USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 47
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As late as 1780 a thick forest extended from the village north to Mr. William Bolmer's, bounded by the Hudson and Saw-Mill rivers. The site of these woods on the Hudson shore is now oc- cupied by a number of country residences, among which are those of Sampson Simpson, Esq. This gentleman's father, in
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HISTORY OF THE
company with Col. James had charge of the silver mines at Sing Sing previous to the Revolution. Also Pomona Hall, the re- sidence of Philip Rhinelander Roberts, Esq. In this house the aspiring politician Colonel Burr found a safe asylum to shelter himself from the storm of indignation which followed the death of the illustrious Hamilton ; and from hence he departed " a vol- untary exile from his native country to implore, like an abject slave, allegiance from that power against whose rule he had so successfully fought."a
The eastern edge of Boar hill is still covered with beautiful woods, sloping gradually to the bank of the Saw Mill river. This lovely stream rises among the picturesque hills of Chap- pequa ; its source is formed from two springs, one on the land of Job Collins, the other on the property of Willett Kipps. Its descent from the springs lies nearly in a south course of sixteen miles through the rich bottoms of a valley bordered with high woodlands ; and not unfrequently its waters become lost in some rocky dell or amongst dark foliage. At times it is seen steal- ing through some green meadow with a babbling sound, or oc- casionally becoming impetuous it rushes over rocks and stones in its headlong course, but more frequently
" Clear are the depths where its eddies play, And dimples deepen and whirl away."-Bryant.
At the foot of Boar hill a bridge crosses the stream nearly op- posite the Parsonage. It was here that Eden Hunt, brother of Major David Hunt, was waylaid and attacked by two soldiers belonging to the British Refugee Corps. It would appear that the unfortunate man being better mounted than the rest of his companions, who were all retreating before Col. De Lancey, rode considerably in advance ; and on coming to the cross roads near the Methodist church, he mistook his way, and was following the course of the Saw Mill road when thus mortally wounded. The rest of the party made good their retreat by the Albany turnpike.
" Life of Hamilton by the Harpers, p 336,
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
The old Parsonage, formerly called Babcock's house, appears to have been frequently garrisoned by the troops of both armies. It was here that Lord Howe fixed his head quarters, and here the American Col. Gist was visiting in 1778, when the enemy determined upon his surprisal. At this period the house was occupied by the handsome and accomplished widow of the Rev. Luke Babcock and Miss Sarah Williams, a sister of Mrs. Fred- erick Philipse. To the former lady Col. Gist was devotedly attached, consequently when an opportunity afforded he gladly moved his command into that vicinity. On the night preceding the attack, he had stationed his camp at the foot of Boar hill, directly opposite the parsonage, for the better purpose of paying a special visit to this lady. It is said that whilst engaged in urging his suit the enemy were quietly surrounding his quarters ; he had barely received his final dismissal from Mrs. Babcock when he was startled with the firing of musketry. The follow- ing account of the attack is thus given by the British commander, Lieut. Col. Simcoe.
" Colonel Gist, who commanded a light corps of the rebels, was posted near Babcock's house, from whence he made frequent patroles. Lieut. Col. Simcoe had determined to attack him; when, a deserter coming in, at night, who gave an accurate account of his position, the following morning was fixed upon for the attempt. General Kniphausen, who commanded at Kingsbridge, ap- proved of the enterprise, and ordered a detachment of the Yagers to co-operate in it ; Lieut. Col. Emmerick undertook to lead the march, having in his corps people who were well acquainted with the country.
" The following disposition was made. Emmerick's infantry, followed by the Queen's Rangers, were to march through the meadows on the side of Valentine's hill, opposite Cortland's ridge, and pass between the rebel sen- tries to Babcock's house, when they would be in the rear of Gist's encamp- ment, which they were immediately to attack. Lieut. Col. Tarleton, with the whole of the cavalry, was to proceed to cover the right, and arrive at Valentine's hill by daylight ; a detachment of Yagers, under Capt. Wreden, were to march on Cortland's ridge, and to halt opposite to Gist's encampment ; and a larger detachment of Yagers, under Major Pruschank, were, at the same time, to be ready to force Philipse's bridge, then to proceed to the bridge op- posite Babcock's house, and to cut off the enemy's retreat by that road. The signal for these divisions moving on was to be noise of storming Gist's en- campment. Lieut. Col. Emmerick conducted the march in so able a manner and the whole corps followed with so much silence, that the enemy's sentinels
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were passed without alarm, and this division gained the heights in the rear, and could see the whole chain of sentinels walking below them. Major Ross was detached to possess himself of Post's house, to preserve a communication with Lieut. Col. Tarleton on Valentine's hill ; the remainder of the Rangers inclined to the right, towards Gist's camp, and Lieut. Col. Emmerick was directed to secure the Saw Mill road. Firing soon began ; and it was appa- rent from Lieut. Col. Emmerick's quarter, whom the enemy had discovered. Lieut. Col. Simcoe immediately moved rapidly into the road, and directly up the steeps to the enemy's camp, as a nearer way than through the thickels ; he attained it, and, to his great surprise, found that Major Pruschank had not forced Philips' bridge, as had been inteuded, but had crossed and joined Capt. Wreden on Cortlandt's ridge, and that Col. Gist had escaped through the passage which had been so unaccountably left open. Lieut. Col. Tarleton fell in with a patrole of cavalry, and dispersed it; and the Queen's Rangers, as soon as they got possession of Gist's camp, having ambuscaded themselves took a patrole which came forward on hearing the firing. The troops set fire to Gist's huts and returned to their'camp.ª
From the American accounts, it appears that all the roads and bridges had been well guarded by the enemy, except the one now called Warner's bridge, and that Capt. John Odell upon the first alarm led off his troops through the woods on the west side of the Saw Mill ; here Colonel Gist joined them. In the mean- time Mrs. Babcock having stationed herself in one of the dormant windows of the Parsonage, aided their escape whenever they ap- peared, by the waving of a white handkerchief.
During the winter of 1780 a gang of six or eight "cow boys" broke open the Parsonage and robbed the defenceless ladies of everything valuable. To escape detection they had blackened their faces and disguised their persons. Upon the departure of this gang their leader, after making a profound bow, thus ad- dressed Mrs. Babcock :
" Fare you well and fare you better, And when I die, I'll send you a letter."
Fortunately, Mrs. Babcock, through the intervention of Col. James van Cortlandt, obtained restitution of every thing. With- in a few years trees have been cut down near the site of Gist's camp and found to contain balls buried six inches in the wood.
& Simcoe's Mil. Journal, p. 86.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
North of the Parsonage, on the Saw Mill river road, is situated the residence and property of the late Mr. Robert Reed. This patriotic individual having obtained certain information from Kingsbridge, that the enemy were fitting out an expedition against Col. Thompson, then stationed at the Four Corners ; and were on the eve of marching, he instantly mounted his horse and rode up to the American quarters, a distance of thirteen or fourteen miles, thus giving Thompson timely warning of the enemy's approach. The horse upon which he rode died a few minutes after his arrival. This property is now owned by his son, Mr. Oliver Reed.
In the Saw Mill valley, is also situated, the residence of the late General Jacob Odell, a descendant of the ancient and hono- rable family of the Odils. "'The river Ouse," says Camden, " runs under Odil or Woodhill, formerly Wayhull, which also had its Barons of Wayhull, eminent for their ancient nobility, where was a castle." " Walter de Flanders, (says Burke,) came into England with the Conqueror, and held as feudal lord at the time of the general survey, Wahull, (Woodhull, Odhull,) and his son was Walter de Wahull." The first ancestor of the family in this country, was William Odell, of Concord, who re- moved to Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1644. His son William was one of the principal proprietors of Rye, in 1661-2.ª
General Jacob Odell, at the early age of 21 years, embraced the military profession, and in the year 1776, took up arms in defence of his country. He used to recount with pleasure, the time and the very spot, where himself and three other cousins of the name, vol- unteered their services to the Continental Congress. It was be- neath the white-wood tree where the Westchester farmers stopped Major Andre, and found the papers that revealed the treason of Arnold. After enlisting, he served in Captain Samuel Drake's regiment, belonging to the brigade of General Scott. On the memorable retreat after the battle of Long Island, he was on piquet guard. At the close of the war, and as soon as the mili-
See Pedigree of Odell Family.
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tia was formed, he received his commission from Major Gene- ral Morris.
Like the rest of the "Neutral Ground," this part of Yonkers was infested with marauding parties of Cow Boys and Skinners, the former of whom claimed the title of Loyalists, the latter under the mask of patriotism, called themselves Whigs.
During the war when General Odell's father and family were living in the homestead, a party of these lawless ruffians, with blackened faces, armed with muskets, entered the house. Their first act appears to have been, to secure the females in the cellar ; having effected this, they proceeded to interrogate the general's father, and demanded his money. On refusing to sat- isfy their demands, they immediately hung him by his neck to an adjoining tree ; and when life was well nigh extinct, they cut him down, and again repeated their threats, but to no better purpose. Whereupon, they once more suspended and lowered him, leav- ing him for dead. During these proceedings, the females had escaped from the cellar, and Mrs. Odell, the general's mother, a woman of great intrepidity, boldly assaulted them, upon which, these cowardly villains attacked her with the butt ends of their muskets. She managed however, to escape with a few broken ribs. On this occasion, the general was too young to take an active part in the affray, and narrowly escaped by lowering him- self with a cord from the garret window. His son Jacob Odell, Esq. now owns the property. The adjoining estate, north, belongs to his son-in-law, Cornelius Odell, Esqr.
The roads leading east of the Saw Mill valley, intersect with the Sprain valley road, which runs nearly north and south.
The Sprain river, called by the Indians, Armenperal, rises in two springs north of Thirty Deer Ridge ; the west branch in Wolf Swamp.ª The other called the Grassy Sprain, on the lands of widow Underhill. These two springs flowing south, intersect a little east of Benj. Fowler's. They again divide at the north- ern extremity of Thirty Deer Ridge, and running through two dif- ferent vales again meet nearly opposite the Cat rocks, so called from the abundance of wild cat that once frequented the hill.
& A wolf was killed here as late as 1806.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
These animals Van der Donck assures us, had skins resembling that of a lioness, and not unlike them in form, with the ex- ception of short tails like a rabbit or hare.
After uniting here, the Sprain pursues a south-east course until it discharges into the Bronx, on the lands of Nathaniel Valentine. The waters of the Sprain were pronounced by the commissioners in 1842, to be the purest in Westchester county.
This beautiful stream has been long celebrated for its trout. Well may the lover of the sport exclaim with Cotton,
None so bright, So pleasant to the taste, none to the sight : None yield the angler such delight.
This fish begins to bite in March or April. Very large sized tront have been caught here about the middle of March, and they continue till the months of July and August. They lie generally under the shelter of stumps, bridges and stones.
The bait generally used in catching this fish, is the common earth worm. By connoisseurs, the artificial fly is preferred.
The north-eastern part of this township is occupied by a high ridge of hills, called the Tuckahoe Hills. This portion of the town, originally formed a part of that large tract of land between the Saw Mill and the Bronx rivers, which was ceded by the Indian chiefs, Sepham and others, to Frederick Philipse, June 5, 1684. Tradition says, that anciently, an Indian Sachem of that name, had his residence on one of these hills, and exercised his authority among the tribes of the neighbouring valleys.
The name Tuckahoe, means in the Algonquin, " The Bread," literally, Tuckah, (bread) the o, oe, or ong, being merely an ob- jective sign relating to the plant itself.
The celebrated Captain Smith, in his travels and adventures, tells us, " that the chief root the Indians of Virginia have for food, is called Tockawhoughe. It groweth like flagge in marshes. In one day a salvage will gather sufficient for a weeke. These roots are much of the greatness and taste of potatoes. They are toasted a great many of them, with oke leaves and ferns,
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and then cover all with earth in the manner of a cole pit ; over it on each side, they continue a great fire twenty-four hours before they dare eat it. Raw it is no better than poyson, and being roasted, except it be tender, and the heat abated, or sliced and dryed in the sunne mixed with sorrel and greens, or such like, it will prickle and torment the throat, extraordinary, and yet in summer, they use this commonly for bread."a
R. Beverly, in his History of Virginia, published A. D. 1722, calls it Tuckahoe.b
Respecting the frequent diet of the Indians in general, (says John F. Watson,) we may say that besides their usual planta- tions of corn, they often used wild roots; of these they had tawho, (arum virginicum,) and tawkee, (orantium aquaticum.) These roots grew in low damp grounds, were a kind of potatoes to them, and were divested of their poisonous or injurious quality by roasting.c The Mohegan term for bread is Tauquah.d
'These names evidently point to one and the same plant, which still flourishes along the moist margins of the Tuckahoe creek. This stream rises on the lands of John Tompkins, and waters the western side of the ridge. Pursuing a south course it discharges into the Armenperal near where the latter forms a junction with the Bronx.
Upon the highest ground of the ridge stands the Episcopal chapel, from which the eye can command a fine prospect em- bracing almost every variety of scenery. This chapel was erected A. D. 1798, during the Rectorship of the Rev. Elias Cooper, upon land the gift of the late John Bowne, Esq. Mr. Bowne was the son of Thomas Bowne and grandson of John Bowne, formerly of Flushing, L. I., a descendant of the celebra- ted John Bowne of that place, who was born at Matlock, Derby- shire, England, March 9th, 1627. The adjoining estate is oc- cupied by the sons of the late John Bowne, Esq.
· Travels and Adventures of Capt John Smith, p. 121-7.
b Beverly's Hist. of Virginia, p. 153.
John T. Watson, Hist. Tales, also Address of De Witt Clinton, &c., &c.
d Trans. of Amer. Antiq. Soc.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
Since its erection, it has formed an appendage or chapel of ease to the parish church of St. Johns, Yonkers. The building has lately undergone considerable repairs and a com- modious vestry room has been added to the chapel. On June 29th, 1847, it was consecrated to the service of Almighty God by the name of St. John's chapel, Tuckahoe.
There are many interesting historical recollections connected with this hill and vicinity. During the eventful week that pre- ceded the battle of White Plains, General Washington's advance corps lay upon the Tuckahoe heights, under the command of General Scott, whose whole corps numbered 2000 men. Direct- ly south of the church, bordering the Eastchester road, is the property of Mr. Valentine Odell. Here a party of nine pat- riots were overtaken by a large company of De Lancey's horse, commanded by Colonel Oliver Hatfield. The whole party were barbarously killed or mortally wounded.
A touching incident deserves to be recorded in connection with this melancholy affair. A dog belonging to one of the Americans that fell upon this occasion, took up his quarters at Mr. Caleb Smith's who lived a mile below. The ladies of Mr. Smith's family were frequently in the habit of visiting their neighbor Mr. Odell, when the dog would go with them half way and return. It appears nothing could ever tempt hin to pass the fatal spot.
On the farm of Isaac Lent west of the hill, the American of- ficer (Major Leavenworth of the Massachusetts line) ambuscaded a large detachment in 1778, for the purpose of cutting off Capt. Joshua Barnes of De Lancey's corps ; who, he ascertained, had gone up in the neighborhood of Hart's Corners for the object of plundering. The better to draw Barnes into his ambuscade, Shotwell posted a party of his command upon the hill a little be- low the church. Upon the return of Barnes he immediately descried the detachment on the hill, to avoid which he lead his men off by the opposite side, thus walking directly into the trap laid by his wary foe. They received one heavy fire and sur- rendered, consisting of one full company, sixty-four men.
In the house of Isaac Lent then occupied by Jacob Vermilyea, a small party of American volunteers under the command of
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Captain Honeywell had stopped to take some refreshment, hav- ing just returned from an incursion into Morrisania, when they were suddenly surrounded by the enemy under Captain Totten, who fired upon the house, killing one of the patriots and making prisoners of nine. These however finally rose upon the guard and escaped.
Near the vicinity of the school-house, Benjamin Hunt of the continental army, captured thirty of the enemy by stratagem, with a force of half that number. Availing himself of the dark- ness of the night, he called out as if in command of a large de- tachment, Lieutenant Such-a-one to the right, Captain -- to the left; in this manner he deceived his enemy who laid down their arms and surrendered at discretion.
On the east side of the Tuckahoe hill is the property of Charles Dusenberry, Esq., one of the most active members of the Croton water commissioners. The house occupies an ele- vated position overlooking a picturesque vale to the south-east.
The Methodist church is prettily situated at the foot of the hill surrounded by a fine locust grove, and near the margin of a small stream that washes the eastern side of the hills. The edi- fice is a neat structure of wood. This society was first orga- nized in 1797, and called " the first Methodist Episcopal Church of the town of Yonkers."
The small settlement of Tuckahoe is situated upon the wes- tern margin of the Bronx. Here is a convenient depot of the West- chester railroad, post office, store and cotton manufactory. The latter was for some time called the Eastchester Manufacturing Company. The present building having been erected, A. D. 1814, and incorporated soon afterwards, for $100,000. Shares were sold at one time for $2500. The property is now vested in the heirs of John Tait.
In 1824, Canvas White, Esq., engineer employed by the cor- poration of New York, reported that he proposes taking the wa- ters of the Bronx from the Eastchester cotton factory pond. He thinks that the natural flow of the river in the driest season will furnish 3,000,000 gallons per day, and by raising a dam of six feet to the upper Rye pond and lowering the outlet two feet, 3,600,000 gallons per day may be obtained, and that a daily sup-
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
ply of 6,600,000 gallons may be brought to the city every twenty-four hours. The cost of bringing the water to a reser- voir near the park is estimated at $1,949,542.ª
The Tuckahoe bridge which crosses the Bronx at this place, appears to have been erected at a very early period, as we find it recorded by that name, A. D. 172S.b
During the encampment of the American army upon the hills to the west, the British horse stationed above at Wood's house (now Marble Hall) were in the constant habit of coming down to water their horses at the foot of this bridge. On one occasion a small party of Continentals concealed themselves in am- bush on the margin of the river, and lay waiting for the usual approach of the horse. A long interval elapsed, but at last the well-known tramp declared the enemy near at hand. Every gun was cocked, and a death-like stillness prevailed ; but whether the enemy suspected their designs or obtained information, was never ascertained ; for at this time they came with nearly their whole force. To have fired upon them would have been but the prelude to a massacre ; the patriots therefore lay snugly concealed until their departure.
The following extracts from the town records, relate to the first election of town officers, in 1756, and immediately sub- sequent to the Revolution.
" At a public town meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of the Yonkers and Mile square, at the house of Edward Ste- venson in said Yonkers, on the first Tuesday of April, in 1756, being the day appointed by act of the General Assembly of this Province of New York, for choosing town officers, and likewise to make regulation of creatures and fences. The under written officers and orders of creatures and orders of fences, were made by majority of votes.
James Corton, Supervisor and Pounder, Benjamin Fowler, Town Clerk, Thomas Sherwood, Constable and Collector.
David Oakley, William Warner, S Assessors.
a See Corporation Doc. p. 36 to 375.
b Records of Roads, Co. Records,
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Edward Weeks, William Crawford, Daniel Devoe,
Highway Masters.
John Rider, Isaac Odell,
Hendrick Post.
Andrew Nodin, Charles Warner, Moses Tailer, Isaac Odell,
Fence and Damage Viewers.
At a town meeting held for the Yonkers, in the Manor of Philipsborough, at the house of David Hunt, on the 28th day of Dec., 1783, under the superintendence of Israel Honeywell, Esq., William Hadley and Thomas Sherwood, in pursuance of an or- dinance for holding elections in the southern district, by the coun- cil appointed. The act entitled an act to provide for the temporary government of the southern part of this State, until the enemy shall abandon or be dispossessed of the same, and until the Le- gislature can be convened &c. Passed the 23d of Oct., 1779 The following town officers were chosen :
Israel Honeywell, Esq., Supervisor.
David Hunt, Clerk.
Thomas Sherwood, Constable and Collector.
Israel Honeywell, Esq., jun., Security.
William Betts, Jacob Vermilyea, S Assessors.
Frederick Vermilyea, Overseer of roads on the east side of Tippett's Brook. William Crawford, for the upper part. Will. Warner, do. for the middle part.
Benjamin Odell, -
John Archer, do. Tuckahoe.
Jacob Lent, from Lent's house to the mill.
Stephen Bertine, the cross road, from Mile Square to the bridge. William Hadley, 7 Joseph Crook, Isaac Vermilyea, Damage Viewers. Stephen Sherwood, John Garns, William Crawford,
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
Abraham Odell, Will. Hadley, Thomas Sherwood,
Commissioners of Roads.
The general surface of the town is uneven and broken ; soil, clay, and sandy loam, mostly well cultivated. The natural growth of wood is very extensive. We have already shown that it is well drained by numerous streams, upon which are several mill seats.
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APPENDIX.
PEDIGREES OF THE FAMILIES
OF THE
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
N. B. In the following pages b. stands for born, m. or mar. for married, d. for died, da. for daughter, and æt. for aged.
AMBLER OF BEDFORD. Two brothers of this name were among the early settlers of Bedford. Benjamin Ambler, mar. --- Dibble, and left three sons, Joseph, Joshua and Benjamin, and a da., Rachel, who mar. Miller. Benjamin, the youngest, inar. Mary Wilson, and left Henry and William H. of Bedford.
ANGEVINE. The name of Zacharie Angevine, occurs as a freeholder of New Rochelle, in 1708. Pierre, probably son of Zacharie, left 1, Louis, 2, Pierre, 3, Marie. Louis, mar. Esther Sicard, and had Louis, b. 19th August, 1722. Pierre, b. 30 August, 1734. Marie, Esther and Anne, the latter b. 1731. Pierre, second son of first Pierre, mar. Margaret --- , and left a da. Esther, b. 4 Dec. 1729. John, a member of this family, left John and Daniel. Mary, da. of John, d. January, 1841, æt. 105. Daniel mar. Catharine Ge- raud, and left Daniel, who was lost at sea. Eli Angevine of Scarsdale, had nine children ; 1st, Jonathan of Poughkeepsie, 2nd, Caleb of Poughkeepsie, mar. -- - Ostrander, 3d, Phoebe mar. Stephen Lockwood, 4th, Charity mar. Israel Sheerly, 5th, Susan mar. Isaac Purdy, 6th, Mary mar. Budd Purdy, 7th, Patience mar. Jacob Burnett, 8th, Peggy mar. Joshua Underhill, 9th, Elizabeth mar. Richard Cornell. Jonathan of Poughkeepsie, mar. Susan Ferris, and has Eli and Caleb.
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