USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 44
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& American Archives, 4th series, vol. iii. 645.
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White, and in case Augustus, the son of the said Henry White and my said deceased daughter shall survive the said Henry White, then to hold the same for the use of the said Augustus, and his heirs and assignees, on condi- tion that from and after my decease, he do take and constantly and exclu- sively use the name of Van Cortlandt, &c., &c.ª
Augustus van Cortlandt, the above devisee, subsequently took possession of the estate under the will of his grandfather, the above testator. The Revised Statutes of 1825, having abolished the entail, Augustus became possessed of the estate in fee sim- ple. Upon the 18th of Feb., 1827, Augustus van Cortlandt be- queathed the Yonkers to his brother Henry, for life, and to his brother's eldest son forever, provided they take and constantly use the name of " Van Cortlandt ;" and upon the failure of male heirs, to Henry, the testator provided that the property should pass to his nephew, Augustus van Cortlandt Bibby, son of his sister Augusta."
Henry, the above devisee, took possession of the estate on his brother's death, in 1839, and assumed the name of Van Cort- landt. Henry van Cortlandt died Oct., 1839, and was succeeded by his nephew, the present proprietor, Augustus van Cortlandt, Esq.
The present mansion house, a large edifice of stone, was erected by Frederick van Cortlandt, A. D. 1748 ;b it forms a noble object when viewed from the lawn. The situation commands nearly the whole length of the vale of Yonkers ; stretching south, the view is terminated only by the high hills of New York island, and heights of Fordham. The pleasure grounds in front, appear to have been laid out in the ancient Dutch style, with high artificial banks, adorned with rows of state-
a Surrogate's office, N. Y.
b The following item occurs in the will of Frederick van Cortlandt, dated 2nd of Oct. 1749 : " whereas, I am now about finishing a large stone dwelling house on the plantation in which I now live, which, with the said plantation, will, by virtue of my deceased father's will, devolve after my decease, upon my eldest son James, &c. Surrogate's office N. Y., fol. xviii. 62.
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ly box, venerable for their height and antiquity ; while be- neath are still visible the remains of old fish ponds and jets d'eau. Above the old fashioned windows, grim visages in the shape of corbels seem to frown upon the beholder. We sup- pose them to be a kind of " genii loci."
Cortlandt House, the residence of Augustus van Cortlandt, Esq.
Two eagles surmount the posts of the old gateway facing the stables. These were part of the spoils taken from a Spanish pri- vateer during the war; and presented to Augustus van Cortlandt, by Rear Admiral Robert Digby of the British navy. To the east of the house, the Mosholu (Tippetts brook) pent up by the mill dam, forms an extensive sheet of water, which is greatly en- riched by the vicinity of green meadows, orchards and neighbor- ing hills. South of the pond is situated the old mill. Amid the grove of locusts on George's point, a little north of the mill, stood the original residence of the Van Cortlandts.
The interior of the present house is neatly fitted up and fur- nished, its drawing room and library windows look out on beau- tiful prospects, in the latter apartment are some fine family por- traits : Henry White, jr., by Jarvis; Vice Admiral Sir John White, in full uniform, a copy by Chapman from the original of Jarvis ; Augustus van Cortlandt, by Jarvis ; Thomas Bibby,
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by Chapman ; Mr. Babcock, by Stewart ; and Henry White sen., by Copley.
The old family Bible of the Van Cortlandts, printed at Am- sterdam, A. D. 1714, contains some curious memoranda of the Jay family. The first entry occurs New York den 19th Jan'ry, 1723 4.
During the early period of the Revolutionary war this house was garrisoned by a piquet guard of the Green Yagers, whose officers held their head quarters here.
His Excellency, General Washington, and aids, dined in one of the apartments on the memorable July of 1781, when the British piquets were driven within the lines upon New York island. In another room the unfortunate Captain Rowe expired in the arms of his bride elect.
To the north of the mansion is seen rising Vault Hill, so called from the family sepulchre, which is seated upon its sum- mit. From this spot, hallowed by the remains of the illustrious dead, the view is exceedingly beautiful ; Tippett's vale, the mill pond, orchards, and neighbouring hills. The vault itself is a small square edifice of stone surmounted with a pointed roof, the whole enclosed by a solid stone wall. Within an adjoining vault in the same yard repose the remains of
CHARLOTTE AMELIA BAYLEY,ª relict of Doctor Richard Bayley, who died the 1st day of Sept. 1805.
It was upon this hill that Gen. Washington stationed his troops and lighted camp fires for the purpose of deceiving the enemy, whilst he secretly withdrew to join La Fayette before Yorktown in Virginia, A. D. 1781.
There are still the remains of a considerable fort on the north end of this ridge. During the Revolutionary struggle the valley south from Vault hill to Kingsbridge, appears to have been the constant scene of skirmishing between the two armies.
3d July, 1781, General Washington planned an expedition to cut off Colonel James de Lancey, stationed in the vale, and Major
a This lady was sister-in-law of Augustus van Cortlandt, sen.
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Pruschanck, another British officer occupying Cortlandt ridge, in command of the Yager horse.
It had been so arranged that the Duke of Lauzun should march to Williams's bridge and there make his rendezvous till daylight the following morning. General Lincoln was to be piloted down from Tappan and landed below Yonkers, while Washington himself should take post on Valentine's hill. Lauzun accordingly conducted his cavalry to Williams's bridge, where he halted. In the mean time General Lincoln had been landed half a mile below the village, on the property now owned by Thomas W. Ludlow, Esq., then occupied by Isaac Post. After landing, Lincoln, guided by Major Lawrence, passed along shore south, missing Col. Emmerick with his corps marching north to Boar hill ; then crossing over the hills east, Lincoln followed the course of Tippett's brook, for the purpose of avoiding Pruschank's corps, stationed upon Cortlandt's ridge. Passing the Van Cortlandt residence, he kept close to the edge of Gun and Locust hills, and had arrived in the vicinity of General Montgomery's house, (then occupied by his widow,) unobserved by the sentinels on the opposite side, when the enemy's patrol fired. De Lancey, instantly on the alert, commenced his retreat in face of General Lincoln's advancing columns. Totten, De Lancey's lieutenant, seemed determined to make a stand, but soon received positive orders from De Lancey to retire, which he did, just in time to avoid the surprisal.
Colonel Armand, the celebrated French cavalry officer, made a daring and successful attempt to surprise a large piquet of Green Yagers, stationed at Warner's store, under the command of De Wurmb. For this purpose Armand left his quarters above the Croton and proceeded down the main post road to the village of Yonkers ; after passing the village, and when in the neighbor- hood of the enemy's encampment, he started his whole corps on a full gallop. The Yagers had taken the precaution to post a sentinel at Hadley's spring, but the poor fellow became so per- fectly alarmed and powerless on seeing the furious onset of Armand's horse, that he could give no alarm, and was instantly dispatched. The consequence was, the whole corps were either killed or made prisoners. Colonel Armand then made good his
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retreat, passing in front of the Van Cortlandt residence, and re- turning by the way of Tippett's valley. In the mean time the British bugle sounded to horse, and his enemies were in full pursuit. On arriving at the Van Cortlandt house a vigorous search was made for Armand, who was by this time far advanced on his retreat to the Croton.
On the Van Cortlandt estate is situated Indian bridge and field ; the former crosses Tippet's brook, the latter forms a portion of the Cortlandt woods, an extensive range of woodland to the north-east of the mansion. Both these places are memorable as the scene of a severe engagement between the British troops and Stockbridge Indians, 31st August, 1778.
The action is thus related in Simcoe's Military Journal :
" Lt. Col. Simcoe, returning from head quarters, the 20th of August, heard a firing in front, and being informed that Lt. Col. Emmerick had patrolled, he immediately marched to his assistance. He soon met him retreating ; and Lt. Col. Emmerick being of opinion the rebels were in such force, that it would be advisable to return, he did so. Lt. Col. Simcoe understood that Nimham, an Indian chief, and some of his tribe, were with the enemy ; and by his spies, who were excellent, he was informed that they were highly elated at the retreat of Emmerick's corps, and applied it to the whole of the light troops at Kingsbridge. Lt. Col. Simcoe took measures to increase their belief; and, ordering a day's provision to be cooked, marched the next morn- ing, the 31st of August, a small distance in front of the post, and determined to wait there the whole day, in hopes of betraying the enemy into an ambus- cade ; the country was most favorable to it. His idea was, as the enemy moved upon the road which is delineated in the plan as intersecting the country, to advance from his flanks ; this movement would be perfectly con- cealed by the fall of the ground upon his right, and by the woods upon the left ; and he meant to gain the heights in the rear of the enemy, attacking whomsoever should be within by his cavalry and such infantry as might be necessary. In pursuance of these intentions, Lt. Col. Emmerick with his corps, was detached from the Queen's Rangers and Legion, as Lt. Col. Sim- coe thought, fully instructed in the plan ; however, he most unfortunately mis- took the nearer house for one at a greater distance, the names being the same, and there he posted himself, and soon after sent from thence a patrol forward upon the road, before Lt. Col. Simcoe, could have time to stop it. This pa- trol had no effect, not meeting with any enemy ; had a single man of it de- serted, or been taken, the whole attempt had, probably, been abortive. Lt. Col. Simcoe, who was half way up a tree, on the top of which was a drummer boy, saw a flanking party of the enemy approach. The troops had scarcely
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fallen into their ranks, when a smart firing was heard from the Indians, who had lined the fences of the road, and were exchanging shot with Lt. Col. Emmerick, whom they had discovered. The Queen's Rangers moved rapidly to gain the heights, and Lieut. Col. Tarleton immediately advanced with the Hussars and the Legion cavalry ; not being able to pass the fences in his front, he made a circuit to return further upon their right ; which being re- ported to Lieut. Col Simcoe, he broke from the column of the Rangers, with the grenadier company, and, directing Major Ross to conduct the corps to the heights, advanced to the road, and arrived, without being perceived, within ten yards of the Indians. They had been intent upon the attack of Emmer- ick's corps and the Legion ; they now gave a yell, and fired upon the grena- dier company, wounding four of them, and Lieut. Col. Simcoe. They were driven from the fences; and Lient. Col. Tarleton, with the cavalry, got among them, and pursued them rapidly down Cortlandt's ridge. That active officer had a narrow escape; in striking at one of the fugitives, he lost his balance and fell from his horse ; luckily, the Indian had no bayonet, and his musket had been discharged. Lieut. Col. Simcoe joined the battalion, and seized the heights. A captain of the rebel light infantry, and a few of his men, were taken ; but a body of them, under Major Stewart, who afterwards wasdistinguished at Stony Point, left the Indians and fled.
"Though this ambuscade, its greater part, failed, it was of consequence. Near forty of the Indians were killed, or desperately wounded ; among others, Nimham, a chieftain, who had been in England, and his son ; and it was re- ported to have stopped a larger number of them, who were excellent marks- men, from joining General Washington's army. The Indian doctor was taken ; and he said, that when Nimham saw the grenadiers close in his rear, he called out to his people to fly, 'that he himself was old, and would die there ;' he wounded Lient. Col. Simcoe, and was killed by Wright, his orderly Hussar. The Indians fought most gallantly ; they pulled more than one of the cavalry from their horses ; French, an active youth, bugle-horn to the Hussars, struck at an Indian, but missed his blow ; the man dragged him from his horse, and was searching for his knife to stab him, when, loosening French's hand, he luckily drew out a pocket pistol, and shot the Indian through the head, in which situation he was found. One man of the Legion cavalry was killed, and one of them, and two of the hussars, wounded."a
The scene of this conflict lies on the land of the late Freder- ick Brown, now occupied by his widow. The struggle com- menced in the 2d field west of Brown's house, and close by the
a See Simcoe's Military Journal, published by Bartlett & Welford, N. Y., to which work we refer our readers for an engraved plan of the above mentioned action.
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present road leading to Devaux's. The opening in the Cort- landt woods still goes by the name of Indian field. Here the dead were buried. The Indians according to the British account led down the ridge across the present acqueduct, to what is called Indian bridge ; which then, as now, crossed Tippetts brook. On gaining the western bank, they secreted themselves amid the rocks and bushes ; here the cavalry pursued them ; but being un- able to scale the rocks, called upon the fugitives to surrender ; promising them as a condition for so doing, life and protection. Upon this, three ventured to throw themselves upon the mercy of the British soldier, and were immediately drawn out by the bridge and cut to pieces. Notwithstanding the strictest search that could be made for the remainder, four managed to escape to the American lines beyond the Croton. One of these survivors by the name of Job, lived to a good old age ; gaining his livelihood by fishing on the banks of the Hudson ; but whenever he could be tempted to relate the horrors of that day, the big tears would start in his eyes and he would sob like a child. Nimham the Indian chief fell as related by the hand of Wright, Simcoe's or- derly huzzar, in the swamp between Jesse Halstead's house and John and Frederick Devanx's, now the Mankin property. There it was left a prey to the dogs and crows to be devoured at their leisure. All trace of the bones are now gone. Eighteen Indians were buried in one pit in Indian field ; it is still a current tradi- tion, that the old Sachem haunts the scene of conflict.
Does fancy's mimic dread pourtray Amid the boughs a spectre gray, Or is it, the boding vision seen Where murders bloody work has been ?
[Yamoyden.
It is not a little singular that a few months preceding this battle, the two British Generals Simcoe and Tarleton, had a narrow escape of their lives from these very Indians. These officers it appears were making observations on the country, and patroling with a few huzzars. "The Stockbridge Indians about sixty in number, excellent marksmen, had just joined Gen. VOL. II. 58
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Washington's army. Lieut. Colonel Simcoe was describing a private road to Lient. Colonel Tarleton : Wright, his orderly dragoon, alighted and took down a fence of Devaux's farm yard for them to pass through ; around this farm the Indians were lying in ambuscade ; Wright had scarce mounted his horse, when these officers, for some trivial reason altered their intentions, and, spurring their horses, soon rode out of sight, and out of reach of the Indians.
In a few days after, they had certain information of the am- buscade, which they so fortunately had escaped : in all probabi- lity they owed their lives to the Indians' expectation of surround- ing and taking them prisoners."a
Bordering the road north west of the Van Cortlandt's, is the old Hadley property, now owned by Major Joseph Delafield.
The stone residence of the Hadley's is still standing on the edge of the ancient turnpike.
The shore of the Hudson in this region is studded with beauti- ful villas ; the most prominent of which are those of Mr. W. Mor- ris, Mr. William Ackerman, Mr. Abraham Schemerhorn, Mr. J. E. Betner and Mr. Lispenard Stewart, &c.
In the immediate vicinity of the latter is situated Font Hill, the seat of Mr. Edwin Forrest. The edifice which is of stone, after the designs of Mr. Thos. C. Smith, presents a fine specimen of the English castellated style. The building has six towers, affording extended views of the Hudson River ; the highest of these called the flag or stair tower, is seventy-one feet from the surface of the ground.
The gothic residence of Mr. Thomas W. Ludlow occupies a very pleasant spot on the bank of the river, a short distance south of the village ; it is almost surrounded by high hills. From this place the noble Hudson appears in all its glory. The edifice is built of brick in the Elizabethian style. The exterior presents quite the beau ideal of an old English country residence. A pretty lodge in the rural gothic order adorns the entrance of the grounds. Mr Thomas W. Ludlow is the youngest son of Thomas Ludlow,
a Simcoe's Mil. Journal, p. 80.
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Esq., who was Marshal of the Court of Admiralty in 1780.ª The family of Ludlow derives its surname from the ancient town so denominated, in the county of Salop, England. They afterwards removed to High Deverell in Wiltshire, about the middle of the 14th century; at which time lived William Ludlow Esq., of High Deverell, from whom lineally descended Sir Henry Lud- low, Knt. of Maiden Bradley, in the county of Wilts, M. P. for that shire, father of Edmund Ludlow, the celebrated republican general during the civil wars, who died in exile, at Vevay, in Switzerland, in 1693, where a monument is erected to his men- ory. The half brother of Sir Henry Ludlow, was Edmund Lud- low, Esq., ancestor of the American branch. Of this family is Henry Ludlow, Esq. of Clason's neck.
Near the village of Yonkers, is situated the farm and residence of the late Elijah Rich, recently occupied by John P. Groshon, now owned by his grand-daughter, Mrs. Herriot. Directly op- posite the house a commanding eminence of rocks rises very ab- ruptly. Up the side of this steep precipice, General Washington pursued by the enemy's patrol, was compelled to fly to escape capture. From the high grounds in the rear, are fine views of the river. Here, in 1777, a memorable engagement took place between the two British frigates the Rose, and the Phoenix, which lay off at anchor, and the gun boats of the patriots which sallied out of the harbor of Yonkers, having in tow a large tender filled with combustibles, intending to run it along side of the frigates. The crews however, kept it off by means of spars, and a heavy fire of grape and cannister compelled the gun boats and their brave crews to seek shelter in the mouth of the Saw Mill.
The year previous, General Heath had been requested by the person in command of the fire ships, to be a spectator of the burning of these vessels.
16 August, 1776, General Heath accompanied by General Clinton and seve- ral other officers, took a proper position on the bank of the Hudson. "The night, says Heath himself, was pretty dark ; we soon found that the gallies
& His staff of office is still preserved at Yonkers in the shape of a silver oar, in- scribed " Court of Vice Admiralty, New York."
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and fire vessels were silently moving up with the tide. After some time, and almost immediately after the sentinels on board the British ships had passed the word " all is well," two of the fire vessels flashed into a blaze ; the one close on the side of the Phoenix, the other grappling one of the ten- ders. To appearance, the flames were against the side of the Phoenix ; and there was much confusion on board. A number of cannon were discharged into the fire vessel in order to sink her. A number of seamen ascended and got out on the yard arm, supposed to clear away some grapplings. The fire vessel was along side as was judged near ten minutes, when the Phoenix either cut or slipt her cable, let fall her fore topsail, wore round and stood up the river, being immediately veiled from the spectators by the darkness of the night. The Rose and the other two tenders remained at their moor- ings."a Cannon balls are still dug out of the banks in great numbers.
A little south, upon the east shore, lies the Vischer's rock or Fishers point. The Groshon place was frequently visited du- ring the war by prowling bands of "Cow boys ;" who not only levied exactions of stock and money, but compelled its inmates to find other shelter out of doors, while they filled the rooms with straw and quartered themselves thereon for the night. A cow and horse belonging to the family were concealed for some time in one of the bed rooms; while the family silver was stowed away between the wainscoat.
Contiguous to the village of Yonkers, and immediately above it, is situated on a commanding eminence, the hotel of De Witt C. Kellinger, called the Mansion house. This well known spot affords excellent accommodation to parties and strangers visiting the town,
'The village itself, is pleasantly situated in a picturesque hol- low on the banks of the Saw mill river, which here discharges its waters into the lordly Hudson. The dams of the various grist, saw mills and woollen manufactories, form a beautiful series of cascades ; while the wooded banks and surrounding hills add in- creased loveliness to the scene.
This place was called by its aboriginal possessors, Nap-pe- cka-mak, a name derived as before stated from its situation at
& Heath Mem. 54.
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the mouth of the Neperah ; or in other words it was the Rapid water settlement.
The Dutch afterwards conferred upon it the name of the Little Jonkers Plantation. 'This word was sometimes pro- nounced Yonkers, which gives us the present name of the vil- lage. During the occupancy of the Philips's, it was called Philipsborough, after the Manor.
The Dutch termed the Saw Mill, the Saeg kil (stream.) After the Patroon's settlement, it was named in compliment to him, the Jonkers or Yonkers kill and Colendoncks kill. "Several fine creeks enter into the north river, says Van der Donck, such as the Colendonck's kil or Saw kil."a
Yonkers is now one of the most opulent villages in the county of Westchester. From its desirable situation on the Saw Mill and close vicinity to the Hudson, it has greatly im- proved in trade, of late years : many beautiful houses have been built, streets laid out, and a number of thriving manufac- tories erected and in full operation ; among these, are the two large sawing mills of Messrs Paddock, two mahogany mills of T. Cop- cutt, Norton and Moore, a large factory for the extraction of dye woods, Embossing factory of Dykes and Co., Carpet factory of Mitchell and Co., Hat body manufactory of Waring & Baldwin, and the glove skin dressing manufactory of 'T'. Glasser, &c.
A beautiful road leads to the village landing, tastefully orna- mented with the fine horse chesnut (ÆEsculus.) This avenue affords a beautiful sight in the month of May when these trees put forth their gay clusters of white flowers.b But the beauty of the coup d'œil, is the scene from the landing. In front flows the Hudson like a broad silvery mirror ; while oppo- site, tower in majesty the basaltic rocks of the Palisades.c North- ward, the view is terminated by the highlands of Tappaan and
a Vander Donck's N. N., N. Y. Hist. Soc. p. Ser. i. 142.
b The Horse Chesnut is extensively used in Europe for avenues. At Ghent, one borders the Bruges canal of a mile and a half in length.
c 'The Indian name for the palisades is supposed to have been that of the present town of Wehawken, the term awk, to indicate a structure of rocks resembling trees. Schoolcraft.
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the distant hills of Westchester, which bound the eastern shore of the Tappaan Zee. The prominent cliff at the south-west cor- ner of Rockland Co., presents a noble object viewed from this spot. It boldly projects at the entrance of the Zee, and in a bright summer's day may be seen casting its shade upon the waters.a A very deep interest attaches itself to this spot, when we recol- lect, that on the afternoon of the 13th Sep., 1609, Hendrick Hud- son "taking advantage of a light wind and flood tide, anchored the " Halve Maen"b near where the village pier projects into the Hudson. The old Dutch Patroon of this town, Adriaen van der Donck, in his N. Neth. Vertoogh, (a rare old book printed just 41 years after the discovery of Hudson) tells us what our native tribes thought when they for the first time saw this wondrous vessel."
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