USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 34
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White Plains, in the Co. of W. C. April 11th, 1775.
On the 28th of March last, the following gentlemen having received letters from the chairman of the committee of the city and county of New York, re-
& American Archives, fourth series, vol. i. 726.
American Archives, fourth series, vol. ii. 282.
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HISTORY OF THE
lative to the appointment of Deputies for this county, met at this place for the purpose of devising means for taking the sense of the county upon the subject, viz., Theodosius Bartow, Esq., William Sutton, Esq., Captain Joseph Drake, James Will's, Benjamin Drake, Moses Drake, Colonel Lewis Morris, Thomas Hunt, Abraham Leggett, James Horton, jr., Esq., Stephen Ward, and Abra- ham Guion, Esq., who, having taken the same into consideration, agreed to send the following notification to the principal freeholders in the different towns and districts in the county, viz. :
March 28th, 1775.
SIR :- A number of persons from different districts in the County of West- chester having this day met at the White Plains to consider of the most pro- per method of taking the sense of the freeholders of the said County upon the expediency of choosing deputies to meet the deputies of the other counties for the purpose of electing delegates to represent this colony in the General Con- gress to be held in Philadelphia, on the 10th day of May next, are of opinion that the best way of proceeding for that purpose will be to have a general meeting of the freeholders of said county. As this county is very extensive we take the liberty of recommending the meeting to be held at the White Plains, on Tuesday, the 11th day of April next, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, at the Court IIouse, and therefore do desire you to give notice of the same to all the freeholders in your district, without exception, as those who do not appear and vote on that day will be presumed to acquiesce in the sentiments of the majority of those who vote. We are, &c., &c.
The above notice having been generally given and distributed, a very nu- merous body of freeholders of the county assembled at the Court House, White Plains, on the day appointed and chose Colonel Lewis Morris for their chairman. An inconsiderable number of persons, (among whom were many tenants not entitled to vote,) with Isaac Wilkins and Colonel Philips at their head, then appeared ; and Mr. Wilkins, in their behalf, (as he said,) declared that they would not join in the business of the day, or have any thing to do with the Deputies or Congresses ; but that they came there for the sole pur- pose of protesting against such illegal and unconstitutional proceedings ; after which they departed. The following question was then put to the people by the chairman, viz., whether they would appoint Deputies for this County to meet the Deputies of the other Counties at the city of New York, on the 20th of April inst., for the purpose of electing delegates to represent this Colony in the General Congress, 10 be held at Philadelphia on the 10th day of May next ? To which question they unanimously answered that they would. They then appointed the following eight persons, or a majority of them, to be the Depu- ties of this County for the purpose aforesaid, viz., Colonel Lewis Morris, Ste- phen Ward, Daniel Drake, Esq., Colonel James Holmes, John Thomas, jr., Esq., Jonathan Platt, Esq., Robert Graham, and Major Philip van Cortlandt. The two following resolves were then unanimously entered into, viz. : Re- solved, that the thanks of this body be given to the virtuous minority of the
351
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
General Assembly of this Province, and particularly to John Thomas and Pierre van Cortlandt, Esq., two of our Representatives, for their attachment to, and zeal on a late occasion, for the preservation of the union of the Colonies, and rights and liberties of America ; and that this resolve be communicated by the chairman to every gentleman of whom that minority consisted.
Resolved, that the thanks of this county are due to the Delegates who com- posed the late Congress, for the essential services they have rendered to America in general ; and that this resolve be forthwith published.
After the business of the day was thus concluded, the people gave three huzzas for our gracious sovereign, and dispersed quietly without the least disorder.ª
LEWIS MORRIS, Chairman."
Protest of the inhabitants and freeholders of Westchester county, New York.
County of Westchester, April 13th, 1775.
MR. RIVINGTON :- Be pleased to insert the following, and you will oblige a number of your friends and subscribers.
On Thursday the 11th inst., a very respectable number of freeholders and inhabitants of the county of Westchester assembled at the White Plains in the said county, agreeable to the notice given, that their sentiments might be known concerning the choice of a committee to meet other committees in the city of New York, for the purpose of choosing delegates to represent this Colony in the next Continental Congress. The friends of order and govern- ment met at the house of Captain Hatfield ; more who were for a committee put up at another public house in the town. About 12 o'clock, word was brought to the gentlemen at Captain Hatfield's that the opposite party had already entered upon the business of the day ; upon which they immediately walked down to the court house, although not half of their friends, who were expected had yet appeared, where they found the other company collected in a body. The numbers on each side seemed 10 be nearly equal, and both to- gether might amount to two hundred, or, at most, two hundred and fifty. The friends to government then declared, that as they had been unlawfully called together, and for an unlawful purpose, they did not intend to contest the matter with them by a poll, which would be tacitly acknowledging the authority that had summoned them thither ; 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 Congresses ; they then declared their determination and resolution to continue steadfast in their allegiance to their gracious and merciful sovereign, King George the Third, to submit to lawful authority, and to abide by and support the only true representatives of
a American Archives, fourth series, vol. ii. 314.
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HISTORY OF THE
the people of this Colony, the General Assembly ; then giving three huzzas, they returned to Captain Hatfields, singing, as they went, with loyal enthu- siasın, the good and animating song of "God save great George our King," " Long live our noble King," &c., &c. At their return, finding that many of their friends had arrived during their absence, and that many still kept coming in, they proceeded to draw up and sign the following declaration, which they seemed to do with as much patriotic zeal as ever warmed the hearts of true and faithful subjects, and afterwards dispersed to their different habitations.
" We the subscribers, freeholders and inhabitants of the county of West- chester, having assembled at the White Plains in consequence of certain ad- vertisements, do now declare, that we met here to declare our honest abhor- rence of all unlawful Congresses and Committees, and that we are determined at the hazard of our lives and properties, to support the king and constitution, and that we acknowledge no Representatives but the General Assembly, to whose wisdom and integrity we submit the guardianship of our rights and privileges.
Frederick Philips,
Roger Purdy,
Isaac Wilkins,
Gilbert Pugsley,
Samuel Seabury,
Abraham Leader, Benjamin Brown,
Thomas Brown, Lieut. Isaac Gidney,
Caleb Fowler Judge,
Moses Weyman,
Israel Underhill,
Robert Brown,
John Baisly,
Benj. Beyea,
Bartholomew Gidney,
John Loce,
Elnathan Appleby,
John Baker,
Jonathan Underhill,
James McChain,
Joshua Pell,
Jeremiah Travis,
Joshua Hunt, Betts Chatterdon,
James Pell,
Griffen Carey,
Edward Pell,
Isaac Foshee,
William Landrine,
John Hunt,
Gabriel Requeau,
Enoch Hunt,
Gilbert IIorton,
Samuel Webb,
Peter Corme,
Adrian Leforge,
Benjamin Downing,
Dennis Kennedy,
Joshua Gidney,
Gabriel Archer,
Joseph Bude,
Elias Secord,
James Hains, Andrew Bainton,
James Wetmore,
Thomas Veal,
Hezekiah Simmons,
Moses Williams,
James Pieree,
Nathaniel Tompkins,
John Haight,
Edward Higbee,
Caleb Archer,
Isaac Brown,
David Haight,
Jonathan Budd, John Wetmore,
William Underhill,
Luke Babcock, Isaac Fowler Judge,
Isaac Keed, Aaron Buis,
Nehemiah Tompkins, Henry Leforge,
J. P. Horton, Esq .. William Sutton, Esq., Daniel Oakley, Esq., Benjamin Fowler, Esq., William Davids, Esq., Wm. Anderson, Esq., Capt. Abra'm Hatfield, Nath'l Underhill, May'r, George Cromwell, Esq., Philip Pell, Esq.,
David Oakley, jr., Isaac Smith, John Hyatt,
Hezekiah Cudney,
Abraham ()dell,
Thos. Lawrence, John Seysion,
Benj. Seacord,
Benj. Bugbee,
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
353
Philip Kelly,
Francis Purdy,
James Hains,
William Odell,
Joseph Haines, jr.,
Israel Hunt,
James Haines, jr.,
Joseph Purdy,
Thos. Tompkins,
Matthew Hains,
Ezekiel Halsted,
Frederick Underhill,
Bartholomew Hains,
John Hunt, jr.,
Peter Post,
Gilbert Hains, John Hains,
Elijah Purdy,
John Williams,
Elijah Hains,
Abraham Loosee,
John Ackerman,
Lieut. Solomon Fowler,
Isaac Tompkins, William Gray,
Thos. Barker,
John McCollum,
Nathaniel Merrit,
Jeremiah Hunter,-
Joseph Clark,
Joseph Paulding,
Abraham Storm,
Joseph Oakley,
Hendricus Storm,
Peter Jansing,
Caleb Ferris,
Francis Secord,
Isaae Merritt,
Capt. Benj. Griffin,
John Parker,
Edward Merritt,
Capt. Joshua Purdy,
Gilbert Hatfield,
John Gale,
James Mott,
Gabriel Purdy,
John Smith,
Lieut. Will. Lounsberry, Alexander Hains,
Lieut. Sam'l Purdy,
Benj. Ogden,
James Hart, jr.,
John Ruster,
Thos. Merritt,
Jona. Purdy, jr.,
Nathan Osborn,
Gilbert Bates,
Monmouth Hart, jr.,
Philemon Halstead,
John Gidney,
Christopher Purdy,
Daniel Purdy,
Stephen Arnode,
Gilbert Purdy,
John Crab,
Israel Secord,
Edward Merritt, jr.,
Izrahiah Wetmore,
John Arnode, David Purdy,
Henry Disborough,
David Haight,
David Belcher,
Benj. Hunt,
John Brown,
Jordan Downing,
Elnathan Hunt,
Jasper Stivers,
Levi Devoe,
William van Wart,
Peter McFarthing,
Abraham Acker,
Abraham Storm, Thomas Berry,
Joshua Purdy, jr.,
Cornelius van Tassel,
Hachaliah Purdy, jr.,
Elisha Merritt,
Lancaster Underhill,
James Tompkins,
Jacob Schurman,
Charles Merritt,
Michael Chatterton,
Joseph Appleby,
Benjamin Underhill,
a " North Castle, May 8th, 1775. MR. RIVINGTON :- In your paper lately I saw my name to a protest. I never signed it. but went into Capt. Hatfield's house and was asked whether I was a Whig or a Tory ? I made answer, that I did not understand the meaning of those words, but was for liberty and peace. Upon which I immediately put down my name. Now, sir, I desire you will print this to show the world that I have not deserved to be held up in the light of a protestor.
" JEREMIAH HUNTER."
VOL. II.
45
Elijah Miller,
Capt. Absalom Gidney,
Roger Purdy,
Isaac Williams,
Isaac Purdy,
Benj. McCord,
Peter Husting,
Sylvanius Lyon, Daniel Haight, Jolın Williams,
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HISTORY OF THE
Elnathan Taylor, Gilbert Theal,
John Tompkins, jr.,
Benjamin Griffin, jr., Jeremiah Coone, John Hall,
Thomas Champoneers, John Champoneers, William Griffin,
Gilbert Ward,
Jacob Coone,
Joseph Hart,
Jeremiah Anderson, jr.,
Isaac Gidney,
Monmouth Hart,
Gilbert Williams,
John Bates,
William Dunlap,
William Barker, jr.,
Joseph Haviland,
Joshua Ferris,
Gideon Arden,
Eleazer Hart,
Timothy Purdy,
William Field,
Timothy Wetmore,
James Macguire,
Joseph Purdy,
James Hunt,
James Requau,
George Storm,
Joseph Parker,
Daniel Shadin,
Jacob Vermilea,
Joshua Barn,
Samuel Purdy,
Samuel Heusted,
Joseph Purdy,
Sylvanus Purdy,
Barthol'mew Underhill,
John Park,
William Dalton,
Lient John Warner,
Samuel Purdy,
David Davids,
Nath'l Purdy,
Gilbert Purdy,
Elijah Purdy, jr.
Isaac Bennet,
James Chatterton,
Elijah Tompkins,
Samuel Baker,b
John Dewsenburgh,
Daniel Jerow,
John Cromwell, John Storm,
Solomon Horton,
Joseph Purdy, jr.,
Andrew Fowler,
Peter Bussing,ª
James Sniffen, jr ,
Joshua Seacord,
Thomas Valentine,
Gilbert Valentine,
Abraham Rich,
Peter Bussing, jr ,
Andrew Guion,
George French,
James Kniffen,
Gilbert Hunter,
John Underhill,
Nathan'l Underhill, jr.,
Lt. Peter Bonnett,
Caleb Gidney,
Philip Fowler,
Samuel Sneeden,
William Underhill, jr.,
John McFarthing,
Peter Fashee,
James Hill,
Jobn Tompkins,
Jesse Lawrence,
William Watkins,
Joseph Hart,
William Sneeden,
John Rustin,
Jacob Post,
Dr. Daniel Knap,
Richard Baker,
Joseph Gidney,
Solomon Dean,
Will. Ascough,
James Baxter,
Charles Vincent, sen.,
Bishop Heustice,
John Hunt,
Lieut. Thos. Hyatt,
James Miller,
Cornelius Loosee,
James Gidney,
Phineas Hunt,
Jesse Park,
William Woodward.
a That our names were not subscribed to the protest of Westchester, either by ourselves, or our orders or permission, directly or indirectly, is certified by us, each for himself. May 4, 1775. PETER BUSSING. JOHN BUSSING.
b MR. RIVINGTON :- I did sign a protest which was printed in your paper, but I did so because I was told that the intent of signing it was to show that I was for the liberties of the country. SAMUEL BAKER.
William Sexon,
Job Hadden, jr., Patrick Carey,
James Hart,
James Angevine,
Thomas Cromwell,
Charles Lawrence,
355
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
The following persons, not being able to attend at the Plains, requested by their friends that their names might be added to the list of protestors, viz. :
John Hunt, Esq., Philip Palmer, Esq , John Hitchcock,
Jeremiah Hitchcock, William Bond, Joseph Bond.
The foregoing account is strictly true, as can be proven by the testimony (or, if necessary, by the affidavits,) of a number of persons of the most un- questionable character in this county. What then must we think of such per- sons as have propagated a report that the friends of government were, upon this occasion, outnumbered five to one, and that many of the persons whose names were subscribed to the foregoing declaration were not on that day pre- sent at the White Plains? They must be conscious to themselves that they have spread abroad a falsehood, and they are hereby called upon, if they dare, to set their names to those assertions. In what manner those gentlemen who chose the committee at the Plains proceeded, we cannot positively say ; but this we can declare with truth, that we do not believe they can produce to the public the names of a hundred and fifty persons who voted for a commit- tee that day, and we are surely persuaded that they did their utmost to make their party as numerous as possible. How then can they justify their choice of a committee ? or how can they presume to impose upon the world, and to insult the Loyal County of Westchester in so barefaced a manner ? It is well known here that two-thirds, at least, of the inhabitants of this county are friends to order and government, and opposed to committees and all unlawful combinations ; and it will be made apparent to the world that they are so, as soon as certain resolves, now signing freely by the people, shall be ready for publication. And one principal reason why the friends to government did not assemble in greater numbers than they did, on Tuesday last, was that many of them had already, by signing those resolves, testified their loyalty to the king, their attachment to the constitution, their enmity to the committees, and their acquiescence in the prudent measures taken by the Assembly in the late session, for accommodating the unhappy differences between the mother coun- try and the colonies, and consequently thought they had done their duty. The committe that was chosen may with some kind of propriety, be said to represent those particular persons who chose them ; but how they can be de- nominated the Representatives of the County of Westchester, who, in general, abhor committees and committee men, and are determined to take no steps that may lead them into rebellion, we cannot conceive ; certainly the friends to government who were collected at Captain Hatfield's had a better right from their number to determine that there should be no committee than the op- posite party had to appoint one, and might with much greater propriety be said to show the sense of the County than the few who acted without authority and in direct opposition to government, and to the determinations of our worthy Assembly ; and we doubt not but the impartial publick will consider the matter in this light, and not esteem the act of a few individuals, unlawfully assembled,
356
HISTORY OF THE
as the act (which most assuredly is not,) of the very respectable, populous, and Loyal County of Westchester.a
In answer to the above protest, occurs the following letter from Lewis Morris, addressed " to the publick."
Morrisania, May 7th, 1775.
" A very extraordinary paper called a protest against the proceedings of the freeholders of the County of Westchester, relative to the election of De- puties for the late Convention, and said to have been subscribed by the seve- ral persons whose names are printed with it, was published in Mr. Rivington and Gaine's Gazette, a few weeks ago.
By whom this performance was given to the publick is uncertain ; and, be- ing as little distinguished by decency as by truth, there is reason to suspect the author's name will remain a secret. The falsities contained in this repre- sentation, are too flagrant to impose upon any person in this colony ; and, nothing but the apprehension of its gaining credit in other parts of the world would have induced me to have made it the subject of animadversion.
I shall pass over 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 was said these good people were influenced, and I really wish that had been the fact, because when inconsistencies and fooleries result from inebriety or enthusiasm, they merit our pity, and escape indignation and resentment.
Much pains I confess, were on that day taken to make temporary enthusi- asts, and with other more exhilirating spirit than the spirit of loyalty.
To give the appearance of dignity to these curious and very orderly protes- ters, the author has been very mindful to annex every man's addition to his name, upon a presumption, perhaps, that it would derive weight from the ti- tle of mayor, esquire, captain, lieutenant, judge, &c.
But it is not easy to conceive why the publick should be less civil to the clergy than to the gentry and commonalty. Samuel Seabury and Luke Bab- cock, certainly ought not to have been sent into the world floating on a newspaper in that plain way : the one is the "Reverend Mr. Samuel Sea- bury: Rector of the united Parishes of East and Westchester, and one of the missionaries for the propagation of the Gospel (and not politieks) in foreign parts," &c. &c., the other is " the Rev. Mr. Luke Babcock, who preaches and prays for Mr. Philipse and his tenants at Philipsburgh."
In this formidable catalogue of 300 and 12 sober and loyal protesters, there are not less than one hundred and seventy who after a most diligent inquiry, I cannot find have the least pretensions to a vote, and indeed many of them are also under age. Their names are as follows :
& American Archives, 4th series, vol. ii. 321.
357
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
Samual Seabury, Luke Babcock,
Elias Seacord, James Pierce, Edward Bugbe,
John Williams, John Ackemar,
Benjamin Fowler, Esq., Joshua Pell,
Peter Bussing,
Edward Pell,
John Hunt,
Peter Jenning,
Gilbert Horton,
John Gale,
Adrian Leforge,
Joseph Paulding,
John Smith,
Moses Williams,
Henricus Storm,
James Hart, jr.,
Philip Kelley,
Francis Secord,
James Haines,
John Parker, Gilbert Bates, David Purdy,
Jonathan Purdy, jr. Monmouth Hart, jr. Christopher Purdy, Gabriel Purdy, Edward Merritt, jr.,
Elijah Haines,
David Bleeker,
Joseph Clark,
Jordan Downing,
Joseph Oakley,
Corn. van Tassell,
James Mott,
Joseph Appleby,
Henry Desborough, William van Wart, Abraham Storm, Thomas Berry, Charles Merritt,
Izrahiah Whetmore.
William Dunlap,
Bejamin Griffin,
Absalom Gidney,
Joshua Ferris,
Samuel Purdy,
John Brown,
Timothy Purdy,
Gilbert Purdy,
Jasper Stevens,
James McGuire,
James Chatterton,
Peter McFarthing,
James Requau,
Thomas Cromwell,
Joshua Purdy, jr.,
Samuel Purdy,
Solomon Horton,
Hachaliah Purdy, jr.,
Sylvanus Purdy,
Nathaniel Underhill, jr.
James Tompkins,
William Dalton,
Philip Fowler,
Gilbert Theal,
Elijah Tompkins,
John McFarthing,
William Sexon,
Joshua Hunt,
Jacob Post,
Thomas Champoneers,
Bates Chatterton, William Landrin,
John Hart,
Eleazer Hart,
Dennis Kennedy,
Cornelius Loosee,
James Hunt,
James Haines,
Jesse Park,
Joseph Parker,
Andrew Banton,
Roger Purdy, jr.,
Joshua Barns,
Nathaniel Tompkins,
Gilbert Pugsly,
John Park, Isaac Smith,
Benjamin Bugbe,
Benjamin Brown, Aaron Buis, John Burzley,
Thomas Lawrence,
William Odell, Israel Hunt,
David Oakley, jr.,
John Seyson,
Thomas Tompkins,
Charles Lawrence,
Isaac Forshea,
Fred. Underhill,
Joseph Purdy, jr.
John Hyatt, Abraham Odell,
Caleb Archer,
Abraham Leaden,
Francis Purdy,
James Baxter,
John Champoneers,
Daniel Purdy, John Crab,
Patrick Cary, Gilbert Ward,
Bartholomew Haines,
John Haines,
Daniel Haight, John Hunt, jr., Abraham Losee, Isaac Tompkins,
Jeremiah Hunter, Abraham Storm,
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HISTORY OF THE
Gabriel Requeau,
Peter Post,
James Sniffen, jr.,
Gabriel Archer,
Benj. McCord,
Peter Bonnett,
Peter Fashee,
John Loce,
Samuel Huested,
Isaac Lawrence,
Elnathan Appleby,
John Warner,
Will. Snider,
John Baker,
John Storm,
Solomon Dean,
Jonathan Underhill,
Joshua Secord,
Thomas Hyatt,
James McChain,
John Underhill,
William Woodward,
James Angevine,
William Underhill, jr.,
John Whitmore,
Jeremiah Anderson, jr.
James Hill, William Watkins,
Will. Underhill,
Will. Barker, jr.
Nehemiah Tompkins,
Gideon Arden, jr.
Richard Baker,
Henry le Forge,
Joseph Purdy,
Bishop Huestice,
Evert Brown,
George Storm,
Jeremiah Hitchcock,
Benj. Beyea,
Jacob Vermiller,
William Bond,
Charles Merritt, Samuel Snider,
Of the others who are freeholders, many also hold land at will of Col. Philipse, so that the truth really is, that very few independent freeholders objected to the appointment of deputies."a
LEWIS MORRIS.
Upon the 29th of April, 1775, appeared the following docu- ment addressed to the publick.
" We the subscribers do hereby make this public declaration, that whereas, we and several others in Westchester county, having signed a certain number of resolves, which at the time of our said signing were deemed con- stitutional, and as having a tendency to promote the interest of our country ; but, since upon mature deliberation and more full knowledge of the matter find not only injurious to our present cause, but likewise offensive to our fel- low colonists, we do therefore thus publickly testify our abhorrence of the same, and declare ourselves true friends to the colonies, and ever ready cheer- fully to exert ourselves in the defence and preservation of the same."b
JONATHAN FOWLER, EsQ. GEORGE CROMWELL, EsQ.
' " At a meeting of freeholders of Westchester county, New York, at the White Plains, on Monday, the Sth day of May, 1775. Governeur Morris, Lewis Graham, James van Cortlandt, Stephen Ward, Joseph Drake, Philip van Cortlandt, James Holmes, David Dayton, John Holmes, jr., Robert Graham, and
American archives, fourth series, vol. ii.
৳ Ibid. 446.
359
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
William Paulding, were chosen to be the deputies from this County to the Provincial Convention of the Province of New York."a
"On the 30th of June, 1776, the Provincial Congress of this State adjourned from the city of New York to the court-house in White Plains, where they met on the 9th of July following, and there continued in session until the 29th of that month."b
In Provincial Congress, New York, 30th June, 1776.
Sunday afternoon.
It was resolved, " that the treasurer and secretary of this Con- gress be and they hereby are directed forthwith to repair, with all and singular the public papers and money now in their cus- tody or possession, unto the White Plains, in the county of Westchester, and that this Congress be and it hereby is adjourned unto the court-house in the White Plains aforesaid, there to meet on Tuesday the 2d of July next, and proceed upon busi- ness ; and that the next Congress of this county do meet at the same place on Monday the .8th day of July aforesaid, unless otherwise ordered by the Congress." It was carried in the affirmative.
For the question, 20, against ditto, 5.
And it was further ordered that all the lead, powder and other military stores belonging to this State be forthwith removed to the White Plains."c
The journey between New York and the Plains was performed by the members on horseback, Pierre van Cortlandt, the presi- dent, riding at their head. As expresses overtook them from General Washington the house was called to order on horseback, and several resolutions passed.
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