History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 196

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 196

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His will was dated October 26, 1816. Iu it he con-

! The author is indebted to Jared Sparks" " Life and Writings of Gouv- erneur Morris " for the materials of the foregoing sketch.

786

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

firms an ante-nuptial contract, by which he had set- tled on his wife two thousand six hundred dollars per annum, and in addition he gave to her, during her life, his estate at Morrisania. The improvements were to be made at the expense of the estate. In his will was also the peculiar provision, that if his wife should see fit to marry, she should have six hundred dollars per annum in addition " to defray the increased expenditure which may attend that connection."

His son Gouverneur, was then given the whole of the residue and remainder of the estate, except such other bequests as he made under the will. If he should die before he attained the age of twenty-one years, or afterwards, "not having made a will," he then gave the estate to such one or more of the male descendants of his brothers and sisters, aud in such proportions as his wife should designate; but if she made no such designation, he then gave the estate to Lewis Morris Wilkins, the son of his sister Isabella, on condition that he assume the name of Morris. He then gave to his nephew, Gouverneur Wilkins, twenty-five thousand dollars, to be paid to him when he should attain the age of thirty years, provided his conduct should be such as in the opinion of his executor and executrix "becomes a good citizen." His friend Moss Kent, and his widow were charged with the execution of the will. The son Gouverneur, is still living, aud has made a will and the legacy was duly paid Gouverneur Wilkins. Title searchers often raise this question, and as it affects all that part of Morrisania east of Mill Brook and as far north as the Home for Incurables, near Fordham, the facts are worthy of record.

We thus find Bronx Land and the "additional" lands mentioned in the patents of Morrisania east of Mill Brook, vested in the present Gouverneur Morris. His mother enjoyed her life estate in the property until 1837, when she died and was buried under the site of the present St. Anne's Church, which, in 1841, was erected by her son Gouverneur, in remembrance of her, and with respectful regard to two other valued relations of the name was called St. Ann's Church.

Thus far we have carried the records of the town- ship through the successive stages, from its discovery to the Dutch occupancy, the first seizure by the Brit- ish, the second and brief Dutch regime and the final establishment of the British rule. This long period is fraught with little of interest that has not been mentioned. One incident was the mortgaging of his interests in the manor of Fordham by the contentious John Archer, to Steenwyk, one of the short-lived councillors of Governor Colve. Afterwards Steen- wyk, by deed from Archer, obtained possession of the entire manor, and he and his pious wife willed it to the ministers, elders and deacons of the Reformed Congregation of the Nether Dutch Church, on the express condition that it should not be sold, but pre- sumably that the congregation should receive the benefits of its rents, issues and profits in perpetuity.

The intentions of the Steenwyks were, however, found impracticable, and the General Assembly of the Colony of New York authorized the congregation to sell the lands. This was done, and the purchasers were hardy and thrifty people, who figured conspicu- ously in the annals of the Revolution.

Fordham, Bronx Land (the present Morrisania) and Jessup's, Richardson's, Cornell's aud the West- chester patents have been so subdivided that the his- tory of their development would be only a tedious chronicle of the laying out of highways, the marks which each farmer placed upon his horses and cattle, and of law-suits, which prove that the former occu- pants were as teuacious of their individual rights as their successors to-day. The simple annals of the people between the final establishment of English dominion and the Revolution are not of general in- terest.

THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

When, in 1775, the conteution with the mother coun- try had come to a critical stage, the citizens of Westches- ter township prepared to organize their military power. The following papers, which are contained among the returns on file at Albany, tell the story of their action :

" BOROUGH AND TOWN OF WESTCHESTER, 24th Angt, 1775.

" To the Honble Provincial Congress for the Colony of New York :

"We, the Subscribers, appointed a sub-Committee to inspect the Elec- tion of Militia Officers for the said Town, do most humbly Certify, that the following persons were Chosen this 24th day of Augt, 1775, by a Ma- jority of Voices duly qualified for that purpose, agreeable to the resolu- tion of the Houble Congress above said (Viz.) John Oakley, Captain ; 1 Lieut. Nichs Berrien, 2 Lieut. Isaac Leggett, Ensign Frederick Phillipse Stevenson.

" Committee, .

THOMAS HUNT. JAMES FERRIS. LEWIS GRAHAM.

" Electors.

" Anthony Allaire.

Abraham Odle.

Izarell Underhill. Robert Farrington.

Hendrick Brown, Jnr.

Francis Smith.

Thomas Merrill.

William Green.

Abraham Post.

Abraham Emmans.

Dennis l'ost.

Isaac Green.

U'sial Fountain.

Edward Ryer.

Henry Tayler.

Gilbert Brown.

Wn. Rose.

Jacob Post.

Janes Munro.

Lewis Post.

John Warner.

John Williams.

Thomas Oakly.

George Hadley.

Charles Tayler.

Isaac IIadley.

Benjamin Farrington.

Joseph Hadley.

Joshua Vermyliea.

Robert Brown. Jacob Tayler.

John Cartright.

Henry Presher.

John Ryer.

Elijah Tayler.

George Berian.

Joseph Oakley, Jun.

Izrael Post.

Daniel Deen.

John Cock.

Thomas Farrington.

Henry Bursen.

James Parker.

Abraham Asten.

Wm. Post.

George Werts.

Samuel Willianıs.

Abraham Vermyliea.

James Crawford.

Frederick Vermyliea.

George Crawford.

Edward Cartright.

John Odle.

Frederick Brown.

John Devo.

Elethan Tayler, Junr." 1

Tobias Rickeman.

1 Vol. i. Rev. Papers, page 122. The original document is somewhat mutilated, and consequently the list of electors is not complete.

787

WESTCHESTER.

It was more convenient for the people of West Farms and Fordham to have a separate company, and therefore they sent in the subjoined petition :

" To the Honorable Provincial Congress for the province of New York :

" The petition of the subscribers, Inhabitants of the Manor of Fordham and West Farms, in the County of Westchester, Ilnmhly Sheweth.

" That we are summoned to appear at Westchester in Order to Choose Offieers, according to the Resolution of the Congress, it having heen Represented (as we nnelerstand) that there was not a competent number of men in our District to form a Company. We therefore beg leave to in- form that the Manor of Fordham and the West Farms have in the Militia always been considered as a district, by themselves, and that within their limits there is upwards of Seventy men fitt to bear arms. And that an attendance at Westchester upon the meeting of the C'ompany will be at- tended with great Inconveniency to many of the Inhabitants and there- fore Injnrions to the service intended to be advanced, from which Con- siderations your petitioners Humbly pray the Honorable Congress will be pleased to order that the Manor of Fordham and the West Farms have a Company within themselves and that they Elect their own Officers under such Inspection as the Honorable Congress in their wisdom shall think best. And your petitioners shall ever pray.

" Nicholas Berrien.

Isaac Valintine. Peter Valintine.

James McKay. Robert Camphell. Eden Hunt.

John Stevens.

Isaac Hunt.

Benjamin Curser.

James Archer.

Samuel Embree, Jnnr.

Edward Harris.

John Collard.

his

Cornelius Jacohs.

hezekiah Ward.

Tunis Garrison.

Isack Cant.

Peter Bussing, Juner.

Peter Bussing.

Abraham Wils.

Benjamin Areher, Junr.

Daniel Devoe, Jur.

lohu Emhree, Sen".

Jacob Lent.

John Ryer.

his

Abram x Lent.

Isaac Corser. Isaac Corser, Jur. tunns Leforge.

Dennis Ryer.

Phillip IFunt.

Jacob alentine.

Stephen Embree.

Abraham garison.

James Grobe.

John Embree, Junr.

James Swaim.

Nazareth Brewer. Thomas Hunt.

Thomas Cromwell. Gerrardns Cromwell. Obadiah Hide.

John Curser.

Abraham Leggett. William Leggett.

Sirion Williams.

John Leggett, Jun3.

John Ryer, Jun".

Robert IInnt, Jnnr. Cornelius Leggett.

laeoh Chappel. John Garrison.

Mr. Woods.

John Jacobs.

John Hedger.

Thomas Dogherty.

John Clark.

Thomas Iledger. Steplien Edwards. James Roek.

John Devoe.

John Blizard.

George Highy.

John Walbrin.

Jacob Hunt.

John Warnick.

Levi Hunt.

Thomas Gemble.I

" September 5, 1775."

Their prayer was granted, for in October the fol- lowing minute is made in the Revolutionary Military Records :

" Officers of the West Farms ond Fordham Company. " WEST FARMS and MANOR OF FORDHAM, In the BOROUGH OF WESTCHESTER. 2Is of October, 1775. "It heing determined by a Committee of the County of West Chester,

that the abovo-said places shonhl be one distinet Beat or distriet ; We the Subscribers being appointed a Committee of Inspection to preside at the Election for Offieers of the Militia for said bent do most humbly repre- sent to the Honor the Provincial Congress for the Province of New York, that they have proceeded to the choice of Offieers in Conformity to the Orders of the sd Ilon'ble Provincial Congress, when the underwritten Persons were unanimously Chose. Capt. Nicholas Berrian, 1st Lient. Gilbert Taylor, 24 Do. Daniel Devoe, Junr, Ensign Benjamin Valentine. " THOMAS HUNT.

" ABRAHAM LEGGETT.

"[Commissions issned this 3Ist Oet", 1775.]"

In the spring of 1776 the war between Great Brit- ain and the colonies had broken out; the battle of Bunker Hill and the evacuation of Boston by the Britishi had taken place, and Washington, with his enthusiastic but illy equipped army, was on Manhattan and Long Islands, in front of the British invaders. On July 5, 1776, General Mifflin, then stationed at the north end of Manhattan Island, wrote Washing- ton that he feared the British might take possession ofthe heights north of King's Bridge (now known as Spuyten Duyvil), and asked if he should detach a party to oppose them.2 At the same time the British ships "Roebuck " and "Vulture" sailed up the North River as far as King's Bridge and dropped an- ehor near the shore. A violent cannonade ensued, as the Americans had opened a battery against them. The British raised anchor and went farther up the North River.3 This battery damaged the British fleet both in hull and rigging. This action must have oc- curred near Fort Washington, and a few of the shells only fell on the Westchester shore, but the raid of the British fleet impressed General Mifflin as to the neces- sity of fortifying King's Bridge, Spuyten Duyvil and Fordham Heights, for on August 6, 1776, he dispatched Col. Holden from Fort Washington to King's Bridge with orders to make it more tenable, and cannon were sent for that purpose. It is plain, from the annals of that time, that Washington appreciated the strategic value of the pass at Spuyten Duyvil and Fordham Heights, as he feared an aseent by way of the North River with the British fleet, and the destruction of King's Bridge, by a boat expedition.5 Putnam and Wiebert, the engineer, were ordered to throw up works for the protection of the pass.

The New York Provincial Congress had the same appreciation of the strategic importance of that point. Robert Livingston, on August 10, 1776, wrote Wash- ington about it in behalf of Congress. He cautioned him as to the importance of the Westchester shore and urged sending regular troops there with artillery. Congress felt the danger of the destruction of King's Bridge before any force could be sent to prevent it. The New York Congress had a lack of good faith in its militia because of its raw condition, bad pay and equipment ; and in some cases their loyalty to the

2 Foree's " Annals," vol. i. pages 1328-1330.

3 1 Foree, 230, 347. Also the story of the unthor's grandfather, who pieked up one of the solid shots sent on the Westchester shore and wit- nessed the engagement.

+ I Force, 790.

5 I Foree, 886.

1 Revolutionary Papers, vol. i. page 135.

mark

Nathaniel Lawrence. Peter Devoe.

Gilbert Taylor.

Robert Gilmer.

Benjamin Curser, Jr.

Hendriek Ryer.

John Lint.

Georgo x Pilpet. mark Isaae Valintine, Junior.

Abraham Dyckman. Jolın Turner. Benjamin Valentine.

Jeremiah Regen.

788

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

new cause was doubted. They therefore suggested that the country north of Spuyten Duyvil Creek should be well guarded. "They knew of uo country

capable of being so well defended." They also sug- gested that all the cattle in the country be removed and purchased by the army authorities.1 But Wash- ington had already appreciated this necessity and was throwing up strong breastworks at that point. The New York Congress, at the same time, ordered out the whole of the Westchester militia, under its brigadier- general, Lewis Morris, to take possession of such points on Long Island Sound and Hudson River as he thought most exposed to the enemy.2

Meantime reconnoisances developed the necessity of securing from the enemy the upper end of Manhattan Island and Fordham Heights. Fort Washington was built on Manhattan Island and Fort Independence3 on what is now known as the Giles property, just north of the West Farms or Fordham Manor line, on the Westchester shore so as to command Spuyten Duyvil Creek.+ General Heath was placed in command of the troops in that neighborhood. 5

The defeat of the Americans on Long Island and Washington's masterly retreat to Manhattan Island showed that his precautions as to the importance of a line of retreat via King's Bridge and Westchester County were well timed. The New York Congress had fled from the city to Harlem and after the battle of Long Island it adjourned not to meet again until it assembled at White Plains. A Committee of Safety was appointed and it met on August 20, 1776, at King's Bridge. The State treasure-chest was also brought therc, but almost immediately removed up into the Saw-Mill Valley to Mr. Odell's house. It was Icared that the British would go dircct from Brooklyn to some point on the Sound, march across country, cut

1 1 Force, 886. Idem, 1494.

2 As a specimen of the equipment of General Morris' brigade, the fol- lowing extract from the orders of the Provincial or New York Congress is given : If any of the men were without arms, they were ordered to bring " a shovel, a spade, pick-axe or scythe, straightened and fixed on a pole." The brigadier of this motley army was ordered to "apprehend and arrest . . . disaffected persons." All the militia was placed under " marching orders," and only sufficient guards were to be left behind to prevent insurrection of the slaves and the prisoners in the jails. " Dis- armed and disaffected male inbabitants, between sixteen and fifty-five years of age," were to be "brought along " by this militia as " fatigue men," and the brigadier was given power to institute courts-martial against those who did not obey his orders .- Force, vol. i., 1494.

3 Fort Independence is located by Mr. Bancroft, in bis " History of the United States," just north of Spuyten Duyvil Creek, on the crown of the ridge which lies between Tippett's Brook and Hudson River. Mr. Edsall, the author of the "Ilistory'of King's Bridge Township," the author of this sketch, old maps, local traditions and other authorities, including Gen- eral Washington's field map, on file in the Historical Society Library, in New York City, show that eminent historian to be mistaken in location. Mr. Bancroft has used British, not American data. There was an earth- work near Spuyten Duyvil erected by the Americans, probably the one ordered to be built by Washington, under Putnam's aud Wiebert's direc- tion, alluded to in the text ; but Fort Independence stood on the Mont- gomery farm, not far from the present route of Sedgwick Avenue, as just opened by the city authorities, and somewhat to the west of it.

4 Heath's " Memoirs," 52.

5 Idem., 54.

off the communication with the main at King's Bridge and hem iu Washington's army on Manhattan Island.6

Howe was making his reconnoisances. On August 27th two ships and a brig anchored a little north of Throgg's .Neck. General Heath sent Colonel Gra- ham with a regiment to prevent any landing, but be- fore he arrived several barges had landed on City Is- land and killed a number of cattle. 7 When the regi- ment arrived, the British retreated with oue prisoner and fourteen head of cattle. Heath at once asked Mifflin for additional artillery and made an arrange- ment for a floating bridge over Harlem River. 8 In the mean time the militia at Throgg's Neck and City Island wanted to go home. The crops had to be gathered and Colonel Drake stated to the New York Congress that it "would be a very great ease to the county at this season."9 On the 31st, Hand's, Shee's, Magaw's, Broadhead's and Miles' battalions joined Heath's command at King's Bridge 10 and on Septem- ber 4th, Washington and Heath had a consultation and dined together at that place. The result of this conference was that Hcath formed a chain of senti- nels and videttes, extending on the Westchester shore from Morrisania, via Hunt's Point, all the way to Throgg's Neck, and broke up the roads leading from Morrisania and de Lancey's Mills (West Farms) so as to render them impassable for the enemy's artillery.11 In many instances he caused trees to be felled across the roads, and in other places dug deep pits. On the 10th of September the British began landing troops on Montressor's Island, (now known as Randall's Is- land). As the fight on Manhattau Island had taken place at Kips Bay and Harlem Plains, a consultation of general officers was held on September 16th. The generals were divided in opinion as to what course the British would pursuc. Some supposed Fort Washington would be the point of attack; others that they would land either at Morrisania, Hunt's or Throgg's Point. It was therefore determined in Coun- cil to guard against both contingencics. Ten thou- sand men were to be kept on Manhattan Island, and Heath's division was increased to ten thousand men; a floating bridge was to be thrown across Harlem Creek, so that the two bodics could support cach other as circumstances might require.

On September 18th the British army was between the city of New York and the American lines, which latter extended across the island on the north

6 A graphic description of the troubles which a family in Lower West- chester endured is given in the correspondence of a young military officer on the staff of General Sullivan. Ile had a leave of absence to go to his ho.ne and remove his aged mother and sisters, with the flocks and herds, to a place of safety in the interior of the county .- N. Y. Hist. Soc. MSS.

7 Heath's "Memoirs," 55 ; Force, ii. 108.

8 ] Force, 1184.

01 Force, 1552; Heatb, 57.

10 Idem, 59.

11 Force, ii. 239-240.

789

WESTCHESTER.

side of Harlem Plains, Heath had a strong pieket of four hundred men at Morrisania, with a chain of sentinels, within half gun-shot of each other, posted along the shore and near the passage between Morrisauia and Randall's Island. The American sentries were ordered not to fire at the British unless the latter began; but the British did begin, and there was frequent firing between the piekets. One day a British officer walking on the shore of Raudall's Island was wounded by a shot from an American sen- tinel. An officer with a flag soou after eame down to the creek, and calling for the American officer of the guard, informed him that if the American sentinels fired any more the commander on the island would cannonade Colonel Morris' house, in which the Ameri- ean pieket officers were quartered. The Amerieau officer sent word to General Heath asking for in- struetious as to what reply he should make. He was told to answer that the Americans were instructed not to fire unless they were fired upon aud then to return the fire ; that such would be their conduet, and that as to cannonading Colonel Morris' house, they might aet their pleasure. The firing ceased for some time, but one day a Seoteh sentinel on the Britislı side fired at an American aud the shot was returned. A British officer eame down and said that he thought there was to be no firing between the sentinels. The Americans retorted that the British fired first. The British officer replied, "He shall then pay for it." The sentinel was relieved and there was no further firing between the piekets at that place, and they were afterwards so eivil to each other that they used to exchange tobacco by throwing the roll across the creek.

September 22d two seamen deserted from the British frigate " La Brune," which was lying uear Randall's Island, and stated that they had but a few men on the island, that the cannon which had been on the island had been put on board the "La Brune," but that there were a number of officers at the house. Acting on this information, an expedition consisting of two hundred and forty men, was sent on board of three flat-boats with a fourth astern with a light three-pound eannon on board in ease it might be found necessary. They were to drop down Harlem River with the ebb tide, and they calculated that at daybreak the tide would be sufficient on the flood to float the boats off the flats at the island. Major Henly of the general's staff, volunteered to be one of the party, and much against the general's wish he was permitted to go. Notice had been given to the piekets on the York Island side not to fire on the boats or hail them as they went down the river, but the sentinel nearest the island had not been in- strueted. General Heath was standing nearly oppo- site, on the Westchester side, to witness the attack. The sentinel challenged the boats and ordered them to come to the shore; the people on board the boats said that they were friends, but the sentry kept ou ehal-

lenging. The answer was, " We tell you we are friends -hold your tongue." Major Henly sprang overboard and swam to the shore, and wading up to General Heath, asked him, "Sir, will it do ?" General Heath, holding him by the hand, said, "I see nothing to the contrary." Henly replied : " Theu it shall do " and he waded back to the boat and got in. The sentinel on the New York side shouted " If you don't come to the shore, I tell yon I'll fire." Some one in the boats cried out "Pull away." The boats went on and the sentinel fired. The boats reached the island almost at the moment intended, just as daylight was break- ing. Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson and Major Logan and another field officer of a New York regiment were in the first boat. They jumped ashore, the col- onel remaining in charge of his detachment. The other two were to go to the right and left, and lead the men from the other boats, which were to land on either side of the first boat. The men from the first boat landed; the enemy's guard charged, but were instantly driven back, but the men in the other two boats, instead of landing, lay on their oars. The British seeing this, returned to the charge, and the single boat-load seeiug themselves abandoned, returned to the boat. Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson received a musket-ball in his leg and Major Henly was shot through the heart and instantly killed. The boat joined the others and all three returned, having lost in all about fourteen killed, wounded and missing. Major Henly was deeply regretted. If only one other of the boats had landed her men, success was probable, if both the others had landed, in the opinion of all eoneerned, success would have been certain. The delinquents in the other boats were arrested and one of the captains tried by court-inar- tial and eashiered.1

September 29th a large number of boats crossed over from Long to Randall's Island, which move- ment was continued on the 30th. The same day a frigate came through Hell Gate and lay alongside the "La Brune." About noon she hoisted sail and went to the eastward, and in the evening another ship came up. October 1st she was at anchor in the channel between Harlem and Baman's or Eldridge's Island .?

On October 3d General Heath, with Colonel Hand, made a reconnoisanee as far as Throgg's Neek. The causeway between the village of Westchester and the Neek seemed to them to be a strong strategie point. The old mill then, and for many years afterwards, stood at the west end of the causeway, and there was a bridge of planks there then, as there is now. A long range of eord-wood was piled up on the village or west side of the bridge and was so advantageously situated that it seemed as though it had been placed there for the purpose of forming a breastwork. A detachment of twenty-five pieked men from Hand's regiment of riflemen was sent to defend this position, with

1 Heath's Mems., 63-64.

2 Ward's Island.

790

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

instructions that in case the enemy should advance from Throgg's Neck, they should take up the plank- ing from the bridge and have everything ready to set the mill on fire, but not to do so unless the advance of the enemy conld not be checked. Another party was stationed at the head of Westchester Creek. This point must have been somewhere near the pres- ent station on the Port Chester Branch Railroad known as Timpson's.1 On the 12th eighty or ninety boats full of British troops went up the Sound from Randall's Island. They landed' at Throgg's Neck and at once pushed on for the village of Westchester. Hand's men opened fire and took up the planking from the bridge. The British then tried to turn the American flank by marching around the head of the creek, but Colonel Prescott's regiment and Bryant with a three-ponnder, reinforced the riflemen at the village-Colonel Graham, with a regiment of West- chester militia, and Jackson, with a six-pounder, assisted Hand's other men to hold the head of the creek. The British were checked and went into camp on the Neck. Our riflemen and the British yagers kept up a continual skirmish, and both sides threw up earthworks on each side of the old bridge. Washington visited Westchester the same day, though his headquarters were still at Harlem Heights. In his correspondence with Congress on the subject of this skirmish, he describes Throgg's Neck as a " kind of island," but the water which surrounded it as "fordable at low tide." He reported throwing up the earthworks, but from the number of vessels he had seen go up the East River, and also from reports bronght in by deserters, he felt convinced that the greatest part of Howe's army had gone eastward, and that his object was to get into the rear of the Americans and cut off communication between Man- hattan Island and the mainland. He considered the country back of Throgg's Point defensible, especially by reason of its stone walls, both along the roads and across the fields, so that the enemy would have great difficulty in advancing artillery or cven any large body of infantry with any degree of order, except by the main road.

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 196

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1354

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354