History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 45

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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. II > Part 45

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| From Hudson River Illustrated. Copyright by D. Applelon & Co.

as Tappan Zee or Sea, combines in itself every thing to render it one of the most beautiful localities on the continent, or indeed in the world. The shore is here so indented as to form a sort of eove or bay. Near the centre of the cove is a point, project- ing westward toward the river channel, and commonly spoken of as Point Dock. South of this point the cove penetrates still farther eastward into the land, which, around its shores, rises quite abruptly to an elevation of probably from seventy-five to eighty feet above the river-level to a second plateau, and then still higher to the old Albany Post road, now locally known as Broadway. The narrow, level flat or border below the hill, which is only a few feet higher than the river itself, and now described on the map as Water Street, and the projecting point above mentioned, now known as Point Dock, on which the principal market dock was located years ago, were probably the earliest settled portions of the village. Houses and other buildings were no doubt first erected there, unless we except the Philipse Manor-House, across the Poeantico, in what is known at the present day as North Tarrytown. A large part of the land now occupied by streets and houses lay, some sixty years ago or less, as so much farm land, on which stood the very unpretentious farm-houses of the respective owners.

A few of the old houses of that period, perhaps seven or eight in number, and notably what still bears the name of the " Paulding House," in Water Street, which is known to have been built before the Revolution, are still standing on the dock and under the hill, although the latter are now eut off from the open river by the track of the Hudson River Rail- road, which erosses the cove one hundred yards or more farther out. A Main Street from the Point Dock to the Albany Post road (now Broadway ), was the public high- way to the country "over back," as people called it, on the east. About fifty or sixty years ago a dozen houses in addition to those below the hill, which stood for the most part on the south side of Main Street, with some five or six others along Broadway, near the Main Street corner, constituted all there then was of Tarrytown.

Now the village has grown eastward away across the old Albany Post road (or Broadway), and north- ward up to the township line, where it joins and, in faet, blends with what is municipally known as North

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Tarrytown. The two villages are really one, as they should and ere long probably will be, both in cor- porate existence and in name. Thus connected, they stretch along the western slope of the high ridge that extends northward nearly parallel with the east shore of the Hudson River, in almost continuous succession from the upper end of New York Island. It may be said, in fact, that this ridge is only separated by the Spuyten Duyvil Creek from the continuation of it, which forms the whole upper part of New York. Besides the gap made by the Spuyten Duyvil, there is a smaller one a few miles north, where the Nepperhan or Saw-Mill River empties into the Hudson at Yonkers.

Just below Tarrytown the complete continuity of this ridge is somewhat modified, and several brooks, that go gurgling down the western slope toward the river, separate it into beautiful, picturesque and many-formed hills . more or less detached front each other. It is this feature, affording magnificent views up and down the Hudson River, that gives to the locality one of its surpassing points of beauty.

Immediately opposite the Point Doek Landing the slope rises quite continuously toward the east by a succession of natural terraces, each above the other, thus affording sufficient space on each ascending ele- vation for houses, villas and country-seats. The higher localities overlooking those below, and all commanding the most picturesque and far-extended views of the river, up toward the Highlands on the north and down along the Palisades to the south, as well as of the distant mountains beyond the river on the west, is one but rarefy equalled and never sur- passed. The highest point opposite and eastward of the Tarrytown Landing, and within the corporate limits of the village, is not much more than a mile from the Hudson River, and the summit of the ridge is probably from three hundred to four hundred feet above the level of the tide. The eastern slope of the ridge is almost in the form of a horse-shoe, and not far from the Tarrytown Station, on the New York City and Northern Railroad, there rises a lateral trib- utary to the Nepperhan, which, flowing eastward for about a quarter of a mile or more, finally empties into that stream.

TARRYTOWN IN THE REVOLUTION .- Owing to its situation relatively to the American lines above and to the British lines below, during the military occupa- tion of the place itself and of the country around it, Tarrytown became the scene of many deeply interest- ing events connected with the Revolutionary War. In the continnal marchings and counter-marchings, the conflicts and struggles, not only of the regular forces engaged, but also of the partisan warfare that grew out of the divided feeling which produced the two parties of Patriot and Tory, and added a peculiar bit- terness to the strife, the locality was ravaged and swept, now from one side and now from the other, resulting often in death from violence, and death

from exposure, fatigue and disease. It might have been said of the region then, while the actors were moving to and fro upon it, as Campbell said of Hohen- linden,

"And every turf beneath their feet Shall be a soldier's sepulchre."

On July 24, 1776, Colonel Hammond, or Hamman, was tried before a committee of inquiry, "in respect to his behavior as an officer on the evening of the day (July 12, 1776) on which the enemy's ships came to anchor off Tarrytown, in this County, and as a buyer of Pork for this State." The testimony on the trial is a curious mixture of the serions and the amusing, in which patriotism and pork seem to be combined in nearly eqnal proportions. The official records are quoted from the " Calender of Historical Manuscripts relating to the War of the Revolution," already re- ferred to:

" Report und eridence in the case of Col. Hamman.1

" The examination of the Evidences against Col. Hamman in respect to his behavior as an officer, on the evening of the Day on which the Enemy's ships came to anchor off Tarrytown, in this County-and as q buyer of Pork for this State.

"Lient. Daniel Marlin being sworn, deposeth and saith, That upon see- ing the fleet drawing nigh Tarrytown the 12th inst., ordered his Ser- geant to warn the men ; this was abont 7 o'clock ; That sd Sergeant afterwards told the Deponent he had been with Col. Hammond to warn him, and that thereupon the sd Col. mounted his horse and set ont directly to warn Capt. Vermilie ; That the sd Col. and a brother of this Deponent had some words, ns the Deponent heard from some of the men, but can- not recollect from whom, and that the said colonel arrived at Tarrytown between twelve and one o'Clock the next morning, as his said brother informed him ; and further this deponent saith not.

" Samuel Purdy, Jun., being sworn, deposeth that Col. Hammond agreed with him for four bbls, of pork at $4 5; That afterwards the sd Col. told him that Col. Drake was dissatisfy'd with the bargain, and asked him, the said Col. Hamman, if he did not think the people would take the pork again ; That Hamman said he told the said Drake that he did nol chose to go abont to countermand what he had tone, for that he knew that some of the people wanted the money ; That he would sooner take it himself than do so ; That he, the deponent, after this delivered the said pork to the said Col. Hamman ; and That either at that time or some time before, the said Col. told the deponent that the said Col. Drake had wrote to him, the said Hamman, for a mimuber of prime bbls, of pork, which the deponent thinks he, the said Hamman, said were nbont right in number ; That the next day, aftersd Hamman had reed the sd four bbls. of pork from the Deponent, he told the said deponent, it having bwven repacked, that he had made three bbls, of prime pork ont of the four bbls. aforesaid, and that he did allow the deponent but four pounds for the remaining barrel; That the deponent heard others call the said repacker by the name of Thomas Hunt, and that he heard him say that he was anthorized by the Congress to that employment. The deponent further saith that he was present when the said repacker was repacking the pork of James Requaw, und that he saw several peices of the st pork re- jected by the sd packer ; and that afterwards, he, the deponent, saw the said Requaw carrying back several of the said rejected peices in his cart ; and the deponent saith that he heard the said C'ol. Ilamman say to the said Reqnaw that he would as soon see his pork repacked as any of his neighbors, if the repacker thought it would do.

" The deponent further saith that he saw several prime peices of pork taken by Joseph Legett while the said Ilunt was repacking pork which he said the said hegett had sold the said Hamman, and that the depon- nent did not hear the said Leggett or any other person desire the said parker to put in any peices into the bbls but what he thonght proper, nor did he know that any peices were taken ont of any of the said bar- rels after having been repacked.

"Johnathan G. Tomkins, Esqr, being sworu, deposeth and saith-that near nine o'clock on the evening of the 12th inst., he called at Col.

1 (Miscel. Pap. 34 : 549).

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Hammands, and found a man advising him to warn his men to muster, for the Enemys ships were coming up the river. That sd Col. asked ye deponent whither the report was a matter of fact. The deponent told him it was, and desired sd Col. to warn his officers immeditely-that the Col. turned to a certain Justice Dean and borrowed his horse and mounted him and set off directly with the deponent without so much as going into his own honse first, to warn Capt. Vermilier, and he, the said Col., also desired the aforesaid man to warn all they came across and that they should inthence others to do the same ; that the sd Col. in- formed tho deponent that he was under the necessity of ordering the people to meet at his house, as he had the ammunition there ; that Cap! Requaw was anfliciently warned, being in a field from which he could see the vessels as they come up. That the deponent parted with the said Colonel about two miles from the river, where the rond strikes off to Capt Vermilier's. That the s4 Col. went toward the sd Captains and the deponent to the River at Tarrytown. That abont 10 o'('lock the deponent returned to the gd Colonels and was told that he had not re- turned since lie set ont with the said deponent and that the deponent believes that the said Colonel was active in collecting his men, and fur- ther saith not. Captain Benjamin Vermilier, being sworn, deposeth wond saith that on the evening of the 12th inst. Col. Hamman came to his house early in the evening and gave him orders to warn the men as Tast as he could. After the sd depon had warned his Corporal to ar- quaint the Sergeant to come down to Tarry town the depouent went to Mr. Vantassels and found the Col. there. That scarcely an hour after the depon' with the Col. went down to the River, but the hour of the night he could not tell, as he had no watch. Peter Allair, clerk to Col. Hammon's regiment, being sworn, deposeth and saith : That Col. Hanı- man's son-in-law about 9 o'clock warned him to turn out on the alarm. That he went to alarm some men, then returned to the Col. and charged all the guns there. That afterwards went to Vantassels and that the Col. was there before him, and the deponent believes that the sd Col. made ne nnnecessary delay in going down to Tarry town, the time of night he knew not.

" Lient. Corneliens Vantassel, being sworn, deposeth and saith that ou the aforesaid evening he went to the house of Lient. Marlin, where he found Col. Ilammans about one or two o'clock, and found him doing his best to prepare and forward the men to the shore. That he and the Col. got the depon a hat full of cartridges for his men, who had before but 3 or 4 rounds a man, and that the sª Col. was husie in furnishing others with Cartridges also.

"Joseph Youngs, being sworn, deposeth and swith that Willm Paulding, Esqr, toll the Committee of this place, Westchester, that C'ol. Hammon had been warned at Hu o'clock on the evening the enemy appeared off Tarrytown, and did not go to Tarrytown till I0 o'clock the next day But the depon' going down to the said towu found by the information of credible persons that Col. Hamman had been down at about one in the morning, and further snith not as to that matter. That he was pres! when Jos, Drake asked Hamman if he conk purchase him some pork. The Col. replied that he could. That Hamman honght some by Drake's orders, who told him he allowed him to givo £4 and £4 5& pr barrel for prime pork. After he bought it Drako told Hamman the Congress would not allow so much, and asked him whether he could not return it to the people again. Hamman told him he could not, for that he would rather lose the 5 shillings. Youngs then advised Hammon to keep ye pork, for that he would not lose by it.

"Joseph Leggett doth affirm that he was present when Regnaws pork was repacked by the aforest Innt, and told the Company, of which Col. Hamman and the repacker were two, that the pork was very much moulded, and that ho saw tho gd repacker put several peices to his nose and throw them aside, but did not see or learn that Col. Hamman gavo the repacker any orders or instructions about the sl l'ork. The affirmant farther saith that in his opinion the said Pork was not merchantable.

" That he, the affirmant, saw Col. Ilamman cull one Barrel of Pork ont of four or five, but that the remmining three were good and mer- chuntable. Martinns Van Wart, being sworn, deposeth and saith that he soll Col. Hamman five hbls, of Pork; that ho was present at repack- ing the same; that the sd Col. Inunnan, upon a door which he lind laid down, took and hid the prime peices of sl five bbls. ; that four bbls, were tilled by there packer, Hunt, and that n bbl. was filled with part of the prime pork and marked by the repacker, the rom' of the gd prime peices of Pork the deponent took back ; and also that he, the de- ponent, heard the repacker commend whole of the gl pork as he was re- packing it, and that he does not know whether Iamman took the said bbl, prime pork to himself or not. Frout the foregoing Evidences it ap- pears to this Committee that the charges exhibited against Colonel Han- man, both in regard to the affair of the Pork and neglect of duty as an

officer, are entirely groundless, and that therefor the said Colonel ought to be acquitted from all further trouble on these accounts, and returned to his regiment immediatly. July 24th, 1776.

" (Indorsed.) Report of a committo that Colo Ilamman is an honest man & a fighting Colonel. Confirmed."

The trial of Colonel Hammond was not the only trouble for which the eoming of the British ships to Tarrytown furnished the occasion. It led also to the loss of a sloop belonging to Stephen Hogeboom, of Claverack, and in the following February, that is, in 1777, he petitioned "the Honorable Convention of the State of New York " for indemnity. In his petition it will be seen that he gives the name of the place as "Terrytown." It is quoted from the "Calendar of Historieal Manuscripts."

Petition of Stephen Hogeboom.t

"To the Ilonorable Convention of the State of New York :

" The Memorial of Stephen Ilogeboom, of Claverack, in the County of Albany, in behalf of himself and Peter Hogeboom and Thomas Storm, of the same place, owners of the Sloop Middlesex, Ihumbly Sheweth. That your memorialist and the other owners of the said Sloop sent her down to the City of New York, in July last, laden with flour for the NING of the Continental Army. That before her Loading was discharged the navigation np Hudson River was obstructed by two ships of War of the King of Great Britain, sailing up as far as Terrytown. That thereupon Peter llogehoom, one of the said owners, after having discharged his Cargo carried the said Sloop up the Sound to Herseneck for safety. That in Angust following, your Memorialists hearing that the Ships of War were sailed ont of Hudson River, brought his Sloop back to New York with a design to proceed with her to Claverack, but was prevented from proceeding by Coll. Wordsworth and Commissary Inghes, who ordered your Memorialists over with the Sloop to Long Island Ferry, where she was used to carry off the Troops and Stores, after the unfortunate retreat on the 28th of the said month. That your Memorinlists seeing no prus- pect of bringing the said Sloop to a place of safety while she continued in the Continental Service, thereupon quitted her. That there said Sloop was afterwards carryed up with stores of the Army thro' the Sound to King's Bridge, where she was used as a store Vessel by the Continen- tal Army, until the Retreat from the Island, wber she fell into the hands of the Enemy.

" That your Memorialists have lost the said Stoop by her being taken into the Continental Service, your Memorialist therefore prays that the House will take the premises into consen and grant into your Memorial- ist such relief in the premises as shall appear reasonable.

" And your Memorialist, &c. " STEPHEN HOGEBOOM.

" FISHKILL, Feb. 24, 1777."

In regard to the unsettled condition of things at Tarrytown and in the whole region around it, during the War of the Revolution, the trial of Anthony Hill, on April 18, 1777, for " hokling a treacherous eorre- spondence with the enemy," and "being employed by them for the purpose of enlisting men into their ser- vice," affords an interesting glimpse. The record, taken from the " Calendar of Historical Manuscripts relating to the War of the Revolution," vol. ii, pp. 87-88, is as follows :

" Friday, April 18, 1777.

"Lt. Col. Weissenfells being indisposed & Capt. Bray being on com- mand, Capts. Ilallett & Pelton were sworn in their room.

" Anthony Ilill was brought before the Court & charged with holding a treachorons Correspondence with tho Enemy & being employed by them for the purpose of enlisting Men into their Service. The l'risoner on his Arraignment pleads not Guilty. Lient. Gabriel Requaw being sworn, says that he livesabout two Mile lack of Tarry Town, that about a Week ago, as he was working by his House, he saw two Men cruming the Lotts, that suspect them, he went into the House, took his Gun and

1 Petitions, 33: 622.

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followed them into the Woods, ou haling them one Ran away, the Pris- oner Stop'd, when he came up with him he asked him where he came from. The Prisoner answered from Kingsbridge, he then took him to his father's & there searched him in presence of his Brother- found about him Six Dollars & one Shilling in Silver and Some Coppers & two Silver Spoons, also a Warrant tore in Pieces, the same now produced.

" N. B .- The Warrant was produced in Court & appears to have been a Warrant impowering to raise Men to Augment the New York Com- panies under Major Grant to be inlisted for two years or during the present Rebellion. &c .- signed by Major Grant & directed to Anth - several pieces heing lost. The Prisoner tokl the Evidence he took the Warrant to get out of York, & on the Evidences asking him why he did not deliver himself up, the Prisoner answered, he took advice of the Man who was with him & whose Name he said was Mammel Litlebeck.

" Joseph Requaw being sworn, says that he was at his Father's when bis Brother brought in the Prisoner, that he asked him where he came from. IIe answered, from Long Island to New York & from thence. Said also that he belongs to Capt. Cain's Comps in the Enemy's service- that he had been in their Service four MI mths. On asking if he had any letters, he answered, uo-but on the Evidences offering to search him, he pull'd out of his pocket a Warrant, the same as now produced, tore in pieces. The Evidence asked him how he came to get that Warrant. lle said he took it to get out, for he could not get over the Bridge with- out it, said he took it solely to get out & never intended to go back or act in Consequence of it. The Evidence then asked him why he did not deliver himself up to the first Gnard, the prisoner answered, he knew of no Guard-he also said he had put the Warrant under a stone intending to leave it, hut that the Man who was with him persnaded him to take it with him. The Prisoner further said the other had a warrant also, & had a night or two before carried down Twenty-three Men-the Pris- oner told him he came from Kingsbridge, the 10 April, about half an hour before Sun set-he was taken the 11th of April. The Prisoner in his Defence says that he was Drafted last Fall in Col. Swartwouts Regt, went to Kingsbridge with them, came home & was returning to joiu the Regt, when he met one Edw. Palmer, who lived in Cortlandt's manor, who told him if he went back he would he tlogged, & advised him to go to Long Island with him. With some perswasion he went with Palmer to Cowneck & worked there with one Henry Sands -- when he first came on the Island he was persuaded to enlist with the Enemy, but was not called on to Join his Company until ahont three weeks ago, when he was ordered to Join them at Fort Washington, which he did.

"The Company was then commanded by Capt. Cain, who received orders from Major Grant to procure some meu acquainted in Dutchess County, to go out recruiting-and as Manuel Litlebeck had a night or two before brought in Twenty-three Men, he was again pitched upon to go, & as the Prisoner lived in Dutchess County he agreed to come with him. Accordingly, a warrant was given each of them. The Prisoner says he took the Warrant merely to get clear & never intended to return. Litlebeck proposed their traveling in the Night to prevent being taken up, to which the Prisoner objected, saying he was not afraid of being taken. They therefore slept that night & set off next Morning. On the Way the Prisoner took the Warrant & put it under a Stone intending to leave it, but that Littleheck took it up ngain & told him to put it in his Pocket, threating him to tell the Officers when he returned. The Pris- oner accordingly put it in his pocket & proceeded. In Crossing the fields he saw the Evidence Lt. Requaw running after them, who, when he came within about Thirty Rods called to them to Stop, on which the Prisoner stopped, but Litlebeck ran away. Lieut. Reqnaw carried him to a House, and on the way he took out the Warrant and toro it in pieces for fear of its being found on him.

" The Court having considered the Evidence & Defence of the Pris- oner, are of Opinion that he is Guilty of the charge and Do therefore Sentence him to be hanged by the Neck till he is Dead.

" BEN. WALKER, Judge Advocate. PHILIP CORTLANDT, President."

An idea of the military movements may be gathered from the contemporary records. General Heath, for example, was ordered by Washington, in January, 1777, to move from Peekskill down the east bank of the Hudson, thus passing through Tarrytown toward New York, as if intending to attack the city. The battle had just been fought at Princeton, and by a demonstration upon New York City, Washington

aimed to compel the British to withdraw from New Jersey. General Heath, in his "Memoirs " pages 105 to 108, makes some interesting statements. When he uses the words " Our General" he means himself. The following is an extract :

"7th .- Our general received the following letter from Gen. Washing- ton :

" PLUCKEMIN, Jan. 5, 1777. " ŞIR :

" We have made a successful attack upon Princeton. General llowe advanced upon Trenton ; we evacuated the town and lay at the other side of the Mill Creek until dark; then stole a march, and attacked Princeton about 9 o'clock in the morning.

" There were three regiments quartered there.

" The killed, wounded and prisoners taken amounted to abont 500. The enemy are in great consternation ; and as the present affords u18 a favorable opportunity to drive them out of the Jersies, it has been deter- mined in Council, that you should move down toward New York with a considerable force, as if you had a design upon the city ; that being an object of great importance, the enemy will be reduced to the necessity of withdrawing a cousiderable part of their force from the Jersies, if not the whole, to secure the city. I shall draw the force on this side the North River together at Morristown, where I shall watch the motions of the enemy, and avail myself of every circumstance. You will retain 4,000 of the militia, coming on from the New England Governments, for the expedition. You will act with great precaution, but avail yoursell' of every favorable opportunity of attacking the enemy, when you can do it to advantage.

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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. II, Part 45

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286