USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 42
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from the regularly ordained minister here a written acknowledgment that his parents were lawfully married and he thus legitimately conceived and born, and subsequently baptized in a Christian like manner on the first day of June, in the year 1662, in the presence of sponsors. It also appears that from his in- fancy and during the time he resided here he conducted himself uprightly and without reproach ; and that when he left this place he carried with him an honest reputation. In testimony whereof and in compliance with his humble and dutiful request, I have caused this written certificate to be prepared for the said Ryche and have caused the seal of office to be affixed thereto.
Done and passed on the sixteenth day of January, 1699, counting from the birth of Christ our Saviour.
Signed The County Clerk (Schiegk) at Kyburgh.
Mile Square during the war of the Revolution appears to have been a favorite camp ground with both armies, on account of its sheltered situation and vicinity to the water. Here were quar- tered Colonel Emmerick's British light horse. The British Hussars were billeted here for several summers. The Ryche's mansion being occupied as head quarters, it was the custom of the troopers to tie up their horses to long cords stretched from the apple trees in the orchard, many of which are still standing.
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For security the roads were patrolled and videttes stretched along the neighboring heights. The remains of bastions are still visible on their summits.
1776, the American Rifle Corps were stationed here, and from this place crossed the Bronx to attack and harrass the British flank, as they moved towards White Plains, after landing on Throgmorton's neck. Subsequent to the memorable battle of White Plains the British returned to Mile Square, reconstructed Hunt's bridge, and occupied the hill forts.
1778, the British light infantry and Highland companies under General Simcoe, formed an ambuscade in an orchard, at the place where the roads fork to Hunt's bridge and Valentine's hill, in the hope of surprising a large and strong body of the Ameri- can army moving on the opposite side of the Bronx.
It appears from the British account as related by Simcoe, " that Hunt's bridge was commanded by the heights on the side of Kingsbridge, which the enemy had fortified in 1776. In the British rear was a wood ; it had been designed to conceal the Queen's Rangers under General Simcoe, and while the Yagers and cavalry should have engaged with any corps who might patrole to Valentine's hill, it was thought probable that the enemy on the opposite side of the Bronx would pass over to their assistance, when the in- fantry and Highlanders would rush from the wood, and, occupying the fences do severe and cool execution upon them as they were on the bridge and occu- pied in the deep hollow. An advanced party of the enemy, notwithstand- ing the circumstances which made the troops quit Valentine's hill, had already passed the Bronx, the Yager cavalry were ordered to proceed towards Kings- bridge, slowly and in full sight of the enemy who were on Hunt's hill. There was still hopes by forming the ambuscade to do some service, when, to Lieutenant Col. Simcoe's great surprise, the enemy's cannon were fired at the infantry, whom he expected to have been hidden from their sight, by the intervention of the woods ; but it appeared that while Captain Ross was with the advanced companies some officers imprudently had got upon a fence, out of curiosity, and discovered themselves to the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe immediately withdrew his men out of the reach of any chance shot, and made use of the low ground (the crossing of which would have led him into the ambuscade,) to march his infantry under its cover, out of their sight, or the reach of their cannon ; he sent orders to Capt. Ross to withdraw, and again ambuscaded the cavalry in a position to take advantage of the ene- my if any party of them should pursue him, or from Valentine's hill should endeavor to incommode his retreat. Observing the movement of the Yager cavalry, the enemy marched a party to watch their movements, on the
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opposite bank, while their main body formed the line. Captain Ross thought proper to wait for the party that had crossed the Bronx. He permitted them to come close to him, when his fire threw them into confusion, he then re- treated, making a small circuit to avoid some riflemen who had occupied the wood, and the corps returned to the camp."a
A day or two preceding the battle of White Plains a large body of British horse advanced upon the road leading through this place for the purpose of reconnoitering.
September, 1778, Sir Archibald Campbell advanced with the 71st regiment of the Scotch Highlanders to Mile square. 'They were soon after joined by General Grant with another force of High- landers who occupied the ground from the Bronx at Hunt's bridge to the North River. During the whole course of the war Colonel James de Lancey kept a recruiting officer constantly stationed at Jones's honse, in the Mile square, as he always con- sidered Mile square itself within the British lines.
On the road leading from the Mile square to the village of Yonkers, are still visible, the remains of an old hostel, the keeper of which was one Gainos, a Frenchman. This individual, during the occupancy of Mile square by the Ameri- can forces, supplied the army with liquor and provisions. On the approach of the enemy from New York he chose to re- tire with General Washington to White Plains, shortly after the evacuation of the premises by Gainos, his tenants left in charge were alarmed by the midnight attack of a gang of British Cow- boys, a scuffle ensued, during which one of the assailants was killed.
In the retreat of the robbers, they pitched the headless body of their slain comrade, into the adjoining well. This tragical event has given rise to strange stories ; and has thrown over this spot a veil of horror; which is heightened by the loneliness of its situ- ation. Some benighted countryman has construed the gnarled and fantastic cedars, (which surround this spot,) into the head- less form of the cowboy seated on the well, and the sweeping blast, or gurgling brook, into his doleful groans. The common
« Simcoe's Milit. Journal, p. 77.
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people still regard this place with superstitious dread, no one daring to approach it after dusk.
Valentine's hill, is a high ridge bordering the Mile square on the west ; its summit affords one of the finest views in West Chester County. To the east the eye ranges over an extensive country of hills, woods and vales, stretching towards the Long Island Sound, the distant horizon skirted by light blue hills. To the north lie the Tuckahoe hills, while westward the view is bounded by the Yonkers ridge surmounted with lofty woods, with here and there a glimpse to be obtained of the dark pali- sades peeping through some opening of the trees ; below lies a beautiful vale through which Meanders Tippets brook. At the base of the hill winds the Croton Acqueduct.
Valentine's hill and adjoining property has been occupied by the ancient and numerous family of the Valentines for nearly one hundred and twenty years. The ancestor of the family Matthias Valentine, having been one of the first tenants under the Philipses ; on his settlement here the whole surrounding & country was one vast forest, the lonely domain of the deer. The verges of these forests also abounded with another noble species of game long since extinct, and that was the wild turkey. It is said that flocks of them used to fly from the Yonkers ridge on the west side of Tippets brook to this hill at certain seasons of the year for the purpose of feeding on the acorn and beech nut. The flight was always commenced by a large black cock of the woods. Sunset being the signal for departure, the leader gave the well known note and they were instantly on the wing for the opposite hills. There yet remains a fine specimen of the ancient denizens of the forests on the western edge of this hill, by the road side leading to the village. This venerable chesnut tree in the fall of the year appears to be the favorite gathering place of thousands of swallows just before they commence their migrations.
In possession of the Valentine family are numerous receipts given for rent ; formerly due the Lords of Philipsborough. As a specimen occurs the following:
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Op Nippera Des 20 Mars No. 1727.
den 20 Mars heft Theis Valentin en syn Moeder hier gebracht 13} boschel tarwe vor de hner von land vor ye Tahr Ao 1726.
Yonckers, January ye 28 day 1734-5.
Then received of Mr. Matthiase Vallentine 7g bushels of Rent wheat on behalf of Mr. Philipse. I said received by me
William Peck.
At the commencement of the revolutionary war this hill was rented by two grandsons of the first proprietor Thomas and Gil- bert Valentine who occupied it through the whole course of the war. In the summer of 1775, the American army threw up en- trenchments on its summit the remains of which are still visible. When his Excellency General Washington lay encamped on Valen- tine's hill in the fall of 1776, it was supposed to be the design of the enemy to attack his position. On this occasion Thomas Valen- tine wasengaged with the General in conversation, leaning upon the pominel of his saddle when the heads of the British columns were seen approaching at a distance of three or four miles on the op- posite side of the Bronx, as if taking the direction of the hill. Un- der this supposition Washington ordered ont several companies to attack the flanking parties of the enemy, who it was discovered were taking the high road to the White Plains. It was after- wards asserted by a British officer that through the aid of their glasses they had seen Thomas Valentine and the General in conversation.
Washington having ascertained the intention of the enemy pushed on his left wing to the White Plains, while his right oc- cupied the hill.
From the 12th to the 27th of October, 1776, the American army lay entrenched in detached camps from this hill to the White Plains.a On the 27th, as the enemy continned to advance upon the White Plains, General Washington suddenly called in all his detachments, and abandoning the positions he had occupied along the Bronx, assembled all his forces in a strong camp npon Chatterton Heights. Upon the 28th of October, the day of the battle, it was asserted by the residents on the hill, that not only
a Stedman's Hist. of the American War.
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was the cannonade distinctly heard, but also the singing of the Hessians as they advanced to attack the American position. Af- ter the battle of the 28th, the British infantry were stationed here.
The old Valentine house, which stood northwest of the pre- sent residence, was used for some time by General Washington as head quarters.
It would appear from the following letter, in possession of the family, that 'Thomas Valentine had aided the advance of Wash- ington's left wing towards the White Plains :-
Valentine's Hill, Jan'y 27th, 1777.
These may certify, that on or about the 25th day of October last, I ordered Thomas Valentine's one yoke of oxen and cart, to be taken for the public ser- vice. They carried a load to ye White Plains. There I discharged them. I am informed they were further taken on their return, and that Mr. Valen- tine hath not received them. B. LINCOLN.
On the 6th of June, 1778, Sir William Erskine fell back to- wards Valentine's Hill. The Queen's Rangers encamping on Odell's Hill, soon after, these corps formed part of an escort which accompanied the English commander-in-chief to the White Plains,a 1778. Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton was ordered, with the whole of the English cavalry, to this hill, for the purpose of covering the right, when they endeavored to surprise General Gist in the parsonage. The same year, upon the retiring of Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, the continental forces again took possession of the hill.
On the 16th September, 1782, (says General Heath,) the ene- my made a grand forage near Valentine's Hill ; Sir Guy Carle- ton was out in person, as was the young Prince (William Henry, Duke of Clarence, afterwards King William the Fourth.) The covering party, it was said, consisted of five or six thousand men.b
During the absence of the armies, Valentine's Hill was much exposed to the depredations of gangs of outlaws called Cowboys and Skinners, who roamed the country in search of plunder. On one occasion, a party of the former forced their entrance into the
: Simcoe's Mil. Journal.
৳ Heath's Mem. 353.
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Valentine House ; seizing the proprietor, Thomas Valentine, they demanded his life or money ; whereupon, disbelieving or affect- ing to disbelieve him, they threatened, on his again refusing, to hang him instantly. Obtaining no satisfactory answer, they car- ried him to the foot of a cherry tree, still standing, near the cor- ner of the old garden, and had placed the cord around his neck, when he suddenly threw it off, exclaiming, " Don't be such d --- d fools as to hang a man when he hasn't any money." The coolness and apparent sincerity of his language served effec- tually to disarm the robbers, for they not only desisted from their purpose, but released him. Instances had occurred in the neigh- borhood in which they had actually carried their threats into execution.
One or two instances of heroic courage in a female of this family (Susan Valentine, now Mrs. Vredenburgh, still living, 1847, aged 93) is deserving of record. These marauders, like all other villains, frequently proved themselves great cowards. Miss Susan Valentine, when a young woman, prevented a large party from entering the house by threatening them, single hand- ed, with a large oven shovel, solemnly protesting she would split the head of the first man that dared to cross the threshhold. Her courage and determination alone served to protect the house from plunder. On another occasion, an intimate friend, Mr. Sneden, had entrusted her with the care of £30 in gold and silver, not daring to carry this amount about his person, as he was going a long journey into the interior.
On receiving her charge, Miss Valentine, for greater secu ity concealed it in her dress, designing to keep it there until the own- er's safe return.
The same evening of Mr. Sneden's departure, a party of Skin- ners forced their way into her bed-room, dragged her from the bed, and demanded her money. This she either denied possess- ing, or refused to deliver ; whereupon, becoming violent, .... called to her brother. During the scuffle that followed her bro- ther's entrance, she contrived to crawl out at the foot of the bed. hoping, in this way, to escape unobserved. In this she was dis- appointed ; the villains observed and again seized her. In the violent attempt made to extricate herself the second time, the
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money fell on the floor, or, as she herself described it, " was fairly shook out of her." The freebooters greedily seized it, and marched off, delighted with the success of their enterprize.
In this town is situated Berrian's Neck, the ancient Nipnich- sen of the Mohegans. The Dutch conferred upon it the name of Konstabelsche hoek, or Point, from its owner, William Con- stable. This neck forms the northern bank, at the mouth, of the noted Spyt den Dyvel Kil, or channel. At an early period it belonged to Samuel Edsall. From the Edsalls it passed to the Tippetts, who, during the revolutionary struggle, adhered to the side of the Crown. In consequence their property was confis- cated to the State, (the Tippetts having fled to Nova Scotia,) and sold to Samuel Berrian, who married a daughter of Tippett, for- mer proprietor. A second daughter became the wife of the cel- ebrated Col. James de Lancey, one of the boldest foragers of the Neutral Ground. In 1796, Samuel Berriana sold the whole estate of Tippett's Neck, consisting of 200 acres, to his nephew, Abra- ham Berrian.
The neck remains yet undivided. The heirs are Abraham Berrian, John Hoogland, and Mr. Bleecker.
There are remains of three distinct forts on Tippett or Berri- an's Neck, which once formed a part of the chain of hill batte- ries reaching from the North to the East Rivers. January the 19th, 1777, (says Gen. Heath,) it was determined to make an at- tempt to cut off the British battalion within King's Bridge, early the next morning, by passing a strong detachment over Spitten De- vil Creek on the ice, which, however, was not very strong, but the weather was cold. One thousand were detached for this pur- pose ; but the weather having grown warm in the night, the ice was judged, by the unanimous opinion of all the general offi- cers on the ground, to be too hazardous, on the morning of the 20th, to venture the attempt. On this day there was a cannon- ade on both sides, and the enemy on the island side were thrown into much confusion. Our General observing that when the ene- my within the island were cannonaded across Haarlem Creek, they
* The son of Samuel was Richard Berrian, father of the Rev. William Berrian, D. D., rector of Trinity Church, N. Y.
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sheltered themselves behind the little hill near the bridge, next to Spitten Devil Creek. On this afternoon he rode round on to Tip- pett's Hill, which was in its rear, and found that a field-piece, drawn up on that side, would leave the enemy no hiding place. On the 21st, a cannonade commenced again on both sides. In the afternoon a field-piece was hauled up to Tippett's Hill, and the enemy being cannonaded both in front and rear, they were thrown into the utmost confusion : some secured themselves in their redoubt, others under the banks ; some lay flat on the ground, and some betook themselves to the cellars; so that in a short time there was no object for the gunners."a
The principal fort now standing on the neck is situated a little south of the residence of Mr. Whiting, on the property of Mr. John Ewings. It is in the form of a hollow square, with banks fifteen or twenty feet high. Nothing can exceed the boldness of the scenery as viewed from this elevated spot; below, the steep sides of the neck are bordered with beautiful woodland that skirts the shores of the majestic Hudson ; while beyond, the pali- sades are seen abruptly rising in all their grandeur from the opposite margin of the river. South-east are the distant heights of Fordham and Westchester, and north the Hudson reaching into the Tappaan Zee.
The remains of " Indian shell beds," are still visible imtredi- ately in the rear of the fort. Foot paths lead through the woods that skirt the river to the extreme point of the neck. The Berrian residence, a fine structure of stone, now occupied by Mr. Tucker, is situated on rising ground near the extreme point ; its beautiful situation claims notice. The Hudson here expands its waters, and, united with those of the Haarlem river at the mouth of the Spuyten duyvel, gives a beautiful lake like appearance to the whole; the winding creek, the heights of Fordham and wooded hills of New York island, serve to unite and blend a landscape which might have inspired the pen of a Thomson or the pencil of a Claude. The old 'Tippett mansion is located on the eastern side of this neck, embosomed in the bank and shaded with tall poplars. It possesses a desolate and antiquated appearance, in
& Heath's Mem. 110.
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perfect keeping with the strange stories that are told of its still being haunted by the ghosts of the old tories. Deer are said to have frequented the woods bordering on this neck as late as 1782.
The mouth of the Spuyt den duyvel kil and Berrian's neck will ever be memorable as the scene of the fight between Hen- drick Hudson and the Indians, A. D. 1609.
At day-break on the 22d of October, the Halve Maen (Crescent) sailed from Teller's Point on her passage down the river, with a fair wind, twenty-one miles, till the tide set too strong against her, when she came to anchor near the upper end of Manhattan island. "The two captive Indians who had escaped at West Point had, it appears, made their way on the east side of the river, rousing on their return the spirits of Sleepy Hollow,a or the more ferocious Manhatta,b and here 'in the inlet of Haarlem river, they had concentrated a force that impatiently awaited the arrival of the rich booty, which they flattered themselves they should obtain.'
"They had not waited long ere the Halve Maen appeared, and immediately hove to near their place of ambush. One of the Indians who had escaped from Hudson's vessel now came out with many others armed with bows and arrows expecting to betray them."c But, says Juet the mate of Hudson's vessel, " we perceived their intent, and suffered none of them to enter our ship, whereupon two canoes full of men with bows and arrows shot at us after our stern, in recompense whereof we discharged six muskets and killed two or three of them, then above one hundred of them came to a point of land to shoot at us, then, I shot a falcon at them and killed two of them; whereupon the rest fled into the woods. Yet they manned off another canoe with nine or ten men, which came to meet us, so I shot at it also a falcon, and shot it through and killed one of them, then our men with muskets killed three or four more of them, so they went their way."d
& Of the Mahicanni nation, who lived, says Moulton, a little north-west of White Plains .- Irving's Sketch Book.
b Who probably extended to Tappan bay .- Moulton.
e Moulton's Hist. N. Y. part i. 271, 2
¿ Hudson's Journal.
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It was here too, that during the absence of the illustrious Peter Stuyvesant, who was then occupied in reducing the Swedish fortresses on the Delaware, a body of nine hundred Indians having crossed the river, came and landed at Spiteing devil creek. Here they posted themselves, and remained until they were ap- prised of his return.a.
The waters of the kil or channel derive their name from a daring Dutch burgher of the Manhattans, who, bent upon per- forming some deed of knight errantry, determined upon crossing this stream in a violent storm, in opposition to the remonstrances of his friends; swearing he would swim across en spyt den duyvel, (in spite of the devil,) but scarcely had he reached the middle of the channel when he was overwhelmed by the stormy billows and sank to rise no more.
This incident has been well described in the Sketch Book, by Washington Irving, although he has fixed a much later date for the origin of the name than we find it recorded in the Colonial annals. It is entitled, " The Doleful Disaster of Anthony the Trumpeter."
" Stuyvesant resolutely bent upon defending his beloved city (New Amster- dam) in despite of itself, called unto him his trusty Van Corlear, who was his right hand man in all times of emergency. Him did he adjure to take his war denouncing trumpet, and mounting his horse, to beat up the country, night and day, sounding the alarm along the pastoral borders of the Bronx, startling the wild solitudes of Croton, arousing the rugged yeomanry of Weehawk and Ho- boken, the mighty men of battle of Tappan bay, and the brave boys of 'Tarry- town and Sleepy Hollow, together with all the other warriors of the country round about ; charging them one and all, to sling their powder horns, shoulder their fowling pieces, and march merrily down to the Manhattans. Now there was nothing in all the world, the divine sex excepted, that Anthony van Corlear loved better than errands of this kind. So just stopping to take a lusty dinner, and bracing to his side his junk bottle, well charged with heart inspiring Hol- lands, he issued jollily from the city gate that looked out upon what is at present called Broadway ; sounding as usual a farewell strain, that rung in sprightly echoes through the winding streets of New Amsterdam. Alas ! never more were they to be gladdened by the melody of their favorite trumpeter ! It was a dark and stormy night when the good Anthony arrived at the famous creek (sagely denominated Harlem river) which separates the island of Manna-hata
« Egbert Benson's Mem N. Y. 94.
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from the main land. The wind was high, the elements were in an uproar, and no Charon could be found to ferry the adventurous sounder of brass across the water.
" For a short time he vapoured like an impatient ghost upon the brink, and then, bethinking himself of the urgency of his errand, took a hearty embrace of his stone bottle, swore most valorously, that he would swim across, en spyt den duyvel, (in spite of the devil !) and daringly plunged into the stream. Luckless Anthony ! scarce had he buffeted half way over, when he was ob- served to struggle violently, as if battling with the spirit of the waters-in- stinctively he put his trumpet to his mouth, and giving a vehement blast, sunk forever to the bottom !
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