chair of his native state. (In 1807, when not thirty- three years of age,) he was put forward as a candidate by the most influential of the republicans of that day, and in the mode in which he administered the government he did not disappoint their choice. Those were turbulent times in politics, but like a skilful pilot, he safely and triumphantly weathered the storm, 1:ot only that which was raging within our own bounds and among ourselves, but a more painful one which was pouring in upon us from a foreign foe. By his unwearied efforts in repeat- edly pressing the subject upon the attention of the legislature, slavery was finally abolished in the state of New York.
The subject of public education and morals, was always near his heart. The benevolent feelings of Gov. Tompkins, prompted him to call the attention of the legislature on repeated occasions, to the abolition of corporeal punishment, and he at length happi- ly effected that of the former ; the latter siill remains. So early as 1811, we find him raising his voice in favor of the encour- agement of manufactures. In 1812, he prorogued the senate and assembly of the state. In this brief sketch, it is not to be ex- pected that even all the most prominent measures of Gov. Tomp- kins's administration can be noticed."a
We come now, (continues his biographer) to the part which he bore in our late war with Great Britain, which embraces a most interesting period of his life. Whenever the history of that war shall be written for posterity, his name will fill an ample space.
As governor of the state of New York, he had the direction of all her energies, and many and arduous were the duties which he was ordered upon to perform, but those who were conversant with the scenes of that period, will recollect the universal confi- dence which he inspired in every lover of his country. The fol- lowing letter, dated a few days after the declaration of war, will show the perilous situation of the state of New York at that time, the condition of the army, and the responsibility he as- sumed to meet the exigency.
& Herring's Nat. Portrait Gallery, vol. ii.
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Albany, June 28, 1812.
To MAJOR GENERAL DEARBORN,
Sir, your letter of the 22 inst. has been received. I had anticipated your request by ordering the detachments from Washington, Essex, Clinton and Franklin counties into service, and have fixed the days and places of their rendezvous. Upon application to the quarter master general, I find there are but 139 tents and 60 camp kettles at this place. and even those I take by a kind of stealth, the deputy quarter master general declines giving an order for their delivery, until he shall have a written order from the quarter master general, and the latter is willing I shall take them, but will not give the de- puty a written order for that purpose, under such circumstances. I shall avail myself of the rule of possession, and by virtue of the eleven points of the law, send them off tomorrow morning without a written order from any one. You may remember, that when you were secretary of the war de- partment, I invited you to forward and deposite in our frontier arsenals, arms, ammunition and camp equipage, for self defence, to be ready for defence in case of war, and the same invitation to the war department has been repeated four times since. The United States have now from five to six hundred regular troops at Plattsburgh, Rome, Canandaigua, &c. And yet those recruits are now and must be for weeks to come, unarmed, and in every re- spect unequipped, although within musket shot of arsenals. The recruits at Plattsburgh, are within fifty miles of two tribes of Canadian Indians. In case of an attack upon the frontiers, that portion of the United States army would be as inefficient and as unable to defend the inhabitants or themselves even, as so many women. As to cannon, muskets and ammunition, I can find no one here who will exercise any authority over them, or deliver a single article upon my requisition, neither can I find any officer of the army who feels himself authorized to exercise any authority, or do any act which will aid me in the all important object of protecting the inhabitants of our extended frontier exposed to the cruelty of savages, and the depredations of the enemy. If I must rely upon the militia solely for such protection, I entreat you to give orders to your officers here, to furnish upon my order for the use of militia detachments, all needful weapons and articles with which the United States are furnished, and of which we are destitute.
" You may rely upon the assistance which my talents, influence and autho- rity can furnish, in the active prosecution of the just and necessary war, which has been declared by the constituted authority of our beloved coun- try."
From the day of the declaration of the war, the governor en- tered heart and soul into the prosecution of it, and so continued until its close. Most of the frontier troops the first campaign, were militia, and many of them were marched several hundred
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miles. The quarter master general of that day, refused to make any advances to them ; the governor was therefore placed in the dilemma of providing as well as he could for them, expenses of every kind, or of permitting, them to return home for want of ac- commodation, disgusted both with the war and the government ; he issued orders for raising a brigade of volunteers upon his own responsibility, which greatly distinguished itself on the Niagara frontier, and particularly at the memorable sortie from Fort Erie.
The officers were all selected by Gov. Tompkins, and their gallant conduct in the field showed his admirable discrimination in this respect. He had previously recommended to the legisla- ture to raise volunteer regiments for the defence of our frontiers and the city of New York ; but by a perversity that seems strange to us at the present day, his patriotic recommendation was rejected. A man of less firmness than Governor Tompkins would have quailed beneath the storm which was raised against him in Albany in the winter of 1813-14, and the consequence would probably have been that the state would have been over- run by the foe. Not only was the whole western frontier in danger of invasion, but Sacketts Harbor, Plattsburgh and the city of New York. But regardless of censure or disapprobation he called into the field large bodies of militia, and organized a corps of new fencibles for the protection of the city of New York, consisting of one thousand men. In September, 1814, the mi- litia in service for the defence of the city amounted to 17,500 men. He was even ready to dispatch a force under the lamented Decatur for the assistance of Baltimore, which was then menaced with an attack, and had not the news of the enemy's retreat been received the succor would have been upon the march to the re- lief of a sister state. In 1814, from information received and corroborated by the movements of the enemy, there are sufi- cient grounds of belief that one great object of his campaign was to penetrate with his northern army by the waters of Lake Champlain and the Hudson, and by a simultaneous attack with his maritime forces on New York, to form a junction which would sever the communication of the states. The exigency of the time, while it subjected the executive to great responsibility,
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admitted of no delay. To defeat his arrogant design and save the state from inroad, it was necessary immediately to exercise fuller powers and more ample resources than had been placed in his hands by the legislature. He proceeded therefore to make such dispositions as were deemed indispensable to secure the ex- posed points against menaced invasion. To effect these objects he found it necessary to transcend the authority and means ves- ted in him by law, perfectly satisfied that the legislature would approve and sanction what he had done.
In October of this year, Governor Tompkins was appointed by the President to the command of the third military district. He acquitted himself of the command with great ability, and on the disbanding of the troops he received from every quarter let- ters of compliment and gratitude ; and this was the only recom- pense for his services in this command which he ever obtained.
During the fall of this year the general government was desi- rous of fitting out an expedition to dislodge the enemy from Cas- tine in the province of Maine. They had applied to the Gover- nor of Massachusetts to raise the necessary funds for this pur- pose but without effect. In this dilemma the situation of the general government was hinted to Governor Tompkins, who with his individual credit and upon his own responsibilities, immediately raised the money, $300,000, which he placed at the orders of General Dearborn, then commanding in Massachu- setts. This noble act of patriotism speaks for itself and comment would be superfluous."a
" He contributed (remarks the Hon. G. Rathbun) more than any one man in the Union to the success of our arms in repell- ing the invaders of our soil. Mr. Tompkins disbursed for the United States very nearly two millions of dollars. This sum was charged to him. Further, he borrowed for the use of the general government more than one million, three hundred thou- sand dollars, some of it partly upon the credit of the government, and some of it upon his own responsibility, &c."b
. Herring's Nat. Portrait Gallery, vol. ii.
› Extracts from speech of Hon. G. Rathbun of N. Y. in favor of an appropriation
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" In looking over his military correspondence, it is surprising to see how watchful he was to foster a delicate and punctilious regard to the relative rank of the officers of the militia, so as to preclude any cause of jealousy or complaint. The officers were appointed by the council of appointment, which in the winter of 1813-14, was together with one branch of the legislature opposed to the administration of the general government, and to the pro- secution of the war, and it is evident from his correspondence at this period that attempts were constantly made to create discon- tents, by the recommending of persons for promotion over the heads of those who were entitled to it by their previous military rank; and in turning back to his private correspondence from 1SOS to 1811, we are struck with the continual annoyance ex- perienced by him from the intrigues and slanders of political op- ponents, and at the same time with the indefatigable industry and noble frankness with which he counteracted and exposed them. In the fall of 1814, Mr. Monroe having just been appoint- ed secretary of war, President Madison requested permission to name Governor Tompkins to the senate as his successor. This offer of what is considered the highest office in the gift of the President of the United States was declined. In the spring of 1815, after peace had been proclaimed, he resigned the command of the third military district, and the President addressed to him a letter of thanks for his " patriotic action and able support given to the government during the war."
" In February, 1817, having received official information of his election to the office of Vice President of the United States he surrendered that of chief magistrate of the state of New York." He was also chancellor of the university, and in June, 1820, was elected grand master of masons in the state of New York. In 1821, he was chosen a delegate for the county of Richmond to the convention for framing a new constitution for the state; and he was afterwards appointed president of this body. This was the last public situation which he held."a
for the heirs of D. D. Tompkins, delivered in the House of Representatives, Feb. 4, 1847.
a Herring's National Portait Gallery, vol. ii. VOL. II. 16
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" Years having rolled away (remarks Mr. John W. Edmonds) since he played so prominent and active a part on the stage, and the party rancor with which he was sometimes beset having been long since buried in the grave of the past, ample justice may now, without offence be done to him who was in every sense of the word,
" A statesman lofty and a patriot pure."
The task, however, of doing full justice to his memory belongs to an abler pen ; but no one is too feeble to admire the elevated patriotism which induced him, at a most trying crisis, to forego the honor intended for him by the President, to sacrifice his own health and the comfort of his family to the paramount duty of serving his country in that sphere where he could be most use- ful, and to offer himself a victim for its safety if it should be neces- sary ; and the indemitable energy which enabled him in less than forty days, without assistance in money from the national gov- ernment, to bring into the field at various points of danger nearly 50,000 men, organized, armed and equipped, to endure the toil, expense and embarrassment of commanding 20,000 of them in person, and at the same time to administer the government of the state : and in less than sixty days when the national credit was at its lowest point of depression, when the payment of even the interest of its notes could not be provided for, to raise for the pub- lic service upwards of $1,000,000.a
If it should be asked what was his reward, for his great ser- vices to his country, and where stands his monument ? the ven- eration in which his memory is yet regarded by the whole na- tion, answers that it is erected in the hearts of his countrymen.
" Such honors Ilion to her hero paid,
And peaceful slept the mighty Hector's shade."b
a In consequence of the death of Governor Tompkins in 1825, and of Mrs. Tompkins a few years after, the claim of what was due him in 1824, slept until February 4, 1847, when Congress voted its appropriation to the heirs of Daniel D. Tompkins .- Editor. See speech of the Hon. G. Rathbun.
Some passages in the life of Governor Tompkins, by Mr. John W. Edmonds. See Proceedings of N. Y. Hist. Soc. 1844.
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The Hon. Daniel D. Tompkins died at his residence Tomp- kinsville, Staten Island, June 11, 1825, aged fifty-one, and was buried in the vault of Mr. Minthorne, at St. Mark's Church, New York.a His wife was a daughter of Mangle Minthorne, Esq., of New York. His sons were Minthorne, Ray, Daniel, Clinton and Griffin 'Tompkins.
The Fox meadow estate in Scarsdale passed to the late Hon. Caleb Tompkins, the eldest brother of the Governor, and is now occupied by his son the present Jonathan G. Tompkins. The only surviving brother of the Governor is George Washington Tompkins, Esq., of White Plains.
The neighboring property on the south formerly belonged to the Hon. Richard Morris for many years chief justice of the pro- vince of New York, from whom it passed to his son-in-law, the late Brigade Major William Popham. The mansion erected in 1790, is a spacious wooden structure, and occupies a very se- cluded position in a picturesque hollow, surrounded by groves of locust trees. The Bronx enlivens the estate upon the west. Here is situated a valuable mill seat, once occupied by an exten- sive beaver dam. The calm solitude of this beautiful spot is in- creased by the overhanging woods and the low murmuring of the river over its stony bed. The graceful hemlock, fitly en- titled by Coleridge " the lady of the woods," appears to luxuri- ant in this vicinity.
Directly opposite to the former residence of the Hon. Richard Morris, a tragical event took place during the Revolution. The circumstances are thus narrated. An officer belonging to Col. Armand's cavalry, went to the village of Eastchester on the Sun- day, to have his horse shod. Vincent, the blacksmith, as a mat- ter of conscience, refused to shoe the horse ; whereupon the of-
a In the cemetery of this parish, around the church, (says Dr. Anthon in his Historical Notices of St. Mark's Church in the Bowery,) the governors of three dif- ferent dynasties, Dutch, English and American, repose almost side by side. In the Stuyvesant vault, next to Governor Stuyvesant are the remains of the English governor, Colonel Henry Sloughter, who died in 1691. In the vault of Mr. Min: thorne, not far distant, the body of Daniel D. Tompkins, a former governor of the state of New York, was interred. Parish Annals by Henry Anthon, D. D.
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ficer becoming enraged, drew his sword and struck the unoffend- ing blacksmith to the ground. In revenge for this brutal assault, Elijah Vincent, a brother of the smith, concealed himself in the vicinity of the Morris house, and whilst the French officer was passing, on his return from Bearmore's expedition, shot him dead.
The Popham family were originally from Popham, in the county of Hampshire, England, and spring from Gilbert Popham, of Popham, who in the year 1200 married Joan, daughter and heiress of Robert Clarke, a feoffee in trust for the manor of Pop- ham. They were greatly distinguished by the favor of the Empress Maud, A. D. 1140, and held high and honorable sta- tions in the reign of Henry the third. To Hampshire county they gave several sheriffs.a Sixth in descent from Gilbert Pop- ham was Sir John Popham, knight of the Bath, lord chief justice of the Queen's Bench, purchaser of the Littlecot estate, Wiltshire, England; this individual died, A. D. 1607, and his remains re- pose under a magnificent tomb in the church of Wellington, sur- rounded by a palisade of wood and iron; on a tablet are the effigies of himself and Lady Popham. His ouly son was Sir Francis Popham, Knt., of Littlecot, Wilts. This gentleman, together with his son Alexander, became so obnoxious to King Charles the first, that he excepted them both out of the general pardon. John Popham, eldest son of Sir Francis, was for many years a gentleman of the household to King James the first. Upon the restoration of King Charles II., he removed to Ireland, and there purchased the Bandon estates, county of Cork. His only son he significantly named Icabod,b (the glory is departed.) Icabod left one son, John, the father of James and grandfather of William Popham of Bandon, whose son was the late Major William Popham of Scarsdale. We are indebted to the New York Express, of September 27, 1847, for the following account of the late Major Popham. " He was born in the town of Ban-
a Robertus de Popham, 1227. Stephanus de Popham, cir. 1428.
b The mother of Icabod is reported to have been a daughter of the celebrated Chief Justice Bradshaw.
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don, Cork county, Ireland, on the 19th of September, 1752. He was brought to this country at the early age of nine years, and his parents having settled in the town of Newark, state of Dela- ware, it was in that place that he spent his youth, and where he received a finished education. It was his intention to enter upon the holy office of the ministry, but on the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he was fired with military zeal, and accepted a commission in the army, and immediately raised a company in defence of his country.
" His first engagement was at the battle of Long Island, where he greatly distinguished himself by taking prisoner the famous Capt. Ragg, with eighteen more of the enemy. He was then appointed a captain in the army, and having followed the Ame- rican arms to White Plains, he there again distinguished him- self as an accomplished soldier and brave man. As a captain he took part in the battle of Brandywine, and also acted as aid to Gen. Clinton in the northern division of the army, and was also the aid of Gen. Sullivan in his western expedition among the Indians.
" After the war he resided a few years in the city of Albany in this state, where he entered upon the study of the law, and practised his profession. Subsequently to that time he came to New York, and practised his profession for a few years. In the year 1787 he purchased a farm in Westchester county, upon which he resided for many years, during the whole of which time he held the office of clerk of the court of exchequer. He held this office until it was abolished. In 1801, he again took up his abode in New York, where he remained until 1811, at- tending to his profession, and paying particular attention to the education of his children. He then returned to his farm, and lived there until the year 1836, when the death of his wifea oc- curred, and he then returned to New York and resided until his own death.
"He was ever a remarkably religious man, and died at the age of ninety five, the peaceful and happy death of a firm Chris-
& Mrs. Popham was a daughter of the Hon. Richard Morris,
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tian, and a member of the Episcopal church. He was not, as has been stated, a man of property, though he was always blessed with an abundance. He was a friend to the poor and needy, and derived much of his happiness by doing good. He was the friend and companion of Washington, and claimed as his inti- mates many of the most remarkable men of his day. He be- longed to the old school of American gentlemen, and in mind and body was distinguished for activity and sprightliness. He was an accomplished scholar, and in every particular a thorough- bred gentleman. His funeral took place on Sunday evening last, and Bishop de Lancey, an old and well tried friend of the de- parted, officiated on the occasion. The remains of the deceased were conveyed to White Plains, where, in the little church-yard of the village, they now repose in peace. He lived the life of a noble man, and died the death of a happy Christian-leaving be- hind him three children, two sons and one daughter."
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