USA > New York > Westchester County > Tarrytown > Souvenir of the revolutionary soldiers' monument dedication, at Tarrytown, N.Y. October 19th, 1894; > Part 10
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James Acker, the eldest son of Abraham 3d, inherited the one-half (north part) of his father's estate, and lived about two or three hundred yards north of the old homestead, in a house erected for him by his fatlier about 1815. He was prominent in town affairs holding the office of Supervisor from 1838 to 1844. At the Town Meeting in the Spring of the latter year he was again a candidate on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by his brother-in-law, the late Benson Ferris, Esq .. who was an ardent Whig. James Acker married Elizabeth Mail, a daughter of Michael Mann, Sr. He continued to live on that place until his death in 1870. He left several children.
Maria, the sister of James and daughter of Abraliam Acker, 3d, married the late Benson Ferris, Sr., and was a woman much esteemed
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in this community. Her son, Benson Ferris, Esq., is President of the Westchester County Savings Bank of this place.
The oldest memorial stone of the Acker family recognizable in the old Dutch Churchyard, bears the following inscription. It is still well preserved, and it would seem might be good for at least another century :
Here Lyes the Body of SIBERT ACKER who was Born March the 8th, 1693, who departed this life July ye 26th, 1771, Aged' 72 years, 4 months and 19 days.
Sibert or Sybout Acker, was the ancestor of Jacob Aeker, for- merly of Beaver Hill, on the road east of East Irvington. His is the carliest recorded birth of any of the Ackers at this place, hie being a son of Wolfert, and doubtless born at the early homestead, playfully denom- inated "Wolfert's Roost," by Mr. Irving. . And in this connection it is worthy of note that while Sybout Acker was probably the first born there, his kinsman, Benson Ferris, Esq., of Tarrytown, born there 127 years later, was the last person who has had birth on that historie and romantic spot.
Sibout Acker, son of Wolfert, baptized prior to 1699, had Wolfert, Magdalen, William, Abraham and Rachel, Ica, Maritie and Jan Acker.
Mr. Jacob Acker, a great-grandson of William Aeker, son of Sybout and grandson of Wolfert, lived near the summit of the hill west of the Saw Mill River, and on the road leading to East Irvington, on what was formerly a part of the Win. Acker farm. He was born in 1806, the son of Abraham Aeker and Mary Lawrence his wife. This Abraham Acker was the son of Jacob Aeker who had married Ann Buck- hout, and he the son of William Ecker and Anatie his wife, William being the son of Sybout and Aeltie Ecker, christened at the old Dutch Church, Apr. 25, 1724, he the son of Wolfert and Maritie Ecker.
Jacob Acker remembered his great-grandfather William, and of course his grandfather Jacob very well, and his experiences during the Revolution. He (Jacob) was often obliged to leave his home though his wife and aged father and family remained in more or less disturbed possession. He remembered how his father was taken prisoner during one of the forays of the enemy to the northward. He had stoutly resisted but was finally overpowered by a blow from a saber which made an ugly and nearly fatal cut in his head. He was then taken to New
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York and confined in the Old Sugar House Prison (as stated in his application for a pension), where he with other Patriots were obliged to live on the horse flesh that was doled out to them.
The following is copied from his application for a pension on file at Washington :
. "Jacob Acker of the town of Greenburgh, and County of West- chester, being duly sworn, says that he was a private in Capt. Geo. Comb's Company, in Col. Jas. Hammond's Regt .; that he was detached 011 thic 2d day of March, 1782, under Capt. Israel Honeywell, as a scout in a reconnoitering party to examine the lines of the British troops then at Morrisiania, and that on their return, he and others under the com :- mand of Ensign Thos. Boyce, on the 3d of March, in the town of New- castle, were attacked by a party of British Dragoons, and that during the attack he received a severe wound from the sword of a British soi- dier, on the head, from the top sloping toward the left side, and that lic was taken prisoner by the enemy and carried off to the Hospital at New York, where he was kept for about 4 months."
The above Jacob Acker, married 2d, Marie Mounel, of Clarks- town, Rockland Co., Aug. 10, 1794. He died the 18th of Dec. 1835, and left children, Isaac S., William, Abraham, Charity, wife of John Sherwood, and Hannah Acker. He served, Ist, under Capt. Daniel Martling; 2d, under Capt. Israel Honeywell.
There was also another Jacob Acker in the Revolution, who by reason of his daring exploits, achieved the distinction of being called, "Rifle Jake." The following exciting episode in his Revolutionary career is here given as told by the late Rev. Alexander Van Wart, son of the captor :
"A skirmish between a company of Patriot militia on one side, and a company of British soldiers, aided by a band of Tories under the leadership of 'Jim Husted,' on the other took place on the rising ground just east of the Dutch Church and parsonage at Hall's Corners (Elins- ford). The conflict was brought on by the firing of 'Jake Acker.' Hc was famous in his days as a sharpshooter with musket or rifle, and being out probably hunting on the brushy and brambly elevation known as 'the Island,' between Saw Mill River and the road east of it, in com- pany with John Dean, he saw a squad of twenty-eight British soldiers marching carelessly down the road toward the site of the present tavern, near the bridge over which the White Plains road crosses the Saw Mill River. 'Jakc' was an intense Patriot, and considering cvery British soldier put out of the way as so much clear gain for the cause of Inde-
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pendence, he drew a bead on the marehing squad, and as usual, he brought down his game. His ball struek one of the soldiers in the groin and he fell. The others took up their wounded comrade and carried him some way np the rising ground, east of the road and north of the present tavern. His injury was mortal, and the poor fellow died. But while they were thus occupied with him, and taking counsel together what to do, 'Jake' who had reloaded his innsket, crept stealthily throughi the bushes down to the eastern edge of the island, and, taking deliberate aim, sent another ball through the temples of a British soldier, who fell dead npon the spot. They were both afterwards buried on the island. I saw, said Mr. Van Wart, the graves of these two inen on the island, with common field-stones for the head and the foot."
This Jacob Acker, was a State pensioner under the aet of 1786, on account of wounds received in the service, and was afterwards a U. S. Pensioner until his death, which occurred Nov. 5, 1832. Jane Acker, widow of above Jacob, died 1839, leaving ehildren Jemima, Amelia, Mary Forbes, and Jacob, Abraham and Daniel Acker. Her application for pension is dated Jan. 11, 1837 ; she was then of the town of Mt. Pleasant, the widow of Jacob Aeker, who served in Capt. Sybert Acker's Company. He died Nov. 5, 1832. He was thrice wounded while on a seout to Morisania on the 14th of Dee. 1779. Steplien son of Wolfert, was a pensioner by reason of being wounded once on his ehin, once ini his gullet, and the third in his right shoulder ; and on the Ist day of May, 1780, being again ordered out by Col. Hammond on a scout to Sing Sing, he received another wound on his left shoulder, by a broad- sword in the hands of one of the enemy. Attested by Capt. Gilbert Dean.
Abram Acker, 3d, who was a patriot soldier in the Revolution, being a member of Capt. Martling's Co., was taken prisoner May 1, 1780 and incarcerated in the Old Sugar House, New York, where he was kept until Jan. 1, 1781, when he was exchanged. The recollection of his arrival home on a Sunday morning after his release, hatless, if not boot- less, is still a vivid reminiscenee eherished by his descendants.
In a list of officers chosen for a Tarrytown Company date of Oct. 23, 1775, Sybout Acker's name appears as Ensign. He was afterwards Captain of a Company, and was much of the time in active service on the Lines in this neighborhood, as is evidenced by the statements of many applicants for pension, including Samuel Youngs. His marriage does not appear on the records, but Sybout (probably Capt. Sybont) and Engeltie his wife had Elizabeth, born May 28, 1779, and Jacobus born
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Jan. 1, 1782. Capt. Acker was a stalwart Patriot, and was among .' first to enlist in the cause of the Colonies on this Manor.
Benjamin Acker, of Mt. Pleasant, states in his application pension, dated Dec. 3, 1832, that he served as a Ferryman at Vi- planck's Point; enlisted under Col. Hughs, March 1, 1780, 3: re-enlisted at the expiration of that time in same Regt. Bom Philipse Manor (now town of Mt. Pleasant) Aug. 12, 1763. Applic . tion endorsed by Benj. Brown and William Lambert. In a staten : made by him in 1847, he says : "I saw service during the Revolutie. ary war, and in the latter part of it was employed as a Ferryman . King's Ferry. I ferried Smith (Joshua Hett) and Andre across ;.. river Sept. 22, 1780, and was a witness at Smith's trial. In nye. when the French army lay at White Plains, I was employed as a wate man at Dobbs Ferry. Once, in the month of October, f don't rement what year, I was engaged in watching a British frigate which lay ( Sparta, in company with John Paulding, John Requa, David Marti: and Isaac Lent. We lay in ambush in the bushes above Judge Kent; place. Presently a boat from the frigate approached us with nine in :. and a woman on board. Not wishing to hurt the woman, we let tie . land ; then rose and fired upon them. We killed two, wounded tu made prisoners of the other five and let the woman go." Benja !!!! Acker, died in Sing Sing, Nov. 25, 1851, in the goth year of his o ... ". It is said that he was the last of the Pensioners in that place. he was also the last of the Revolutionary soldiers buried in the oil Dutch Churchyard.
A John Acker was captured at the house of Lient. Cornelu Van Tassel, Nov. 17, 1777, who died in the old Sugar House Prices: The following from the granddaughter of Mrs. Rachel Achy Stillwaggon, the venerable old lady who died a few years since in : .. 106th year, is worthy of a place here : "Grandmother does not remet. ber her grandfather's first name. He fought in both the French a :. Revolutionary wars. Williams and Van Wart were both cousins : her. Grandmother's father, Abram Acker, was in the Revolution: war, and was taken prisoner and on one of the prison ships in Net York. He died at Tarrytown, and his wife died in New York. The lived on a farm which is now known as the 'Burnt House.' It !!! always been known by that name, as it was burnt during the Revolu- tionary war, over their heads, so they had to throw out feather bed- and sit out on them till the next morning, it being in the middlec: winter and the snow was very deep."
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"Sunnyside" was unquestionably the home of Elder Wolfert Acker, and of his descendants for several generations, and a part of the original house, or "Roost," as Irving facetiously entitles it, is still pre- served in it. Wolfert Acker was an Assessor of the Manor in 1714, and in 1723 filled the office of Collector, the following receipt being copied from the old records :
" New York, May 21, 1723,
" Rec'd from Stephen Ecker in behalf of his father, Woofert Ecker, Collector of the Manor of Phillipsburgh, the sum of six Pounds four Shillings and five pence which with his salary at nine pence in the pound amounts to six pounds nine shillings being in full of ye quota of ye within mentioned warrant. A. D. PEYSTER.
In the old Assessinent Roll of 1732, Eckers are assessed as fol- lows : Wolfert Ecker, £30; Jan Ecker, £16. 10; Sibout, {13; Abra- ham, £15. 10 ; Stephen, £18. 10.
Jan Ecker, who with Magdalentie his wife, appear on the records of the old Dutch Church as of its original members, was doubtless a kin -probaby a brother-to Wolfert. Of his family the record only shows that they had Cornelius, christened Aug. 20, 1708 ; Anna, Nov. 14, 1713 ; and Rachel, Apr. 18, 1716. There is no mention of the family after that date. The old Dutch Church records state that in the absence of a minister Jan Ecker was appointed to conduct the funeral service "in a christian manner, and that he walk before the procession to the grave." Jan Acker was one of the Deacons chosen at the organ- ization of the old Dutch Church, 1697, and served as Elder 1702-4. The old survey of the Post Road, date 1723, indicates that the residence of Jan Ecker was north-east from the corner of present Broadway and Bedford Road, the road passing on the east side of the house, it being thic place afterwards occupied by Cornelius Jones.
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The Van Tassel Family.
To tell the story of Philipse Manor without a sketch of the Van Tassel Family would be like leaving Hamlet out of the play. They were one of the most numerous and conspicuous families ofthe Manorial period, and were the very impersonation of some of its most marked characteristics. The blood of Thor was in their veins and their struggle for freedom in Friesland had made them veritable sons of Mars. Where- cver a Van Tassel waved his gonfalon it was the signal for an onset against the enemy, and in the border warfare that waged with such fiereeness on this Manor during the Revolution they were ever in the fore front.
Jan Cornelius Van Tassel was the first of that name, known to have come to New Netherland. Among the first settlers to locateupon Philipse Manor, were John, Jacob and Cornelius Van Tassel, sons of the first mentioned. They were the 38th, 52d and 73d persons whose names appear upon the roll of members of the old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow. Direk, the son of Cornelius, was the 25th person baptised previous to 1699. In 1723 he married at the church in Hackensack, N. J., Chrestina Buise, daughter of Aaron Buise, who was an officer of the old Dutch Chiureli, from 1743 to 1767. His five daughters, and Cornelius, the subject of this sketch, were all baptised at that church, the latter ini 1734. A receipt given by Direk Van Tassel to Frederick Philipse dated Dec. 22, 1767, for 6 pounds, 25. 6d, for rent of the farm, is still preserved. Lieut. Cornelius married Elizabeth Storms, daughter of Nicholas, and sister of Capt. Abraham Storms, the first
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Captain eleeted for the company that was known as the Tarrytown Company, this Sept. 2, 1775, being the first and earliest mention of the name Tarrytown yet discovered.
Lieut. Cornelius Van Tassel, was eleeted an officer of one of the four companies organized in the upper Manor of Philipsburg. The Provincial Congress in session in New York city, gave them their com- missions during the month of Sept., 1775. His farm of two hundred and odd aeres, was the same formerly occupied by his father and grand-
CORNELIUS VAN TASSEL HOUSE.
father, and was situated upon the Saw Mill river road, one mile south of present Elmsford.
The British seouting parties having met with many humiliating defeats at the hands of these defenders, Governor Tryon determined to adopt harsh measures to exterminate them. James Delancey, the 'T'ory Sheriff of the County, was the Colonel of the Westchester Co. Militia, a regiment that had been organized for a number of years previous to the Revolution. Many of the members of the South Battalion were also enrolled as members of that regiment, but were looked upon as d'eserters by the British. Governor Tryon directed Col. Delaneey to reernit a company out of his regiment which were called Rangers.
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They were mounted, and the Governor, to stimulate enlistments ?? that branch of the service, gave them a reward of twenty-five dollar for the capture of every committeeman, and five dollars each for ever; deserter.' This command soon grew to be a very effective regiment. They were given the name of Cow Boys, as their thorough knowledge of the roads and country was a great help to them in that particular line of cattle capture. On the night of Nov. 17, 1777, Peter and Cornelius Van Tassel were taken prisoners at their homes by Cap !. Emmerick's command from King's Bridge, a part of which also pro- cecded to the house of Maj. Abraham Storms, which they partially burned. The enemy having collected the Van Tassel's stock of cattle, made sure their prisoners should not escape as they tied their hands to their horses' tails, in which position they compelled them to drive thei: cattle to their camp. While they were preparing to burn the dwelling. Lt. Van Tassel's son, Cornelius, Jr., having secreted himself in the attie, was driven out by the smoke. Throwing a blanket over his head lie came down stairs and sprang over the lower half of the hall door and ran rapidly to the Saw Mill River, pursued by the enemy, who gave up the chase when they found that he had broken his way through the ice, in order to escape to the Farens Hott, the picket station on Beaver Mountain. Cornelius, Jr., died Jan. 3, 1780, as the result of his exposure at the time of his father's capture. While the dwelling was burning one of the soldiers actuated with praiseworthy feelings of humanity obtained a feather bed and threw it over the mother and child, who were then left to care for themselves as best they could. They afterward found temporary shelter in a dirt cellar, the only habi- tation left upon the farm.
Capt. John Romer gives the following account of the affair, date of 1845: "The night on which the houses were surprised and burnt was one of the coldest of the season. Cornelins Van Tassel on the first alarm sprang from the windows and tried to escape, being ahnost naked. He was taken, but never recovered from the exposure of that night. The Tory Captain, Joshua Barnes, acted as guide for Emerick that night, and his voice was heard above the tumult. : "The houses are both owned by d-d Rebels-burn them !' My wife, Leah Van 'T'assel, was the only daughter of Cornelius, and she was the infant taken out of the house in a blanket by a soldier, laid carefully in the snow and the mother, distracted, was seeking her babe when he told her where the child was. The only son, Cornelius, Jr., fled for safety half naked to the roof of the house and held on by the chimney, from.
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which when the fire began to reach him he jumped to the ground. He escaped that night, but caught cold from which he never recovered."
It was about this time that Gov. Tryon issued his infamous order to "Bin Tarrytown," which provoked swift reprisal in the des- truction of Gen. Oliver Delancey's house on the upper end of New York island, by an expedition that went down the river in the night from this place. And so Lieut. Cornelius and Peter Van Tassel were cruelly and ignominiously carried away to New York: as prisoners. A petition signed by Lieut. Cornelius and Peter Van Tassel, as Commit- tecnien, and others, drawn up at the Provost Goal, date of Feb. 6, 1778, is on file among the Clinton papeis, in which they set forth that they are there as Committeemen, and hence unable to get exchanged, and they ask the Governor to help them out of their dilemma so that they may be returned to their families, which it appears he was not very soon able to do. The official records show that their release from prison took place on the 17th of Oct. 1778, making just ir months of captivity. The following is copied from the book of Audited Accounts pertaining to the Revolution in the State Archives at Albany.
The State of New York, Dr. To Lieut, Cornelius Van Tassel. 5,117.06.9 To pay while in Captivity, from 17th Nov. 1777, to the 17th Ort, 175 13.15.0 1.131.1.8 .
To Retained Rations,
Audited, 1764.
When peace was at last proclaimed, It. Van Tassel purchased his old farm from the Commissioners of Forfeiture, but on account of the losses incurred, was unable to rebuild his dwelling. Bis only son having died from exposure received in fighting for his country, he postponed the affair until the marriage of his daughter Leah, to John Kommer, son of Jacob Romer, Sr., who with his three brothers had been active participants in the cause of Independence; and in 1793, they erected the dwelling still standing, of which a photo representation appears herewith, and where for upward of fifty years the annual town meetings of the township of Greensburgh were held. Here Lt. Van Tassel and wife, Jacob Romer, Sr., and wife, and their son John Romer and wife spent their remaining days. John Romer became Captain in the war of 1812, and took an active part in those proceedings that were productive in the advancement of the best interests of the community. He was not only a well known man among men, but it is said, was decided by vote at a general election to be the best looking man in the town ! He died at the age of go, beloved by every one.
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Lieut. Cornelius Van Tassel died Mar. 6, 1820, in the 86th year of his age, and Elizabeth Storms his wife, died Mar. 25, 1825, is the 87th year of her age. J. C. L. Hamilton, of Elinsford, is the grand. son of Jolin Romer and great-grandson of Lieut. Cornelius Van Tassel.
Peter Van Tassel's name appears as a member of Capt. Danid Martling's Company as early as 1776, and as already stated he was a member of the Committee of Publie Safety for this County when taken prisoner and carried away to the Provost Goal in New York in Nov., 1777. His tombstone in the old Duteli Churchyard shows that he was born in May, 1728, and that he died in Sept., 1784, just after the elose of the Revolutionary war, and probably as a result of the hardships endured during that period. His birth, and consequently parentage. do not appear in the records of the old Dutch Church, and the latter for some time evaded all research, but it was finally discovered in the will of Johannis Van Tassel (son of Jaeob) of Philipsburg, recorded in the Surrogate's office in the city of New York. The will is dated Dec. 23, 1771. By it the testator gives to his wife Trintje, (Buys), his son Jacob, daughter Anna, widow of Jaeob Wormer, daughter Rachel wife of John Van Tassel, daughter Catrina wife of Abram Eeker, "son of Abin," and grand child Catrina danghter of his son John Van Tassell, dee'd, and appoints his well beloved sons Peter and Jaeob, his executors.
So Peter was the son of Johannis who had married Trintje, and the brother of famous Major Jacob Van Tassel of Wolfert's Roost, also brother of Catrina who married Abraham Aeker or Eeker, 2d, the great-grandfather of Mr. Benson Ferris. As Peter died in 1784, his widow, Catrina or Catharine, and her sons Peter, 2d, and John, took title to his farm of 150 aeres in the Saw Mill River Valley just south of and adjoining the farm of Lieut. Cornelis Van Tassel, who was his kinsman.
The will of Hendrick Van Tassel, who had married Balith Buys, also appears in the Surrogate's office at New York City, date of 1.771. He gave his wife Balith, sons John and Hendriek, daughters Mary and Balithy Slymets.
Jacob Van Tassel, the son of Johannis Van Tassel and Catharine his wife, was baptised Nov. 10, 1744. Hester Van Tassel his wife. was the daughter of a Johannis Van Tassel and Helena Hammen his wife. They were married Sept. 23, 1764. Their home was at the Wolfert Acker plaee, long known as "Wolfert's Roost." The follow- ing faney sketehi of the Roost and its brave defender, Lient. Jacob Van
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Tassell, from the gifted pen of Washington Irving is well introdueed here :
"The situation of the Roost is in the very heart of what was the debateable ground between the American and British lines, during the war. The British held possession of the city of New York, and the island of Manhattan, on which it stands. The Americans drew np towards the highlands, holding their headquarters at Peekskill. The intervening country, from Croton River to Spiting Devil Creek, was the debateable land, subjeet to be harried by friend and foe, like the Seottish borders of yore. It is rugged country, with a line of rocky hills extending through it like a baekbone, sending ribs on either side ; but among these rude hills are beautiful winding valleys, like those watered by the Pocantico and the Neperan. In the fastnesses of these hills, and along these valleys, exists a raee of hard-headed, hard- banded, stout-hearted Dutehmen, deseended of the primitive Nethier- landers. Most of these were strong whigs throughout the war, and have ever remained obstinately attached to the soil, and neither to be fought nor bought out of their paternal aeres. Others were tories, and adherents to the old kingly rule; some of whom took refuge within the British lines, joined the royal bands of refugees, (a name odious to the Ameriean ear), and oeeasionally returned to harrass their aneient neighbors. In a little while this debatcable land was overrun by . predatory bands from either side; saeking hen-roosts, plundering farmi- houses, and driving off eattle. Henee arose those two great orders of border chivalry, the Skinners and the Cow Boys, famous in the heroic annals of Westeliester County. The former fought, or rather, mar- auded under the American, the latter under the British banner; but bothi, in the hurry of their military ardor, were apt to err on the safe side, and rob friend as well as foe. Neither of them stopped to ask the polities of horse or cow, which they drove into captivity ; nor, when they wrung the neek of a rooster, did they trouble their heads to aseer- tain whether he were erowing for Congress of King George. While this marauding system pervailed on shore, the Great Tappan Sea, which waslies this belligerent region, was dominecred over by British frigates and other vessels of war, anehored here and there, to keep an eye upon the river, and maintain a communication between the various military posts. Stout galleys, also armed with eighteen pounders, and navi- gated with sails and oars, eruised about like hawks, ready to pounee upon their prey. All these were eyed with bitter hostility by the Duteh yeomanry along shore, who were indignant at seeing their great
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