2 2 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



There is still preserved in the village a small cannon, well known by 

 the cognomen of " Old White," which is said to have been the identical 

 piece fired at the sloop oi' war / 'allure, as she lay off Teller's Point, on 

 the morning o\ September jj, 17S0. 



" No sooner (remarks the biographer of Arnold.) had the parties 



id and Andre) arrived at Smith's house than a cannonade vr°z 



\ down the river. It was discovered to be against the Vu T iure y 



h, although distant several miles, was in full view, and forsorje time 



.ied to be on fire. 



"It had been reported to Colonel Livingston by messengers from 

 Teller's Point, that the vessel was so near the shore as to be within 

 reach of cannon-shot, and that the inhabitants were likewise apprehen- 

 sive boats would land and commit depredations. Colonel Livingston 

 accordingly sent from Verplanck's Point a party with canon, who fired 

 upon the Vulture and compelled her to remove from the position she 

 had held during the night, and drop farther down the river, till she was 

 beyond the reach of the shot. Andre beheld the scene from the 

 windows of Smith's house with anxious emotion. At length the firing 

 ceased, and he then resumed his wonted spirits and composure." He 

 was in an upper apartment of Smith's house, on the opposite side of the 

 river. 



On every anniversary of the Fourth, " Old White " emerges from his 

 lurking place, and is paraded through the streets in triumph. 



Mrs. Sussanna Ryder was a God fearing woman. On one occasion 

 when a company of soldiers had their quarters at her husbands', Jacob 

 Ryders barn, one of them deserted ; he was retaken, tried and con- 

 demned to be hung. The gallows was prepared near the house, she 

 immediately went to the commanding officer and begged for his life ; 

 he became angry, and raised a stick to strike her. She then went into 

 her chamber and earnestly prayed God to interfere, and incline the offi- 

 cer to mercy ; when she returned she found the soldier had been reprieved 

 ed, and the officer came and saluted her. 



Twice she walked from Sing Sing to New York to get pins and 

 needles and spelling-books for her own family and for her neighbors, 

 passing through the lines of the British without being molested, and 

 returning in safety. 



A person by the name of John Arthur bought a farm about three or 

 four miles north of Sing Sing, who had been a merchant in the city of 

 New York; he removed his family and goods from the city at the 

 outbreak of the rebellion for protection, and amongst the various 



a Sparks' Life of Benedict Arnold, 206. 



