USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 38
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A road diverging to the south-west, near the meeting house, leads to the Turkey mountain, a vast tract of woodland covering 800 acres, from the summit of which, the spectator has a noble prospect of the surrounding country. At the foot of the moun- tain is situated the residence of Mr. Edward Burrough Underhill, son of the late Abraham I. Underhill, "a worthy and prominent member of the society of Friends, who sustained throughout a useful and protracted life, an unsullied reputation." Abraham I. Underhill, who died on the 5th of May, 1841, aged 78 years, was the second son of Isaac Underhill, fourth in descent from John Underhill of Oyster Bay, L. I. In the old family mansion which stands one mile south of this spot, (on the Pine's bridge road) is shown the room where Major Andre and Joshua H. Smith, breakfasted on the 231 of September, 1780. At this pe- riod, the house was occupied by Isaac Underhill and Sarah his wife,c who appears to have been a woman of good resolution and
a In a back room of this house, fell the notorious freebooter, Joseph Hueson, by the hand of Seth Whitney, (father of the above mentioned gentleman) former pro- prietor of the estate. Hueson was a perfect scourge and terror to this part of the country during the Revolution, for he devoted himself to the most cruel pillage and robbery among the defenceless inhabitants. Whilst in the act of entering the house for plunder, Whitney plunged a bayonet into his body. Upon hearing their leader exclaim " the rascal has killed me !" a band of ruffians forced an entrance, seized Whitney, and inflicted ou him the most savage cruclties.
b Upon the 9th of Nov., 1832, George McKeel conveyed te Isaac McKeel Daniel Smith, Aaron Underhill and Edward Borrough Underhill, 1 acre of land 3 miles north of Pine's bridge."
This lady was the daughter of Robert Field, whose nephew John was a re-
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
courage, whilst engaged in entertaining André and his companion, she took particular notice of the former, and imagined she read in his confusion, a person embarrassed in some great underta- king.ª A few days previous to this event, Mrs. Underhill had visited head-quarters to recover some cattle carried off by a band of marauders.
About a mile below the residence of Mr. William Smith, on the Pine's bridge road, a narrow lane diverges south-west to Davenport's or Danforth's house, the scene of Colonel Green's sur- prisal by the British Refugees, upon the 13th of May, 1781. The following account of this incursion, is given by General Heath :
" The next day intelligence was received, that on the 13th, Colonel Green of the Rhode Island regiment, who was doing duty on the lines of the Ameri- can army, was surprised by a body of the enemy's horse, supposed to be about 150 dragoons, and that the Colonel, Major Flagg, two subalterns and 27 men were killed, and several wounded. Col. Green was a brave and intre- pid officer, and his loss was much regretted. The colonel had taken post above and near to Croton river, at a place where the river was fordable, to prevent the enemy passing up by this ford t > ravage the country. He had practiced the greatest vigilance in guarding this ford in the night time, taking off the guards after sunrise, apprehending that the enemy would never presume to cross the river in the day time ; but the enemy, having learnt his mode of doing duty, on the morning of the 13th effected his overthrow, by crossing the ford soon after the guards had come off, and surrounding their quarters before they had an idea of any enemy being near them. In this situation, the ut- most exertion could not then avail them."b
A person named Gilbert Totten, is said to have betrayed his countrymen to Colonel de Lancey on this fatal occasion, in re- taliation for an act of discipline administered by his commanding
sident of Yorklown. The following notice of the death of Moses Field, (son of John) occurs in the New York American of Oct. 25, 1833 : " Died at Peekskill, on the 18th inst., Moscs Field of this city, aged 53 years. The poor could not have sustained a greater loss in an individual. No man had more enlarged and persevering benevolence in fecding the hungry, clothing the naked and providing for the sick. Ilis greatest happiness appeared to be, to mitigate the suffering and relieve the wants of the virtuous poor."
a See vol. i. 210.
Heath's Mem., 288-9.
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HISTORY OF THE
officer. De Lancey anxious for an opportunity to return the recent attack made upon his quarters by Captain Cushing,a instantly fitted out a force of about 150 dragoons, as described by Heath. The route selected by their experienced commander, was the road leading to White Plains, by which means the party escaped through the only opening in the long line of sentinels stretched across the country. Near Chappequa, they halted for a short time at the house of Daniel Underhill, and then pro- ceeded by the west road, which is an intersection of the present Sing Sing turnpike, till they arrived at the residence of Mr. Lyon ; here they anxiously awaited the withdrawal of the Ameri- can guard at Oblenus's ford, which is nearly one mile west of Pine's bridge. Up to this moment no one of the party, save their commander and his guide, knew the object for which they had been detailed. According to General Heath's account, the American officers appear to have had no idea that the enemy would dare to cross the ford after sunrise, and therefore had taken no precautions to prevent it. By this means, Davenport's house was surrounded by the enemy, and all possibility of escape cut off' before the danger was discovered. De Lancey remained on the south side of the river, probably with a view to cover the retreat of his party, if it should prove necessary.
To General Heath's account of the surprisal, we must be per- mitted to add the following extract from Colonel H. Lee's history of the Southern war :-
" In the spring of 1781, when General Washington began to expect the promised naval aid from our best friend, the ill-fated Louis XVI., he occa- sionally approached the enemy's lines on the side of York island. In one of these movements, Col. Green, with a suitable force, was posted on the Cro- ton River, in advance of the army. On the other side of this river lay a corps of refugees, (American citizens who had joined the British army,) under the command of Col. Delancy. These half citizens, half soldiers, were notorious for rapine and murder, and to their vindictive conduct may justly be ascribed most of the cruelties which stained the progress of our war, and which at length compelled Washington to order Captain Asgill, of the British army, to be brought to head-quarters, for the purpose of retaliating, by his execution,
a See page 333.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
for the murder of Capt. Huddy, of New Jersey, perpetrated by a Capt. Lip- pincourt, of the refugees. The commandant of these refugees, (Delancy was not present,) having ascertained the position of Greene's corps, which the colonel had cantoned in adjacent farm houses-probably with a view to the procurement of subsistence-took the resolution to strike it. This was ac- cordingly done, by a nocturnal movement, on the 13th of May. The enemy crossed the Croton before daylight, and hastening his advance, reached our station with the dawn of day, unperceived. As he approached the farm house in which the Lieutenant-Colonel was quartered, the noise of troops marching was heard, which was the first intimation of the fatal design. Greene and Major Flagg immediately prepared themselves for defence, but they were too late, so expeditious was the progress of the enemy. Flagg discharged his pis - tols, and instantly afterwards fell mortally wounded, when the ruffians (unwor- thy the appellation of soldiers) burst open the door of Greene's apartment. Here the gallant veteran singly received them with his drawn sword. Several fell beneath the arm accustomed to conquer, till at length, overpowered by num- bers, and faint from the loss of blood streaming from his wounds, barbarity triumphed over valor. 'His right arm was almost cut off in two places, the left in one, a severe cut on the left shoulder, a sword thrust through the abdo- men, 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.'
" Thus cruelly mangled, fell the generous conqueror of Count Donop, whose wounds, as well as those of his unfortunate associates, had been tenderly dressed as soon as the battle terminated, and whose pains and sorrows had been as tenderly assuaged. How different was the relentless fury here dis- played !
" The commander-in-chief heard with anguish and indignation the tragical fate of his loved, his faithful friend and soldier, in whose feelings the army sincerely participated. On the subsequent day, the corpse was brought to head-quarters, and his funeral was solemnized with military honors and uni- versal grief.ª
Lieutenant Colonel Greene was murdered in the meridian of life, being only forty-four years old. He married in 1758, Miss Anne Lippitt, a daughter of Mr. J. Lippitt, Esq., of Warwick, whom he left a widow with three sons and four daughters. He was stout and strong in person, about five feet ten in- ches high, with a broad round chest ; his aspect manly and demeanor plea- sing, enjoying always a high state of health, its bloom irradiated a counten-
· At the close of the Revolutionary war Col. De Lancey politely forwarded to General Thomas of Harrison the blood stained pocket books of Col. Green and Major Flagg. These interesting relics we regret to say (since the General's de- cease) have been destroyed.
VOL. II.
50
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HISTORY OF THE
ance which significantly expressed the fortitude and mildness invariably dis- played throughout his life."a
The following additional particulars concerning this melan- choly affair, are contained in a letter from the pay-master Thomas Hughes to a friend dated
Rhode Island Village, May 14, 1781.
DEAR SIR .- It is with pain I write you on a subject that is so nearly and closely connected to you as a parent ; I must my dear friend inform you of the unhappy fate that befel your son.
This morning the enemy made an attack upon the lines, which was a com- plete surprise, and he fell a sacrifice to the cruel hand of tyranny in defend- ing himself against the strokes struck by the light horsemen. He had his wrist almost cut off in two places, ---- a severe cut in the left shoulder, a sword run through his body, a bayonet into his right side, and another through his body, his head cut to pieces in several places, his back and body cut and hacked in such a manner as gives me pain to inform you, he was carried about three quarters of a mile from his quarters where they left him to die or rather through loss of blood and strength to go forward, finished his days in the woods. And as they went by the houses informed the inhabitants should there be any enquiry after the Colonel they left him dead in the edge of the woods.b This cruel and barbarons treatment was perpetrated by De Lancey's corps, De Lancey himself at the head.c Major Flagg, as he arose from his bed received a ball in his head, and when they entered the house they stabbed and cut him in a cruel manner, and he expired immediately. A doc- tor of the New Hampshire line and a Lieutenant of the Massachusetts line were wounded in the house and carried off. Lieut. Macomb being in bed was made a prisoner, Ensign Greene who commanded a guard at the bridge, with him- self and all his men were taken or killed.
I went in the lines the evening before, to pay off the troops and returned with Greene. My horse being hitched at the door and when the alarm was given, I saddled him and just made my escape. My flight was so rapid I left my receipts behind. The woman of the house was so kind as to hide them in the bushes, so I received them again. The loss of my dear friend must fall heavy on the family, but as life is uncertain we must surrender it when the great Jehovah calls. To morrow we shall bestow on each of them the honors
& See Updike's history of the Narragansett Church, for a full account of himself and family.
b Green expired near the residence of Mr. Sutton, where he was found the fol- lowing morning by Major Strang and his brother.
c The writer must have been mistaken, for De Lancey was not present accord- ing to other accounts,
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
that are due to men, who so nobly suffered the pains of death in the service of their country. It is uncertain how many we had killed and taken ; but I be- lieve about 40 taken, killed and wounded. John is wounded, and Prince Wolland I fear will die ; please make my respects to Maria and sister, and believe me to be with esteem,
Your humble servant, Thomas Hughes.
Mr. Joshua Carpenter,a the present occupant of the house, still points out the spot where the bed of Colonel Green stood, and the window from which Major Flagg fired his pistols, while the old fashioned wainscoting and doors are pierced with nu- merous bullet holes. A large addition has been since added to the house, on the east. The wonderfully extensive views which this elevated spot commands, will amply repay the visitor, besides the interest attached to the above associations.
In the south east corner of Yorktown, is situated the great dam of the Croton Acqueduct, one of the most important and ex- tensive works ever undertaken in this country. "The dam across the Croton, is placed where the river enters between the hills, after having passed for several miles through a more level country. The hill on the south side is composed of solid rock."b The dam itself " is not of great length, but is one of the most ingenious works of substantial masonry any where to be found. The highest point of the structure is rather more than fifty feet above the natural bed of the Croton. By this elevation, the water is thrown back more than six miles, forming a beautiful lake of several hundred acres, containing about 100,000,000 gallons for each foot in depth for the surface. The water is drawn into the acqueduct by means of a tunnel cut into the rock, which constitutes the hill on the south side. At distances of one mile, a circular hollow tower is erected over the acqueduct, for the purpose of ventilation, these being composed of white marble, produce a very pretty effect. Every three miles is an
a Mr. Carpenter is a grandson of Richard Davenport, who held the property in I780.
৳ Disturnell's Gazetteer of N. Y.
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HISTORY OF THE
apparatus for drawing off the water in case any internal repairs should be necessary," &c.ª
" The whole quantity of land which the water commissioners have been compelled to buy on the forty miles of the works, amount to nine hundred acres, and the average price has been nearly five hundred dollars per acre."b
The great bend of the Croton, west of Pine's bridge, was de- nominated by the aborigines Keweghtegnack. Croton lake bor- dered by meadows and high hills presents a lovely and interest- ing scene to the eye of the beholder. The following lines sug- gested by a visit to the lake, are from the Hudson River Chroni- cle.
TO CROTON LAKE.
How mildly beams the moon's pale light, As o'er thy breast we gaily glide ; Her silvery lustre charms the night, As swift we float along the tide. Unruffled calm thy bosom lies, Save where the oars the stillness break ;
Nor do the breezes dare to rise, To mar thy beauty, Croton Lake.
The purest joys that friendship yields, We here in rich profusion taste, While busy thought roams o'er the fields Of memory, brightening from the past ; Sweet recollections crowd the mind, With former scenes of purest bliss ;
While now, a sweet delight we find In musing o'er past happiness.
Now is the hour of tranquil peace, While gliding o'er thy fair expanse ; All fierce, tumultuous passions cease, And heavenly joys the soul entrance ; The hallowed fellowship of friends We here with rich delight partake, Nor e'er, till this existence ends, Shall we its memory dear forsake.
· Disturnell's Gazetteer, N. Y. b Ibid.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
But list ! the hour sounds to depart,
And thy bright shores we leave with pain ; Thou ever shalt be near my heart, While life or thought or hope remain ; The friends I here have found, shall be Dear to my heart till life forsake ;
And often shall I think of thee, Thou mildly beauteous Croton Lake.
" The supplies of the Croton are derived exclusively from the elevated region of the Highlands, in Westchester county and Putnam, being furnished by the pure springs which so remarka- bly characterize the granitic formation of this region. Many of the ponds and lakes from which it is maintained, are, three or four hundred acres in extent, and as large as 1000 acres : all these ponds are surrounded by clear upland shores, which furnish soft and clear water. Half a gallon of water taken from the Croton at Wood's bridge, yielded by evaporation, 2,333 grains residuum, in the following proportions :
Vegetable matter, 133
Carbonates of lime and magnesia, 1,200
Muriate of magnesia, 1,000
grains,a 2,333
Prior to the erection of the dam, shad fish annually ascended the river some miles above the present lake. The fishing is now entirely confined to trout, perch, and other fresh water fish.
In 1800 it was proposed to render the Croton river navigable, from its month to Pine's bridge. The following report of the en- gineers is entitled :
" Estimate of expense to make the Croton river navigable for boats of two tons."
The falls at Croton river with a lock,
£350
The falls below the Old bridge,
250
Small rapid,
10
Rapid and stony,
15
2 small falls,
15
& See Corporat. Doc. of N. Y., No. xxxvi. 409.
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HISTORY OF THE
Rocky falls and stony water,
£ 60
Fall both above and below Fowler's mill,
100
Rapids and rocks, 80
Long rapid water, 2 stony falls,
250
do. do.
150
Fall at Carpenter's mills and lock,
110
A short rapid,
30
This brings us to Pine's bridge. Here we find 18 obstructions,
such as small rapids, fish wares, stony, &c. &c.
The cost of which is estimated at 230
£1650
Pine's Bridge crosses the lake about one mile above the dam. On the south side of the Croton is a small settlement bearing the name of Crotonville, which contains a Methodist church, a Friends' meeting house, two stores, a tavern, a post office, and several scattered dwellings. The old bridge was situated west of the present structure, and served, during the Revolution, as the principal communication between the lines. Here the Ame- ricans generally kept a strong guard for the purpose of affording timely notice of an enemy's approach. It was also a place of rendezvous, as appears from the following orders :
" Manor of Cortlandt, 12th Nov., 1781.
" Lieutenant Purdy, you are commanded to march 24 of your men, well armed and equipt with six days provision, to Pine's Bridge, by to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock, with all the teams in your company.
"SAMUEL DRAKE, Colonel." " Danforth's, S o'clock in the evening.
" Sir-I have this moment received intelligence that the ene- my are out as far as Young's. I shall be at the Bridge, ready to march, at 2 o'clock, and wish to have all the militia in Crom- pond mustered and at the Bridge by that time.
" I am, sir, your most obedient servant, " WILLIAM HULL, Lieut. Colonel.
" P. S .- I beg you to send to Major Strang's and Captain Drakes."
" On the morning of the 25th of June, 1779, the British light horse, and about 1000 infantry, were at Pine's Bridge." Gen- eral Heath "ordered 200 light infantry, under the command of
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
Lt. Col. Grosvenor, to march to Robinson's stores, near Marpoach Pond, to cover that quarter."a
21st of October, 1780, " intelligence was received that the en- emy were meditating an excursion as far up as Crompond and its vicinity, to sweep off the cattle." General Heath " immedi- ately ordered Colonel Hazen, witli a detachment of 500 men, to move to Pine's Bridge, and Lieut. Col. Jameson, with the 2d light dragoons, to move from Bedford towards Col. Hazen. The detachment arrived at Pine's Bridge about 10 o'clock the same evening, and Colonel Jameson with the dragoons at about 2 o'clock the next morning. The evening of the 23d, Col. Hazen returned with the detachment ; the enemy did not come out."b It was in the vicinity of Pine's Bridge that Enoch Crosby, the Westchester spy, first commenced his career of secret service.
By way of a general geographical description of Yorktown, it may be observed, "that the north is broken by the hills of the southern border of the Highlands, and the general surface is hilly, though its hills are of a moderate height in the south."c The numerous streams supply abundance of mill seats. "The soil is generally productive, and well distributed into arable, pasture and meadow lands. Much of it is stony ; and previous to the late introduction of gypsum as a manure, many farms were nearly exhausted by constant tillage."d "The timber is very thrifty and tall, consisting for the most part of oak, chesnut, hickory and walnut, &c. The low grounds yield maple, black birch, ash and hemlock, &c.
The first entry relating to town officers occurs in the manor book, entitled, " Record for the manor of Cortlandt and York- town." " At a town meeting held for ye manor of Cortlandt, on the first Tuesday, in April, in the year of our Lord, 1760, to choose town officers for ye said manor for the ensuing year, and the re- spective names and offices of those chosen."
Pierre van Cortlandt, Supervisor,
Moses Travis, Clerk,
& Heath's Mem. 206.
d Ibid.
b Ibid. 260.
Spafford's Gazetteer of New York.
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HISTORY OF THE
Joseph Sherwood, Treasurer,
Daniel Strang,
Joseph Tidd,
Assessors.
Joseph Travis, for the Water Collector at Peekskill, John Travis, Pounder,
Jeremiah Drake, Constable for the west part,
John Yeomans, for ye middle part,
John Purdy, for ye east part, &c. ª
. See Rec. of Yorktown. The names of some twenty freeholders are also attached to the list.
401
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
YONKERS.
YONKERS is situated on the east bank of the Hudson, immedi- ately above New York island, seventeen miles north of New York, one hundred and thirty south of Albany, and ten south- west of White Plains ; bounded north by Greenburgh, east by Eastchester and a small angle of Westchester, or by Bronx's River ; south by West Farms and New York county, and west by the Hudson River. It extends near eight miles along the Hudson, and has a medial width of near three miles.
The name of this town, at different periods written Younkers, Younckers, Jonkers and Yonkers, is derived from the Dutch "Jonker" or "Jonkheer," meaning in that language the " young gentleman," a common appellation for the heir of a Dutch fam- ily.a
Yonkers and the Mile Square constituted a township within the great manor of Philipsburgh, until the year 1779, when the manor was confiscated and conveyed to the people of this state. A. D. 1788, the present township was independently organi- zed.b
Thirty years after the Dutch discovery of the New Nether- lands, A. D. 1639, we find the Dutch West India Company pur- chasing lands in this town of the native Indian sachems.
" Appeared before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of the New Netherlands, Fecquemeck, Rechgawac, Packanniens, own- ers of Kekeshick, which they did freely convey, cede, &c. &c. to the behoof of the General Incorporated West India Company, which lies over against the flats of the Island of Manhates, mostly east and west, beginning at the source of the said Kill till over against the high hill of the flat lands-to wit, by the great Kill, together with all the rights, estate and title to them, the grantees,
a Benson's Mem. of N. Y.
৳ Act passed 7th March, 1788. Rev. Stat. vol. iii. 286. VOL. II. 5.1
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HISTORY OF THE
&c. &c. In testimony of the truth of which, this is subscribed by witnesses. Done 3d of August, 1639, at Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland.a
Cornelius van der Hoyken, { as witnesses.
Davidt Piettersen de Vries, S
In presence of me Cornelis van Tienhoven, Sec'y."
How long the Dutch West India Company held the lands of Kekeshick, does not appear ; but about the year A. D. 1646, we find the Indian sachem Tackarew, granting lands in this town to Adriaen van der Donck.b In this sale the town is called Nep- perhaem,c an Indian name frequently applied to the village. Eighty years later we find it varied to Nepperah,d"the proper Indian orthography of which is evidently Nap-pe-cha-mak, ren- dered literally the " rapid water settlement." Thus graphically expressing the situation of the Mohegan village, at the mouth of the Neperah, or rapid waters.e In the deep seclusion of the an- cient forests that once bordered this beautiful stream, were loca- ted other Indian villages, some of the sites of which tradition has preserved to us ; one of these occupied the eastern edge of Boar Hill. A Mohegan castle ornamented the steep side of Berrian's Neck, styled in the Indian tongue Nipnichsen. It was carefully protected, by a strong stockade, from the attacks of the warlike Sank-hi-can-ni, (fire workers,) inhabiting the Jersey shores, and commanded the romantic scenery of the Spuyten Duyvel Creek and Hudson River. The junction of the two streams was called, in the Indian, Shorackappock. The last settlement of the Nap- peckamak Indians remembered in this town stood near the present residence of Abraham Fowler, on a rising bank of the Neperah (Saw Mill.) The crystal waters of this sweet stream (which runs principally north and south) arise from two perennial springs in
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