USA > New York > Westchester County > Westchester County, New York, during the American Revolution > Part 27
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Both these Resolutions were initiatory of prolonged and not always harmonious and agreeable proceed- ings, both without and within the Provincial Con- gress and both without and within the Congress of the Continent, all of which can be considered with greater propriety in the local publications concerning the Towns of Kingsbridge and Cortlandt and in the general publications concerning the War of the Ameri- can Revolution, than in a general History of the County of Westchester; and, for that reason and with this introductory send-off, the construction of those military works to which the Resolutions referred will receive no further attention, in this narrative.
On the thirty-first of May, in its further considera- tion of the Resolutions of the Continental Congress, which have been already laid before the reader, the Provincial Congress resolved, "that it be recommended "to the Inhabitants .of this Colony, in general, im- "mediately to furnish themselves with necessary arms "and apimunitions; to use all diligence to perfect. " themselves in the military art; and, if necessary, to " form themselves into Companies, for that purpose, "until the further order of the Congress; " and it ordered the Resolution to be printed in the news- papers and in handbills. At the same time, it met the call of the Continental Congress, for men to oc- eupy the proposed posts at Kingsbridge and in the Highlands, for the protection of the City of New York, and for that of Lake George, referred to in the third and fourth Resolutions of that Congress, by re- solving that it " would use all possible diligence in
" Journal of the Provincial Congres, " 5 ho., P.M., May 30, 1775."
100
WESTCHESTER COUNTY
" embolying men according to the said Resolutions ; " amt by appointing a Committee " to report an ar- "rangement of the troops to be embodied for the "defence of this Colony ; and to report such Rules " and Regulations as would be proper to be established "by this Congress, for the goverment of such "troops." 1
The doings of the Provincial Congress were, of course, entirely in the interest of the Rebel- lion.
* * * * * *
Early in the Summer, as has been stated, the Con- tinental Congress ordered the enlistment of a large armed force, of which three thousand were to be raised and put into the field by the Colony of New York. These troops were to be commanded by such Officers as should be therenuto appointed by the Provincial Congress; they were to be governed by such Rules and Regulations as that Congress should establish for that purpose ; they were to be mustered into the service, to serve no longer than the last day of the succeeding December; 2 and as there was no enemy before them, and as little probability existed that there would be any one to molest them, during their short term of service, the proffered opportunity to take the field, as Continental Soldiers, appeared to be very inviting -- it seemed, in fact, to promise what would be little else than an organized picnic-party, for the succeeding Summer and Autumn and early Winter months.
There were, of course, plenty of applications from those of the well-born, among the revolutionary fac- tion and from among those who had been instrumental - in bringing the Livingstons and the Morrises and others into authority, for each of the offices, in each of the four Regiments into which the levy on New York was arranged; but there was an evident back- wardness, among the masses, from the beginning, in enlisting for "the private station;" there was a greater anxiety, among those who did enlist, con- cerning their pay and bounty and "under clothes," than for the welfare of the Colony ; and, generally, there was very little inclination, any where, among those who had them, to exchange their peaceful oc- cupations and their domestic comforts and their quiet homes, under such cirennistances as then existed, for a distant encampment or a distant military post and the sometimes laborious and not always well-supplied and always irregular lives of soldiers, in garrison as well as in the field.
Of the four Regiments thus ordered, on the Conti- mental Establishment, only the Fourth, or Duchess, appears to have had any connection with Westchester- county-James Holmes, of Bedford, an experienced
soldier of the former War, was its Colonel; ' and Philip Ve: Cortlandt, of Cortlandt Manor, who hell. al-o, a Royal Commission of Major in the Colonial Militia, was it- Lieutenant-colonel ; ' Barnabas Tut- hill, of Southold, Suffolk county, was its Major ; ' Benjamin Chapman was its Quarter-master ; and Ebenezer Haviland was its Surgeon." Of the ten Companies of which the Regiment was composed, three were largely from Westchester county-of one of these Jonathan Platt, of Bedford, was Captain,? David Dan, of Poundridge, was First Lieutenant; " and Manning Bull, of ---- , was Second Lieutenant : of another of these Companies, Daniel Mills, of Bed-
3 James Hommes was the grandlyn of one of the original proprietory And wettlers of the Town of Belford. He was born in that Town, in 1737 : and a Captain in the Vriny. during the War with France, in which he gained great credit. He was elected to the Provincial Convention for the appointment of Delegates to the Continental Congress of IT71 ; and he was a lemster of the Provincial Congress, by whom he was made Colonel of this Regiment He went with his Regimeut to the northern frontier, and ocenpiel Ticonderoga, very much to his disgust : quarrelled with General schuyler, who commanded in that Department ; declined to contiune in the service, after the term of the enlistment of his com- mand had expired: became a Loyalist ; toch the Lieutenant-colonelcy of the Corps of the Westchester county Refugees; continued to live in Feilford, until about 1-1, when he removed to New Haven, where be died, on the eighth of July, 18 4. aged eichty-seven years.
Als extended notice of him may be seen in Jones's History of Ner Y & anting the Revolutionary Wir, it., 334 236; and, in his Votes to that His- tory (ii., 618-f21.) Mr. de Lancey has re-produced, in full, an exceed- ingly interesting autobiographical tract, from the Colonel's own pen.
4 Philip Van Cortlandt, eldest son of Pierre Van Cortlandt, was born in the City of New York, in 1749 (?), and was a graduate of King's (DOW Columbia) College, in the class of ITAN (?). He was a Surveyor and a Country Merchant and Miller ; a Major in the Westchester-cont ty Militia, under Governor Tryon ; and a member of the Provincial Con- gress by whom he was made Lieutenant-colonel of this Regiment. He continued in the military service, until the close of the War of the Revo- Intion ; after which he was one of the Commissioners of Forfeitures ; represented Westchester-county in the Assenildy, 1788-'9, 1789-'90; the Southern District, in the Seite, 1791-'4 ; his District, in Congress, 1999- 1:09: and died on the twenty-first of November, 1-31 .- (Bolton's History of Westchester county, original edition, i., 38-00 ; the arme, second edition, j., 111-112; etc.)
5 Barnabas Tuthill was a resident of Southold: hal not joined the Regiment, which was then at Ticonderoga, as late as the first of septem - ber, when he was in New York City, " unable to proceed for want of " money to pay Lis expenses." He appears to have returned to the ser- vice, in 1776 ; bet, during the Summer, he was di-missed from the Army. at his own request .- (Journal of the Provincial Congress, " the., I.M., "September 1st, 17Th;" Guten Malrouge to Bort Vates, " YONKERS. "21 October, 17TH,"!
6 The Roster, of the entire Begiment may be seen in the Historical Man- werripts relating to the War of the Revolution-Military Canmittee, A.V., 631-in the office of the Secretary of State, at Albany.
¡ Jonathan Platt was an aged man, whom Mr. Bolton has erroneously made the great-grandfather of llon. Lewis C. Platt of White Plains ; he was Mr. Platt's grand- Uncle. He was elvetro a Delegate to the Pre- vincial Convention called to elect Deputies to the Continental Congress of 1774; he was a member of the first County Committee of Westchester- county. in 1725 ; and a member of the fourth Provincial Congres, of, as it was ralled after a while, the Provincial Convention- that which de- clared the Independence of New York from the King of Great Britain, which had not been done by the Congress, at Philadelphia, on the fourth of July, 1776.
* David Han was a member of the first County Committee of Westclics. fer-county, in 1575, and a meader of the Town Connaittop of Pound- ridge, in 1776. He was appointed to the comtoand of a Company, in Colonel Thomas's Regiment, in August, 1776.
1 Journal of the Provincial Congress, "Die Merenrii, 9 ho., A. M., May "' 31st, 1775.''
2 Journal of the Continental Congress, " Thursday, May 25, and Friday, " May 26, 1776-pages 98, 99, ante.
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
ford, was Captain ; " Elijah Hinder, of the suur Town, was First Lieutenant;' and John Bayley, of, was Second Lieutenant:3 of the remaining Com- pany, Ambrose Horton, apparently from the White Plains, was Captain ; ' David Palmer, of ---- , was First Lieutenant : ' and Samuel Tredwell Pell, of
I Captain Daniel Mills continued in the service, after the Regiment was distandard, at the clone of the year, serving as a Captain in Colonel Van Schaick's Regiment of the New York Lane, In the Continental Army.
Elijah Hunter was originally named for Second Lieutetint, with Samuel Haight, sulesquently Sheriff of the County, a Find Lieutenant. He was a member of the County Committee, representing Bedfant, 176- 7 ; subsequently became a Captain in Van Cortlandt's Regiment ; and left the service at the close of 1776.
3 John Bayley evidently left the Regiment before it wist into active service, since, in August, 1775, Miles Oakley, & mender of the first Connty Committee, was appointed in his place, leaving the service at the end of the year.
The following paper, with the names of the men enlisted into this Company, is taken from the original manuscript, among the Hutori al Manuscripts relating to the War of the Revolution : Military lietorus, xxvii., 266 ; and will be interesting to those who have descended fr in the oider families of Bedford :
"BEADFORD, July 20th, 1775.
"A Return of the Men inlisted by Daniel Mila Capt. and Elyak Hunter first Leut.
" Abijah Dan, Abijah Weed,
" Jonathan Weeks,
Jolin thomas,
" willis major wilks,
Lewis Miller,
" John feris,
James trowbridg,
"James Raymond, Junt
Joseph Clarke, Jun?
John ellit, Jun:
" Ainos Roberts,
James Cannady,
" Henry Rich,
" Abran Nickels,
" Nathaniel Smith,
" Mosis Higgins,
John Runnel:,
"ebencsor weell,
William Miller,
"Charles parsons, Daniel Holmes,
" Ambres Bevedick,
Jeremiah Lane,
" James Betmet,
Giddeon Smitt :.
"Daniel McClean,
" Lemuel Light,
Isaac titis,
" Jamies Mills,
John Daniels,
" Thomas Golding,
John Still,
"Joseph Scars,
George Garret,
Holmes astin,
newman betts,
John bayly,
Shtbel Cunninggame,
" John Cunninggame,
" To PETER V. B. LIVINGSTON, ESq " President, of ye Noe York Prociacid Congress."
4 Thero is some reason for supposing that Ambros Horton was im- ported from Sonthold, in Suffolk-county, to take the command of a Com- pany in this Regiment ; but, wherever he may have originated, lie enlisted "fifty six able bodyed men " for the Company ; and reported them to the Provincial Congress, from the White Plains, on the twenty- sixth of July, 1775, (Historical Manuscripts, etc .: Military Belarus, XXVi., 57.) Unfortunately, be did not return the names of those enlisted men.
3 The First Lieutenancy of this Company was originally given to Samuel Claunon, who afgwars to have given way for David Palmer, . apparently from Duchess-county : and, in August, 1775, the latter was again raised, by being appointed to the command of a Cot gany, in this Regimeat. While he held the Lieutenancy, he enlisted twenty-three noen for this Company, in Richmond-county, (Historied Movescripts, etc .: Military Returns, \xvi., 53.)
-, was Second Lieutenant.6 The names of none of those who held Warrants, as Non-commissioned Others, in either of these Companies, have been preserved; and it is to be regretted that, except in the instance of the Bedford Company, the names of those who were in the ranks, as Privates, are no longer known. A considerable number of the latter classes, with no other claim to distinction than their physical ability to work or to fight and their good in- tentions, was probably taken from the yeomaury of Westchester-county ; and, notwithstanding they were mostly detained at Ticonderoga, without having been permitted to join General Montgomery, before Que- bee, as he particularly desired and requested they should do, there is no reason for supposing that they failed, in the slightest degree, to discharge every duty which was laid on them, satisfactorily to their comunanding Officers, Some of them are said to have served in Canada ; " but it is understood that the Regi- ment was discharged, at the elose of the term for which it had been enlisted; and that the greater number returned, with honor, to their respective homes.
It will be remembered that the Continental Con- gress, among the Resolutions relating to the Colony of New York, which it adopted on the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth of May, 8 included a requisition " that the Militia of New-York be armed and trained "and in constant readiness to act at a moment's "warning," etc .; and that those Resolutions were duly transmitted to the Provincial Congress of that Col- any.3 After a prolonged consideration of the sub- ject, by two Committees and by the body of the Provincial Congress," on the ninth of August, a Re- port was made and adopted, providing for the com- plete re-organization of the Militia of the Colony, and for a complete change in the personnel of those who commanded it." On the twenty-second of the same
€ Tho Second Lieutenancy of this Company was originally given to Nehemiah Slarshall ; but, in July, 1775, that gentleman withdrew and Mr. Pell was appointed to the vacancy. The latter was evidently pro- moted to the First Lientenancy, when, in August of that year, Lieuten- ant Paliner was promoted to the command of a Company ; and, on the &:to day, Isaac Van Waert was appointed to the vacant Secompl Lienten- ancy.
" Captain David Palmer, Lieutenant Samnel T. Pull, and Lieutenant Isaac Van Waert are particularly noticed as having served in Canada. in 1775, (Historical Manuscripts, etc .: Military Commiter's Papers, XSS .. Thi; the same ; Military Heterna, xxVIL, 169;) and it may reasonably be supposed that the Company of which they were Officers, accompanied them.
& Journal of the Continental Congress, " Thursday, May 25, and Friday, " May 26, J775," pages 98, 99, ante.
9.Journal of the Provincial Congress, " Die Lune, 4 ho., P.M., May 20th, " 1775."
19 Jonrad of the Provincial Congress, " Die Veneris, 9 ho., A. M., July ;, "1775;" the sitime, " Die Jovis, 9 ho., A. M., July 27, 1775 ;" the Mitoe, " Die Lamar, D Ho., A. M., August 7, 1775 ;" und the same, " Die Mercurii. " 9 ho., A. M., Angust 9, 1775."
11 Journal of the Provincial Congress, "Die Mercuris, 9 ho., A.M., " Angust 9, 1775."
". Lowran Brianey,
"newman wayrin,
"Timothy Conner,
" Henry Noole.
Patrick Cubana. Total 59.
Zepbanialı Millier,
" John Bud,
John Gossaper, James Miller,
Nathan Holmes,
-
:
102
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
month. with a very important change, which permit- ted those who were not residents of the Districts or Beats to take and to hold offices therein, that Report was included in an elaborate " Militia Bill," which provided that every portion of the Colony should be divided into "Districts or Beats," in such manner that each of those Districts should include, as nearly. as possible, eighty-three men and boys, between six- i to withhold the Commission to which Cock was en- teen and sixty years of age, and capable of bearing titled under the provisions of the Congress's own enactment.3 Six days afterwards, fifty-nine of the Inhabitants of Yonkers presented a Petition to the Committee of Safety, ju-tifying their action in elect- ing Cock as their Captain, and asking that he might be commissioned, as such ;" but Isaac Green, one of arms. These Companies were to be commanded by Officers to be elected by the respective Companies. and commissioned by the Provincial Congress. One fourth of the entire force was to be organized as Minate-men : the Companies were to be organized into Regiments; the Regiments were to be organized into Brigades ; and all were to be commanded by a Major-general, to be appointed and commissioned by. "before the Committee of Safety for the County aforesaid, and being "duly sworn on the Holy Kyangelists of the Almighty God, saith that "lie the Deponent being appointed one of the Sub-Commutire for the "superintending the signing of the General Amycinties of this Province, " carried the same to one, John fork, of the Yonkers, in said County, "and asked the said John Cock to sign the same; he, the said John "Cork taking the jen in his hamI uttered the following words: 'Isign "* this with my hand, but not with my heart, for I wonbt not have "'signed it had it not been for my wite and family's sake : ' and this he "several times repeated in the hearing of him the Deponent. And "further the Deponeut saith not. the Provincial Congress. Provisions were also made requiring "every man, between the ages of sixteen " and fifty," to provide himself with a musket and bayonet, a sword or tomahawk, a cartridge-box to contain twenty-three rounds of cartridges, a knap- sack, one pound of gunpowder, and three pounds of balls; and various other provisions, for the govern- ment of the Militia, were also enacted.' " WILLIAM HADLEY.
There does not appear to have been much discon- tent, in any part of the Colony, because of the passage of that Ordinance or Act for the re-organization of the Militia ; but it afforded opportunities, in various places, for displays of that contempt for the unfran- chised and lowly masses, which those of higher social and political rank, even those who were ostentatiously assuming to be the especial guardians and defenders . of the Rights of the Colonists, were not slow in present- ing to the world. A notable instance of this contempt was seen at Yonkers, where Frederick Van Cortlandt, an unprovided-for member of that extended family, aspired to the command of the Company in that Beat, probably as a stepping-stone to something bet- ter. The enrolled members of the Company, in whom the right of elcetion rested, preferred one of their own number, John Cock, for their Captain ; and when the Poll was closed, it was found that the aris- tocratie aspirant had received only eleven votes, while his plebeian opponent had received forty-eight, and one had been given to William Betis." The de- feated aspirant subsequently complained that, although his successful opponent had signed the Association, he had done so without having heartily approved it, supporting his charge with an affidavit of William Hadley,3 who had aspired to the First Lientenancy
1 That " Militia Bill, " in extenso, was published as a Note to the Jour- ual of the Provincial Congress, "Die Martis, 9 ho., A. M., August 22, "1775."
2 Votes of the Mildit Fabodard in no Product of the Yonkers and of all- cera vines this 24 longest, 1775,-Historien Manuscripts, etc. : Military I turas, xxvi., 23 ; xxvii., 263.
3 " WESTCHESTER COUNTY, SS.
" Willinin Hadley, of the said County, ycoman, pers mally appeared
of the Company, and had received only twelve of de. sixty votes which were cast for that othere; + and, of course, the Committee of Safety of the Comity transmitted the affidavit to the Provincial Con- gress, promising to supplement what was then sent with evidence that Cock had " spoken very dis- "respectfully of the Congress;" and inviting that body
"Sworn the 11th sept., 1775, " before me, " GILBT DRAKE."
4 Votes of the Militia Embodyed, etc. - Historical Munnscripts, etc., Mili- tary Returns, xxvi., 23; xxvii., 263.
5 Letter from Gilbert Druke, Chairman, to John Haring, Chairman of the Committee of Safety, at New York, " WHITE PLAINS, Sept. 11th, 1775."
" Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Die Lane, 9 ho., A.M., Septem- " ber 18, 1775."
The Petition thus presented has been preserved ; and the following has been copied from it-Historical Mmuuscripts, etc., Petitions, xxxi., InI.
"TO THE HONRI THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW "YORK IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK CONVENI-OR IN THEIR RECESS, "TO THE HUNGby THE COMMITTEE OF DAFTEY.
"The Honorable Petition of the Inhabitants of the Precinct of the "lower Yonkers in the County of Westchester Humbly Sheweth :
"That your Honourable House have made a Resolve and Published " the same Recommending to the Inhabitants of every Town Shatner " Precinct & District within the Province aforesaid, to meet nominate "and appoint Captains and Other Officers To form Themselves : < Com- " panys of Militia.
"And whereas the Inhabitants of thi- Precinct Did meet agreeable to " your said Resolve On the Twenty-fourth Day of August Last, under "the Inspection of the Commitee for that District Did by a very great " Majority ns by the List will appear, bid Nominate and appoint Mir. "John Cock of the said Preciort for his known Skill and nbihity in the "Military Discipline and for other good Cause, appointed bim Captain "of the said Company for the District aforesud.
"And whereas we are infamed that a Complaint hath been made to " the Commitee by a few of the Inhabitants against the sail Mr. Julin "Cock ont of Spite and Malice and as we conceive what has been aleet "against him was before the Signing the Association, we are well "assured that Since his Signing the stid Association no person Can ac- " cuse him uf breaking the same by any ways or theants whatever.
" Therefore we the Petitioner- ital Subscribers Do Humbly beg the "Indulgence of This Hosonrakie House To Grant unto Mr. John Cock "the Commission of Captain for the Company aforesaid as we are Con- "vinced he was cineset agreeable to your said Resolve and your l'eti- "tionery as in Duty Bound shall ever pray.
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103
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
ther who had voted for Cock, at the Election, was is facel to join with George Hadley, the latter in a wend Affidavit, showing that Cock " had damned the " Provincial Congress of this Colony, and spoke dis- " respectfully of them;" and these were laid before the Colonial Committee of Safety, in opposition to the Petition of the fifty-nine and to the claim of the Captain-elect. The result was probably foreseen by the Petitioners and their successful candidate-why should the carefully expressed will of fifty-nine respee- lable men, declared in conformity with the published terms of the Congress itself, be permitted to stand in ilir way of a Van Cortlandt, the latter with nothing eise than two er-parte Affidavits to sustain the evi- dently ridiculous charge of wrong-doing in the suc- cesstul candidate? and why, also, should those other successful candidates who had, also, been elected by the same great majority and at the same time, with- out even the semblance of an accusation against either of them, be permitted to receive their Com- missions ? It was true, that the latter had not been known to have spoken disrespectfully of either the Association or of the Congress: it was true, that they had received nearly five-sixths of the votes which were cast: it was true, that the Election had been held under the inspection of the proper Committee : it was true, that every requirement of the Congress's
"Charles Ty lor,
"Martin Post,
" James Mauro,
"Anthy Allaire,
" Edward Byer,
"Benjamin Farrington,
" William Rose,
" Henry presher,
" Thomas Farington,
" Isac Postt,
"James Rich,
"Gilbert Brown,
bis
" Thomas X Tippit, mark,
"Samuel Laurence,
" thomas Merrell,
"Samuel Williams,
" Fredrick Brown,
"Israel Underhill,
" David Oakley, June,
" Joseph taisley, Junr,
"George Crawford,
" Moses Oakley,
".Abraham Hich,
" Mathious Archer, his
"}zk X Brown, -
mark,
his
. Lewis X post, mark John Warner, Francis Smith, Jordan Norris, frederick Vermilyea,
John Cortright, Edward Cortright.
"1."WER TONKER-, Sept 15, 1775."
own enactments had been duly observed : it was also true, however, that they were obnoxious to "a few "of the Inhabitants," and, therefore, without an ac- cusation, without a hearing, without a shadow of authority, even in the elastic law of the Congress, the expressed will of the Company was disregarded and the pretended principles of the Revolution were thrown aside, by the refusal of the Committee of Safety to recognize either of the successful candidates, and by the issue of an order for a new Election,1 which, if it was held, was not held until the follow- ing March.
With " the letter of the Militia Regulations," as has been said, there did not appear to be any extended discontentment; but with the arbitrary conduct of some of those who were to oversee the execution of it -- the instance, at Yonkers, being only one of several -- there was, very reasonably, much dissatisfaction among those, being men from whom duties were ex- acted, who were, nevertheless, regarded and treated as if they were not men, and as if they possessed no social or political privilege which those who were bet- ter born were legally obliged to recognize and re- spect.
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