USA > New York > Westchester County > Tarrytown > Souvenir of the revolutionary soldiers' monument dedication, at Tarrytown, N.Y. October 19th, 1894; > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
The following thrilling account of an incident in the experience of Capt. Dutcher and his family, is copied from a choice little volume entitled "The old Home by the River," published in 1874, by Rev. Dr. Jacob Dutcher, a grandson of Capt. William of the Revolution, as related by his aged grandmother, and entitled
"THE GRANDMOTHER'S STORY."
"It was during one of the most discouraging periods of the old war-for so she used to call the Revolution-that the incident I am going to relate took place. The British had been successful in several engagements, and these successes had rendered them more than usually intolerant and haughty. Our people had become proportionably dis- heartened, and a gloom had settled over the whole country. Even the courage of Washington seemed to be giving away before the tardiness of Congress, the small number of ablebodied men upon whom he could rely, and his severe reverses in the field. The army, very much reduced in number, and dejected in spirits, had gone into winter quarters, -but a small detachment, ordered on special duty had tem- porarily encamped not far from our house.
My husband was serving in the American army as Captain, and having been a long time away from us, he obtained permission from his commanding officer to accompany this detachment on its seeret mission, that he might make a brief visit home. He reached the house one day just before sunset. I remember, when he entered, his eoming was so unexpected, yet we were so happy, that we gathered around him laugh- ing and crying by turns. Very thankfully and joyfully that day, we
93
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
sat down to our evening meal, feeling that once more we were all together. When he left us, the uncertainties of the war were so great that we did not know whether we should ever see him again. Besides, some of the tories, with whom he had previously been acquainted, were determined to kill him, if by any means they could get the opportunity. Our meal was ended, but we were still seated talking around the table, when night fairly set in. The sky, however, being cloudless, the moon at its full, and the ground covered with snow, it was sufficiently light to see objects at a great distance. We were about rising from the table, when our attention was suddenly attracted by one of the children who was standing at the window, as she said, 'Oh father, yonder are some soldiers coming this way.' A single glanee in the direction in which she was pointing, showed that they were Tories.
Not a moment imust be lost, if he would escape. He had not time even, only as he ran, to bid us good-bye ; but snatching up his hat and sword, he left the house by a door opposite to the one they were about to enter, well knowing his fate should he fall into their hands. Fortunately, before he came into the house, he had fed and secured his horse in a spot some distance away, and quite hidden from view. Could he keep the dwelling between his pursuers and himself till he reached this place, he would be in comparative safety ; at least, he would have time to mount, and his chances of escape would be better on horseback than on foot.
I followed him with eager eyes and beating heart, till he disap- peared over the hill; but my anxiety was so great that it seemed lie would never reach it. I expected every instant to hear the report of their heavy pistols. It could not have been more than a moment after I had seen him disappear, when the door shook beneath the heavy blows of sabres, accompanied by the coarse voices of brutal soldiers demand- ing admittance. My excitement had made ine so weak that I could hardly stand, yet I dared not refuse them entrance. I tottered rather than walked toward the door, and began to unbar it ; but before I could remove the fastenings and open it, such heavy blows were dealt that I feared it would be broken down; and such foul oaths were uttered as almost chilled my blood. My children clung to me almost helpless with fright, for I was alone with them, and though I was trembling with fear, for their sake, I assumed a courage I did not feel. I had hardly removed the last bar, when the door was thrown violently open, and six rough, powerful, and evil-looking men stood before me. 'Where is your rebel husband ?' demanded the leader in a voice of thunder.
94
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Striving to be ealin, I answered, 'He is not in the house.
' He is in the house,' was the gruff reply, 'one of my men say, him enter more than two hours ago ; if you do not show me where you have hidden him, I will burn your house over your head.'
Again I assured him, that he was not in, 'He had been, but had left.'
He hissed between his teeth :
'I do not believe you, if we find him I will hang him before your eyes.'
Then turning to his men, he ordered them, with a savage oath, to search in every corner. This they did. And in doing it, destroyed everything that came in their way. They spared nothing. They seeined the most pleased when they could do the greatest injury. Sec- ing his men returning alone, the leader became furious, and laying his brawny hand upon my shoulder, roared rather than asked-
'Where is the cursed rebel ?'
'I cannot tell you.'
'If he is gone, which way did he go?'
To this question I made no answer -- I had become so frightened I could not.
' If you do not tell ine,' said the soldier, 'I will drag you from the house, and tie you to one of these trees to freeze.'
Many years have passed sinee then, said Grandmother, but I shall never forget the agony of that moment, or how earnestly I prayed for deliverance. I do not know to what length he would have gone, had not a soldier who had been left outside as guard, at that moment called loudly, 'There goes the rebel,' and fired.
It was as I expected. The road around the dwelling deseribed almost a semi-eircle ; and, though in places partially hidden from view, there was one spot entirely exposed. Could he pass that place without detection he might escape. He was passing over that part, when a neigh from the tory's horse caused the rider to look up, and follow the direction of the animal's gaze. At once he recognized the fugitive. At the same moment he shouted, and discharged the pistol which had attracted the leader's attention. Fortunately his aim was so quiek that it was untrue.
By this time my husband had passed the place, and an open path lay before him. The leader, in excited tones, ordered his men to mount and pursue. And only waiting long enough to hurl the most awful eurses upon me and upon all patriots, followed their example, and
1
.
95
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
the race for life began. For some distance the inclination of the road was sueh, that by stepping a few yards from the house we eould eoin- mand a view of the parties.
I knew that grandfather's horse was a hardy, swift animal, and was therefore perplexed and troubled to see the others gain so rapidly on him. The cause was soon apparent. The pursners in their cagerncss to take him dead or alive, had discharged their pieees at random ; and before giving them time to reload, he slaekened his horse's speed, and drawing his pistols from their holsters, took deliberate aim at the two foremost, and fired in quiek succession. Both reeled in their saddles, and for a moment it was doubtful whether they could retain their seats.
Profiting by the confusion into which they were thrown, the rebel, as they called my husband, put spurs to his horse and again they began that fearful ride, the one urged by love of country, of family, and of life, the other by hatred and revenge. They soon passed entirely from sight ; but now and then a loud shout, and an occasional report, that was borne with great distinctness upon the frosty night air, assured me that the race was still kept np.
Two things, in a measure, served to relieve my apprehension : the excellenee of your grandfather's horse, and his own perfect knowl- edge of the country through which he must pass. But still, a chance shot might disable the horse, or wound him, and if he fell into their hands no mercy would be shown hit.
But what a night that was to me ! I was alone with my children, without any protection save that which the house afforded, and that I knew to be but little, when these brutal men were around. They would stop at nothing to accomplish their purposes. If lock and bars offered an effectual resistance, they would not hesitate to burn.
And my husband was hunted like a wild beast, for no other reason than that he was faithful to his country. Did they not succeed in over- taking him, I had great fear lest they might return and abuse me. I threw myself upon the bed, but the little rest I obtained was disturbed and unrefreshing. Many times I started in my sleep, fecling sure that I had heard his death cry. He eseaped, but it was a very narrow escape; that ride came near being his last ; several times he was almost over- taken, and many bullets passed uncomfortably near his head.
Some months after, when I saw him, he told me that once or twice he was on the point of stopping his horse and surrendering, feel- ing that escape was impossible. Then the thought of life, of home, and of country, again urged him forward. They pressed him so hard that his
D
96
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
horse began to show great signs of wariness. And when at length he rode into camp, worn out himself, his poor tired beast, though the night was intensely cold, was covered with foam."
Capt. Dutcher's name does not appear on the muster rolls after June, 1778, when he was suceceded in command by his First Lieut. Daniel Marling or Martling, though he may have been in the Secret Service after that period, as has been intimated. The above incident probably occurred after the family had returned from their sojourn in Salem, and likely was in the winter of 1777-8. The family removal was made in great haste after the battle of White Plains, the cnemy being close at hand. The slaves were left in charge of the premises, and on one occasion they were taken out for a distance in the river and then thrown overboard by the British and Tory marauders at sich depth as they might be able to just keep their heads above water, and so get ashore !
Capt. Win. Dutcher is mentioned as connected with Col. Thomas Thomas' Regt., date of October 4, 1776, as recorded in Force's Archives, and in a return of that Regiment of the date of Oct. 6, 1776, Capt. Dutcher and Lieuts. Daniel Martling and George Monson appear as the officers of the First Company on the list, in the original records at Albany.
The following letter from Col. Thomas Thomas to Gov. George Clinton, copied from the Clinton papers, concerning Capt. Win Duteher evidences the fact that as late as 1782, lie again offered his serviees in the canse of his country :
SALEM, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1782.
Capt. Wm. Dutcher has applied to me to know whether I thought he could no! obtain a commission for a whale boat to cruise on the North River. I could not answer him in positive terms or give him any advice decidedly in the affair, but have referred him to your Excellency for information. If your Excellency has got any commissions on hand and can consistently indulge him with a commission for the purpose aforesaid, I would esteem it a favor. His sufferings entitle him to notice. He is a warm friend to his country, and is able to give any security for his good conduct. He will apply per- sonally in a few days.
I am your Excellency's Most Obedient Servant. THOMAS THOMAS. To GOVERNOR GEORGE CLINTON.
William Duytser, son of Johannis and grandson of Barent Duytser, Sr., was married to Catrina Concklie, Sept. 4, 1762, she being the daughter of Dclefferens Conekling and Altie Storm his wife, and bapt. April 20tl1, 1745. They had the following children, the list being a facsimile of the old family record mainly as will be seen written in Dutch, the original of which is still in existence :
-
98
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
'The significance of some of these names is very apparent. Fr instance, Maritje, after the great-grandmother; Meynotic, for th: grandmother ; William, Jr., for the father; Salem, from the fact that for a period about the time of the birth of that son the family, driven away from their home here, sought safety in the town of Salem; and Deliverance, as a recognition that at last the Revolutionary war had come to a successful termination and they were delivered from the eruel enemies, or possibly he was named for his grandfather, Delifferens Conkling.
Capt. Dutcher willed that his property be kept together under the direction of his wife for the bringing up of his family while "she shall remain my widow." After that his farin to be equally divided between his five sons.
Wm. Dutcher, 2d, married Anna Van Wart, daughter of Isaac Van Wart, one of the captors of Andre, and had William A., who married Rosetta Odell, daughter of Abraham and Christena Van Want Odell, and had Clinton, who resided at St. Louis, and daughters Anna, Caroline and Elizabeth. Wm. Dutelier, 2d, also had son Abram who married Caroline Martling and had William, Thomas, Esther, Caroline E., who is the widow of De Witt Clinton Graham and resides in New York ; Mary E .; Arabella; Geo. W., who married Annie, daughter of Isaac See, and lived at Arlington, N. J .; Samuel, who went to South America, and Susie, wife of A. B. Hall, Esq., of New York.
Isaae Van Wart Dutcher, another son of Win. Dutcher, 2d. resides at St. Louis ; a daughter, Mrs. Annie Hopkins, also at same place ; Fannie, another daughter, married a Mr. Jones and lived at Port Jefferson, L. I. ; Rachel, twin sister of Rev. Dr. Jacob Dutcher, married Isaac See, and resides at Arlington, N. J.
Rev. Dr. Jacob Conkling Dutcher, son of Win. Dutcher, Jr., and Anna Van Wart his wife, and grandson of Capt. Win. Duteher, was born on the old Dutcher place near Irvington, October 8th, 1820, the twin brother of his sister Rachel. Was a graduate of Rutgers College, 1840. Studied for the Ministry ; was stationed at Owasco, N. Y .. Coxsackie, then at the old Market St. Chureli, New York City, Bound Brook, N. J., and then a year at Somers, Conn.
In1 1882 he was appointed Consul at Port Hope, Canada, by President Arthur, where he remained until ISS7, when he removed to Springfield, Mass., where he died Nov. 27, 1888.
Dr. Dutcher's first marriage was with Margaretta Ayres, by whom were four children : William, who resides in New York, and is
-----
99
HISTORICAL, SKETCHES.
the Secretary of the Brooklyn Life Insurance Company; Mary, who married Isaac N. Field, of Plainfield, N. J. ; Simeon, of Bound Brook, N. J. ; and Margaretta Dutehier, who married F. R. Hoyt, Esq., and resides at Watkins, N. Y.
The Rev. Dr. Dutcher's second marriage was with Martha M. Warriner, of Springfield, Mass., in 1857.
Johannis or Jolin Dutcher, as he was commonly known, son of Cipt. William, married Susannah Brown and lived at Tarrytown Heights. Had son Andrew who resided at North Tarrytown. 'He died in 1830. Hc also had Susan, who went as a Missionary to the Choctaws.
Capt. William Dutcher also had a daughter Jemima who inar- ried Abram Acker, 3d, and lived on the old Acker farm just north of the old Dutcher place. She was the grandmother of Mr. Benson Ferris, President of the Westchester Savings Bank at Tarrytown.
Deliverance Dutcher, son of Capt. William, lived on the cast end of the old Dutcher farm on the road to Greenburgh. He married and had a large family of children. Deliverance. Dutcher died Nov. 7, 1823, in his 4Ist year. Cathrina Bancker his widow, born Jan 14, 1785, died July 10, 1875. Mrs. Andrew C. Field of Dobbs Ferry is a grand- daughter of Deliverance Dutcher.
Salem, son of Capt. Dutcher, removed to Albany where he had a large family of children, and was engaged in the lumber trade. Had a son Salem, Jr., who was a prominent lawyer, an eloquent advocate, and partner of the late U. S. Senator Ira Harris, and afterwards resided in New York City; had a son Salem, 3d, who lived in the South, also a lawyer. A daughter of Salem, 2d, is a Mrs. Sherman of Brooklyn.
Meynotie, or Mary, daughter of Capt. William, married Mr. Win. A. Hart, who was for a time a merchant in New York, afterwards did business on the present J. Benedict Sce corner. Then purchased the Michael McKeel place and built what was known as the Abram Storms house on Broadway, now the residence of L. T. Vale, Esq. Had sons Elisha and William Hart.
Daniel, son of Capt. William, married Abigail Ferris, daughter of Oliver and Abigail Lockwood Ferris, and lived at Hall's Corners, (Elmsford). Had a large family. A son, Oliver Ferris Dutcher, lived at Providence, R. I .; was a prominent merchant there, an Alderman of the city and Member of the State Legislature. He married Mary P. Warner, who after his death became the wife of Mr. Benson Ferris and resided in Tarrytown. A daughter of Daniel Dutcher, named Martha
.
100
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
L., who is now the widow Johnson, resides at New Brighton, Beave Co., Pa.
Catrina, widow of Captain William Dutcher, lived to a great age, and is well remembered by some of her descendants and kindid still living. She was greatly esteemed and a rare old lady. She dice July II, 1837, aged 93 years, 6 m. and 11 days, as is recorded on her memorial stone in the old Dutch Churchyard.
The old Dutcher house was located where the present Tiffany farmhouse stands and was near the brook which was the boundan between the Dutelier, and the Abram Acker or Ecker farm to the north of it. It was burned down, probably after the Revolution, and the present Tiffany mansion was then erceted by Win. Dutcher, 2d, who was a prosperous man and largely engaged in the lumber tradc.
There was an Abrani Duteher who was a soldier in Capt. Mart- ling's Company, probably Abraham, 2d.
Barent Dutcher of Philipse Manor, probably Barent, Jr., made a will which was admitted to probate Dec. 31st, 1772. Gave to his daughter Rachel fro. Otherwise his estate was equally divided between his son Isaac, daughter Mary Monson, daughter Catharine Barnes and his before mentioned daughter Rachel. The boundary of a road laid out in 1766 indicates that he then lived on the north side of Franklin St. His daughter Mary was the wife of Lieut. Geo. Monson, of Capt. Win. Dutcher's Company.
The Ecker=Acker Family.
The Acker, or Ecker (so written on the old Dutch Church records) family were early of this Manor and long and prominently identified with it. In fact those bearing that name and the various variations of it, were numerous in all of the Dutch settlements on Long Island and on both sides of the river as far up as Albany.
However, all of that name on this Manor are distinctly trace- able to Wolfert and Jan Ecker, who were both from Midwout, L. I., as was their near neighbor and kinsman, Capt. Jan Harinse, and they were probably brothers. The following record of their marriage is copied from the old Dutch Church of New York City, with which Jan appears to have united on profession of faith March 4, 1680 :
MARRIED.
Mar. 21 Dec., 1692, Wolfert Ecker 1. m. Van Mid-Wout en Maritje Sibouts, Van de Armen Bouwerye, beyde op Frederick Philips lant, Getrouwt op. Frederick Philips lant.
The translation of this is as follows: "Wolfert Ecker, a young man of Midwout (L. I.,) and Maritje Sibouts, of the Annen Bowric, or farm, both (now) on Frederick Philipse land, married on Fred- erick Philipse land."
4 June, 1693, Jan Ecker, I. m. Van Midwout, en Magdaleentie Vonck, I. d. Van Zuyd- thampton, d' Erste op Frederick Phillips lant, en Twede op Haverstro, op Phillipsburg.
'The translation of the above is as follows: "Jan Ecker, a young man of Midwout, (Long Island) and Magdalentie Vonck, a young woman of Southampton, L. I., (that is born there, ) the first,
102
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
(now) of Frederick Philipse's land, and the second (Magdalentic, ) . Haverstraw, near Philipsburg."
Wolfert Ecker, by will date of March 25, 1753, gave to his wife Maritie, "all that I have so long as she remains my widow." And after hier deccase, he provides as follows : "I give and bequeath to my eldest son, Steven, a cow, or the worth of a cow more than the others, his birth-right;" he also gave to the children of his deceasei grandson, Wolfert Acker, son of Sybout. Hc mentions sons Steven. Sybout, and Abraham, living, and "dafter Maritic." Peter Buck- hout and Jacob Dykman were the witnesses to the will. In this connection it is of interest to notice that his deceased grandson had made a will date of July 3, 1746, in which he gave his gold ring and all of his estate to his grandfather, Wolfert Ecker, St., although as appears by the will above quoted he must have left children of his own and probably a widow:
These wills show that Wolfert Ecker must have been quite aged at the time of his death, having had great-grandchildren, and by his second son, Sybout, as early as 1746, though he lived until sometime in 1753. Wolfert Ecker, Jr., was christened Apr. 18, 1721, and estimating from this data, the probabilities are that Wolfert, Sr., must have been upwards of eighty years of age at the time of his deatlı. His wife Maritie survived him. He was cvideutly a man of property and character, and good business qualifications, for not only was he an Elder in the Old Dutch Church, but he was one of the first Assessors appointed for the Phillipsburgh Manor by the General Court as early as 1714. As will further appear, he was doubtless the ancestor of all of the name of Acker or Ecker who afterwards resided in this vicinagc.
Wolfert was a Deacon of the old Dutch Church 1698, and an Elder 1706-7, and by the erection of his modest home, to which Irving gave the name of "Wolfert's Roost, " indelibly, though unconsciously attached his name to that locality for all coming tinic.
Abraham Acker, Sr., the third son of Wolfert, was christened March 28, 1703, and died 1773, leaving wife Maritje and sons Abraham 2d, Wolfert, and Isaac, besides daughters. He appears to have been married three times, his first wife and the mother of his children hav. ing been Margaretie Montrose. Abraham Acker, son of Wolfert, made a will Dcc. 4, 1771, which was admitted to probate March 1, 1773, which mentions his wife Maritje, sons Abraham, 2d, Isaac, and " dafter" Rebackialı Forsure, wife of Win. Forsure, (Forshay) Jr. To
103
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Isaac he gives "my Dutch Bible, to him and his heirs forever." He also mentions eldest son Wolfert, and " dafter" Ally Requaw, wife of John Requaw, and grandsons John Dutcher and Abraham Eeker. He also had daughters Lea and Maritie. 'This Wolfert Acker is probably the Wolfert who married Susanna Requa, the sister of John, Daniel, James and Glode Requa, and removed to Newburg, Orange Co., prior to 1772, at which date he was a borrower of a sum of money of Johannis Dutcher, his brother Isaae being security, as an old document still in existence testifies. During the Revolution he was a very active
11 appeared. previous to Improve
Patriot, and held a commission in the American army. Abraham, Sr., also had Sibout, bapt. 1774, who was probably Capt. Sibout Acker of the Revolution.
Abrahamn Acker, Jr., was christened Sept. 19, 1730. He married Catrina Van Tassel, May 1, 1765, the sister of the noted Major Jacob Van Tassel, and a daughter of Johannis and Catrina Van Tassel, born 1733; she died April 11, 1806, aged 73 years. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and was for a time incarcerated in the old Sugar House Prison.
·
IO4
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Abraham Aeker, Jr's will, dated Dec. 20, 1800, gives to his wife Catharine, to his son Abraham, 3d, the farm, and to his daugliters Catha- rine and Margaret. His daughter Margaret married Benjamin Brower, and Catharine married Jolin Woolsey. He died July 9, 1811, and his wife Catharine died April II, 1806.
Abraham Acker, third, appears to liave principally inherited his father's estate. This Abraham married Jemima Dutcher, daughter of.Capt. William Duteher, and resided at the old homestead, on lower Broadway. . He was a man of property and importance in the community and his residence, known far and wide as the Acker Inn, was quite famous as the stopping place of the noted men of the day, including among its frequent guests Gen. Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Gen. Aaron Ward, Major Gen. Brown, and others. In the war of 1812, 3 company of cavalry from Virginia was encamped there for a time. It was also a noted headquarters for the drovers of those days, among whom was Daniel Drew, afterwards the great financier of Wall Street. Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Spain and Naples, was also a guest there once, soon after the deposition of his brother, the great Napoleon. Abia- ham Acker, 3d, held military commissions successively as Ensign, Lieu- tenant, and Captain, and was called out onee with his Company in the war of 1812. In his commission from Gov. Tompkins as Lieut., he is spoken of as " Abraham Acker, gentleman." He died Oct. 25, IS25. By his will, made Dec. 20, 1821, gave to his wife Jemima, to his son James, and grandson Abraham son of James; to his son Win. D. Acker, and to his daughters Catharine, Maria, Margaret and Lettie. He was evidently a man of consequence and substance, as a receipt of internal revenne date of 1815, giving him the right of use for a "two wheeled carriage ealled a chair, owned by him and the harness therefor, " testifies.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.