USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 45
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" They did not know there were any more people in the world than of the same with themselves : much less people who differ so widely from each other as our nation and theirs ; so that, when they first discovered our ship, they did not know what to make of it. They were in great fear, and knew not whether it might not be an apparition ; but whether from Heaven or Hell they could not divine. Others supposed it to be a great sea monster, and that those in it had more the appearance of devils than human beings, at least a strange report circulated through the country and caused a great consternation among them.e
What must have been the wonder then, of the Nap-pe-cka- mak settlement, when they beheld the apparition anchor off the mouth of the Saw mill, especially when we conjure up old Mas- ter Hendrick Hudson standing upon the poop of his round built yatch, and Master Robert Juet and brother officers in their tall shovelled brim hats and doublets. This arrival must have created quite a talk among the Mohegan squaws of Nappecka-
& Mr. H. Schoolcraft suggests, that the term " Tabanzee," which means in the Algonquin, a short crouching person, may originally have been applied to this noble cliff. Proceed. of N. Y. Hist. Soc., 1844. It is 549 feet above the level of the Hudson.
b Moulton's Hist. of N. Y., p. 238.
e Moulton IIist., p. 256.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
mak. In connection with the Palisades and the river, the ro- mantic legend of the " storm ship" must not be forgotten. To the great terror of the early colonists, she would appear gliding by the Palisades bearing her Dutch colors, the evening sun gilding her canvass as she came riding over the billows on her voyage down the river like Moore's spectre ship, bound to " Dead man's isle."
Occasionally the village and landing appear to have been en- livened by the march and embarkation of troops. The follow- ing extract occurs in the journal of Lewis Morris, Judge of the Admiralty : June 4th, 1746, returned home, dined at Westchester, when the detachments from Queens county and Westchester marched to Colonel Philipse's, in order to embark for Albany, on board of Captain Conradts Derrike's sloop, who lay there for that purpose."a This was on occasion of the war with France, when the Colony of New York was making formidable preparations for the reduction of Canada.
Directly opposite the dock on the Jersey shore, is situated Closter landing, from which a road gradually ascends to the sum- mit of the Palisades, a height of 517 feet above the river. Here Lord Grey, after coming up the Hudson in barges, disembarked his troops for the purpose of cutting off Baylor's light dragoons then stationed at Tappaan.b
The River Hotel kept by John Bashford, affords a favorite re- sort for the citizens of New York, being within seventeen miles
a Journal of Lewis Morris.
b October, 1778, (says Thacher) the regiment of cavalry commanded by Col. Baylor being posted on our lines near Tappan, their situation was betrayed by some tories, and a party of the enemy surprised them while in a barn, in the night, and massacred a part of them under circumstances of savage cruelty. The comman- der of the party who disgraced themselves by this foul deed, was the English Gene- ral Grey. Col. Baylor's detachment consisted of one hundred and four horsemen. The attack was so sudden, that they were entirely defenceless, and the enemy immediately commenced the horrid work of slaughter ; their entreaties and cries for mercy werc totally disregarded by their savage foes. It has been well ascer- tained that the British soldiers were ordered by their inhuman officers to bayonet every man they could find, and to give no quarter." Thacher's Military Journal, 147.
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of the city. Throughout the day, the bells of various steam. boats bound to 'Tarrytown, Sing Sing, Peekskill or the High- lands, are heard ringing out their call of warning as they come majestically sliding along the wharf. We would recommend to the lovers of nature, a day's excursion to this favored place ; we can assure them it will more than repay. Besides the trade in the shape of steam, a great business is carried on with the city in sloops.
During the winter of 1780, the river was frozen so hard, that sleighs were driven from this place to the city on the ice. At a short distance above the village landing, facing the post road, is the old Manor hall. The present front was erected cir. 1745, the rear at a much earlier period, which is reported to have been built soon after the Philipse family purchased here, A. D. 1682. Although the favorite residence at first, appears to have been Castle Philipse, in Sleepy Hollow.
The front of the Manor hall presents quite a handsome ele- vation for a country residence of the olden time.
It is built in the Dutch style, so fashionable at that period ; its roof is surmounted by a heavy line of balustrade forming a ter- race, that commands extensive views of the river.
The principal entrance is through the eastern porch, orna- mented with light columns and corresponding pilasters. There are likewise two porches on the eastern front, looking upon the lawn. The interior is fitted up with waiuscoated walls, ceilings highly ornamented in arbesque work, and carved marble mantels. The view from the south, commands the old stone mill, village spires, and the wooded banks of Philips's point. On the west, beautiful prospects of the dock and river ; on the east, a verdant lawn skirted by garden terraces, horse chesnuts and the main road, above which rises Locust hill.
The hall is capacious, and its wide staircase with antique balustrades and banister, has a fine effect. The bedrooms are large panelled apartments with old fashioned fire-places faced in Dutch tile, representing thereon, Scripture stories with appropri- ate references.
The walks around are laid out in the shape of noble terraces, some of which lead between tall avenues of box. The garden
GE
MANOR HALL, YONKERS.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
is extensive, and enriched by valuable fruit trees and shrubs. The splendid orange and myrtle trees that once adorned the green house, were formerly in the possession of Mrs. Macomb of Kings-bridge. The green sward sloping gradually to the Hudson, is here and there dotted with fine specimens of ornamental trees ; this, during the occupancy of the Philipse's, was emparked and stocked with deer. Among other exotics (which seem to thrive here,) we noticed on the edge of the river the English yew ; judg- ing from its appearance and the exposed situation which it oc- cupies, we should say it was quite hardy enough to endure our coldest winters. We should be glad to see this beautiful tree, whose dark verdure never fails, naturalized in the gardens of Westchester.
In this Mansion the lords of the manor on the great rent days, feasted their tenantry. Some idea may be formed of this establish- ment which maintained thirty white and twenty colored servants. There appears to have been two rent days yearly for the manor of Philipsborough. One in January, held at Yonkers for the con- venience of the lower tenantry ; another a few days subsequent at Sleepy hollow, for the upper.
In lieu of rent was frequently received a couple of fat hens, a day's work, or a trifling sum amounting to three or four pounds. The farmers bordering the river having greater privileges, paid higher rents. The Courts Leet and Baron were held yearly at the house of John Cockles, the site of the present Nap-pe-cka-mak tavern. This court took cognizance of all criminal matters, and sometimes inflicted punishments that were even capital. In the administration of justice the baronial lord presided, either in his own person or that of his steward.
In the Manor Hall, July 3d, 1730, was born Mary Philipse, daughter of the Hon. Frederick Philipse, speaker of the House of Assembly and lord of the manor of Philipsborough. "From this lady's character Fenimore Cooper formed the heroine of the Spy, under the name of Frances, (see the interesting ac- count of her in that work.) It is said that she refused the hand of Washington, who was greatly attached to her; she subse- quently married Col. Roger Morris, 15th January, 1758. This individual greatly distinguished himself during the first American VOL. II. 59
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war, and was wounded in the battle of Monongahela river ; on which occasion General Braddoek was killed with most of his officers. In that engagement George Washington, Robert Orme, and Roger Morris, Esqrs., were aids to Braddock."a "At the commencement of the Revolution he was a member of the Coun- cil of the Colony, and continued in office until the peace, although the Whigs organized a government as early as 1777, under a written and well framed constitution."
" A part of the Philips estate, (observes Mr. Sabine,) was in possession of Colonel Morris in right of his wife, and was confiscated ; and that the whole interest should pass under the act, Mrs. Morris was included in the attainder. It is believed that this lady, her sisters, Mrs. Robinson, and Mrs. Inglis, were the only females who were attainted of treason during the struggle. But it appeared in due time, that the confiscation act did not affect the rights of Mrs. Morris's children. The fee simple of the estate was valued by the British government at £20,000; and by the rules of determining the worth of life interests, the life interest of Col. Morris and his wife were fixed at £12,605, for which sum they received a certificate of compensation.
" In 1787, the attorney general of England examined the case, and gave the opinion, that the reversionary interest (or property of the children at the decease of the parents,) was not included in their attainder, and was recover- able under the principles of law and of right. In the year 1809, their son, Captain Henry Gage Morris of the royal navy, in behalf of himself and his two sisters, accordingly sold this reversionary interest to John Jacob Astor, Esquire, of New York, for the sum of £20,000 sterling. In 1828 Mr. Astor made a compromise with the State of New York, by which he received for the rights thus purchased by him (with or without associates,) the large amount of five hundred thousand dollars. The terms of the arrangement required, that within a specified time he should execute a deed of conveyance in fee simple, with warrantee against the claims of the Morrises-husband and wife-their heirs, and all persons claiming under them ; and that he should also obtain the judgment of the Supreme Court of the United States affirming the validity and perfectibility of his title. These conditions were complied with, and the respectable body of farmers who held the confiscated lands under titles de- rived from the sales of the commissioners of forfeitures, were thus quieted in their possessions.
"Colonel Morris died in England in 1794, aged sixty-seven, and Mary his widow died in 1825, at the age of ninety-six. Their remains were deposited near Savior-gate Church, York. Their son, above mentioned, erected a
& Burke's Hist. of the Landed Gentry of England, vol. iv. 490.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
monument to their memory. It is understood that the British government made them a second compensation for their losses, and that the whole sum received was £17,000 sterling. Their children were as follows : Henry Gage, a captain in the royal navy ; Amherst, who was named for his god- father Lord Amherst, who was also a captain in the royal navy, and who died unmarried in 1802 ; Johanna, who married Captain Thomas Cowper Hincks of the British dragoons, and who died in 1819 ; and another daughter whose name and fate have not been ascertained. To the memory of Captain Am- herst Morris, there is a monument at Baildon, England. Of Captain Henry Gage Morris, honorable mention is made in the British naval history. Of Mrs. Morris's early life, there is a most interesting incident. That Wash- ington had some desire to become her suitor, is a fact which rests on the highest authority.
" In Mr. Sparks' life of the illustrious commander-in-chief, there is the following passage : 'While in New York in 1756, Washington was lodged and kindly entertained at the house of Mr. Beverley Robinson, between whom and himself an intimacy of friendship subsisted, which indeed continued with- out change, till severcd by their opposite fortunes twenty years afterwards in the Revolution. It happened that Miss Mary Philips, a sister of Mrs. Robin- son, and a young lady of rare accomplishments, was an inmate in the family. The charms of this lady made a deep impression upon the heart of the Vir- ginia Colonel. He went to Boston, returned, and was again welcomed to the hospitality of Mr. Robinson. He lingered there till duty called him away ; but he was careful to entrust his secret to a confidential friend, whose letters kept him informed of every important event. In a few months intelligence came that a rival was in the field, and that the consequences could not be an- swered for if he delayed to renew his visits to New York. Whether time, the bustle of the camp, or the scenes of war, had moderated his admiration, or whether he despaired of success, is not known. He never saw the lady again till she was married to that same rival, Captain Morris, his former as- sociate in arms, and one of Braddock's aids-de-camp.
"In an English work, shown to me by Mrs. Morris's relatives in New Brunswick, it is stated that she refused Washington. But this is very doubt- ful ; and the passage just cited, which is founded upon Washington's papers, seems to utterly disprove the assertion. Imagination dwells upon the out- lawry of a lady whose beauty and virtues won the admiration of the great Whig Chief. Humanity is shocked that a woman was attainted of treason, for no crime but that of clinging to the fortunes of her husband whom she had vowed on the altar of religion never to desert.a"
. The American Loyalists, by Lorenzo Sabine. See also Historical view of the commission for inquiry into the losses and claims of the American Loyalists, by John Eardley Wilmot, Esq., London, 1815.
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There is a beautiful portrait of Mary Philipse still preserved at Philipstown in the Highlands, which represents the youthful heroine in all her native loveliness. It is in the possession of her namesake and grand niece, Mary Philipse, widow of the late Samuel Gouverneur, Esq. In Rivington's Royal Gazette of May 18, 1773, occurs the following notice of the commencement at King's College, (now Columbia, College) N. York. " Tues- day being the day appointed for the annual commencement of the graduates of King's College in this city, a very numerous and splendid audience assembled at Trinity church. After prayers and a Latin speech by the President, an elegant saluta- tory oration was delivered with great propriety of pronunciation and gracefulness of action by Mr. Frederick Philipse. The au- dience was then entertained with a discourse on the happiness of connubial life, by Mr. Beverly Robinson, whose just obser- vations on the subject did him much honor. Degrees were after this, conferred on the following gentlemen : Beverly Robinson, Frederick Philipse, Nathaniel Philipse, B. A., Philip Pell, Rev. Harry Munro M. A." Upon the arrival of the British forces in New York, Colonel Frederick was arrested on some suspicions in the Manor Hall, Yonkers, and removed to Hartford, Connecti- cut, by the American authorities. On this occasion, his faithful colored valet, George Angevine, attended him until his return to Philipsborough, which took place shortly afterwards. Here Colo- nel Philipse was residing when the battle of White Plains was fought.
After the departure of the family from Yonkers, in 1777, John Williams, steward of the manor, took charge of the property till the confiscation A. D. 1779. As before mentioned, at the close of the war, the whole manor became forfeited.
Feb. 1, 1781, the following individuals were appointed Com- missioners for the southern district of N. York ; Stephen Ward, Mr. Lawrence and Isaac Stoutenbergh. Sept. 17S5, those gentlemen conveyed the homestead and mills situated in Yonk- crs, amounting to 320 acres, to Cornelius P. Lowe ; bounded west by the Hudson river, on the north by R. Johnson, &c. &c. May 12, 1786, Cornelius P. Lowe conveyed part to Wil- liam Constable. April 29, 1796, Wm. Constable and wife sold
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
to Jacob Stout. April 1, 1803, Jacob Stout conveyed it to Joseph Howland. It was finally bought under a decree of Chancery by Lemuel Wells, Esq., at whose death in 1842, the Mansion House with 300 acres, passed to his heirs at law, he dying intes- tate. The present proprietor of the Manor House is his nephew, Lemuel Wells, Esq. The Wells family are . originally from Cambridgeshire, England, and descend from Richard Wells, who held the manor of Wells at a very early period. In the possession of the present Lemuel Wells, Esq, is a coat of arms beautifully embroidered in silk needlework. These arms were granted to the Cambridge Wells's, A. D. 1614.ª The pre- sent family are more immediately descended from Samuel Wells of Wethersfield, Conn., who removed A. D. 1639, with his three sons, John, Thomas and Samuel, to Milford, Conn.b This family gave a Governor to that State.
The last lord of the manor, Colonel Frederick Philipse, re- turned to Chester, in England, where he died, A.D. 1785, after a short illness, and has a monument there erected to his mem- ory.c His faithful colored valet, Angevine, who had accom-
· Berry's Encyclopedia of Arms.
b Trumbull's Conn., 105.
e " Frederick Philipse (says Mr. Sabine) occupied an elevated position in Colo- nial society, but he does not appear to have been a prominent actor in public affairs.
He was, however, a member of the House of Assembly, and held the commis- sion of colonel in the militia. Nor does it seem that, though a friend of existing institutions, and an opposer of the whigs, he was an active partisan. In April, 1775, he went to the ground appointed by the whigs of Westchester county, to elect deputies to the Congress ; and declared that he would not join in the business of the day, and that the sole purpose in going there was, to protest against their illegal and unconstitutional proceedings. On some other occasions, he pursued a similar line of conduct ; but, his name is seldom met with in the documents of the time. Soon after 1771, Colonel David Humphreys, who subsequently became an aid to Washington, and, under the Federal government, minister to Portugal and Spain, and who had just completed his studies at Yale College, became a resident in his family then living on Philipse manor. The late President Dwight was well acquainted with him at this time, and speaks of him as " a worthy and respectable man, not often excelled in personal and domestic amiableness, and of Mrs. Philipse, he remarks, that she "was an excellent woman." In the
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panied his master in all his changes of fortune survived him but one year. They are both interred in the same church yard.
Charley Philips, son of Angevine, still lives on the banks of the Hudson, and was under a succession of dynasties, 45 years sexton of St. John's church, Yonkers.
There is still living in this village and near the landing, Capt. Joel Cook, a hero of 1776, who belonged to Colonel Meigs' regi- ment. The day André was captured, Gen. Washington ordered the brigade then stationed at Peekskill to march to West Point.
This gentleman during the war, escorted 1500 men from Tel- ler's point to the neighborhood of Kings-bridge.
In compliment to the services of the old veteran, the citizens of Yonkers presented him with a gold medal bearing the follow- ing inscription :
Pesented to Capt. Joel Cook by the citizens of Yonkers, in honor ot his patriotic services in defence of
progress of events, Colonel Phillipse abandoned his home and took refuge in the city of New York, and finally embarked for England. In person, he was extremely large, and on account of his bulk, his wife seldom rode in the same carriage with him. Colonel Phillipse had one brother and two sisters, who in- herited the Manor of Fredericksburgh in equal portions. His brother whose name was Philip, died before the Revolution, and his children were too young to take a part in the war. Their share was saved, and is still in the family. For an account of Susannah and Mary, the sisters, the reader is referred to the notice of their husbands,-the senior Colonel Beverly Robinson and Colonel Roger Mor- ris.
The Manor of Philipsburgh was the property of Colonel Phillipse, and like his sisters' share of the other estate, was confiscated. He applied to the British gov- ernment for compensation, and was allowed £62,075 sterling, or about $300,000. In 1809, in an English work, the value of the two Manors, or the whole of the ori- ginal Phillipse property was estimated at six or seven hundred thousand pounds. Nor was the smaller sum extravagant. But it is to be remembered, that lands in 1783, hardly had a fixed value ; while, in 1809, the impulse which the Revolution had given to settlements, to increase of population, &c., had already effected vast changes in the marketable prices of real property. Colonel Phillipse's son Frederick, is also named in the New York confiscation act. This gentleman married a niece of Sir Alured Clarke, Governor of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope."
[The American Loyalists, by Lorenzo Sabine.
47 1
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
LIBERTY, July 4, 1845, at the battles of Lexington, Danbury, White Plains, Trenton and Stony Point, Springfield and Tippecanoe.
The inhabitants of this town appear to have taken an active part during the struggle for Independence.
11th April, 1775, Colonel Frederick Philipse appeared at the head of a large body of his tenantry, when the deputies from the several towns of Westchester met at White Plains, for the purpose of electing delegates to represent this colony in the gene- ral Congress to be held in Philadelphia.ª
At a meeting of the Committee for this County held at White Plains, on Thursday and Friday, the 17th and 18th days of August, inst., the committee divided the County into districts or beats, agreeable to the directions of the Provincial Congress, for forming militia and minute companies.
Yonkers formed one of the districts of the southern battalion. The officers chosen, were John Cock, Capt., William Betts, first lieutenant, John Warner, second lieutenant, and Jacob Post, ensign.b
The following petition from the inhabitants of Lower Yonkers, occurs in 1775.
Lower Yonkers, Sept. 15, 1775.
To the Hon. the Provincial Congress for the Province of New York, convened in their recess, to the Hon. Committee of safety. The humble petition of the inhabitants of the precincts of Lower Yonkers, in the county of Westchester, humbly showeth, that your Hon. House had made a resolve, and published the same, recommending to the inhabitants of every town, ma- nor, precinct and district within the province aforesaid, to meet, nominate and appoint a captain and other officers, to form themselves as companies of militia ; and, whereas the inhabitants of this precinct did meet agreeable to your said resolve, on the 24th day of August last, under the inspection of the committee of that district, and by a very great majority, as by the list will appear, did
¿ See page 350.
b American Archives, p. 691.
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HISTORY OF THE
nominate and appoint Mr. John Cock of the said precinct, for his known skill and ability in military discipline, and for other good causes, captain of the company for the district aforesaid ; and, whereas, we are informed that a complaint hath been made to the committee by a few of the inhabitants against the said Mr. John Cock, out of spite and malice, and as we conceive what has been alledged against him was before signing the association, we are well assured that since his signing the association, no person can accuse him of breaking the same by any ways or means whatsoever ; therefore, we the petitioners and subscribers, do humbly beg the indulgence of this Hon. House to grant Mr. John Cock the commission of captain for the company aforesaid, as we are convinced he was chosen agreeable to your said resolve, and your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.
Anthony Archer,
John Devoe,
Charles Tyler.
Basil
Jacob Post,
Martin Post,
Thos. Oakley,
Israel Post,
James Munro,
Jonathan Fowler,
Lewis Post,
Anthony Allaire,
Abraham Hick,
John Warner,
Edward Ryer,
Matthias Archer,
Elnathan Taylor,
Benj. Farrington,
Ezekiel Brown,
Jacob Taylor,
Will. Rose,
Abraham Aster,
James Crawford,
Henry Presher,
Robert Farrington,
Elnathan Taylor,
Thomas Farrington,
Jolın Odell,
David Oakley, jr.,
Isaac Post,
Abraham Odell,
Joseph Oakley, jr.,
James Rich,
Abraham Post,
George Crawford,
Gilbert Brown,
Dennis Post,
Moses Oakley,
Thomas Tippet,
William Post,
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