THE TOWN OF SCARSDALE. 233 



At t!ie/<\v meadows, Scarsdale, was born on the 21st of June, 1774, 

 that distinguished individual Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice-President of the 

 United States. He was the seventh son of the Hon. Jonathan G. 

 Tompkins, by his wife Sarah Hyatt ; and grandson of Stephen Tompkins, 

 whose ancestors emigrated originally from the north of England, (during 

 the time of the religious persecution in that country.) and landed at 

 Plymouth, in the colony of Massachusetts ; b from Plymouth they removed 

 to Concord. John Tompkins of that place, had John born there in 

 1642, and a daughter, Ruth, in 1640. The Tompkins family subse- 

 quently emigrated to Fairfield, in Connecticut." In 1649, we find John 

 Tompkins proprietor of lands in Fairfield. 



From Fairfield, the family removed to Eastchester, Westchester Co. 

 The name of Nathaniel Tompkins occurs among a list of the first pro- 

 prietors of Eastchester, in 1665. Of this family was Micah Tompkins 

 of Milford, Connecticut, who secreted King Charles' judges when they 

 fled to Milford. " The regicides Whalley and Goffe, (says Mr. Lam- 

 bert) lived in the town from the 20th of August, 1661, for more than 

 two years, till they went to Hadley. Here they were secreted by Mr. 

 Tompkins, in the basement story of a shop standing near his dwelling. 

 It is related that Mr. Tompkins's daughters often spun in the shop, and 

 sometimes would sing some poetry which was composed about that time, 

 concerning the martyrdom of King Charles, (in which they are mention- 

 ed) which much amused the judges. The girls were, of course, acquaint- 

 ed with their concealment. d After remaining in Eastchester a short 

 time, the sons of Nathaniel and John Tompkins removed to Scarsdale 

 and Greenburgh, where they purchased lands and permanently settled. 



'• The father of Daniel D. Tompkins" was a member of the State con- 

 vention, which adopted the Declaration of Independence and the first 

 constitution of the State. He was a member of the Legislature during 

 whole period of the Revolution, also for many years first judge of the 

 Court of Common Pleas for this county ; and on the institution of the uni- 

 versity, was appointed one of the Regents — which situation he held until 

 his resignation of it, in 1808. He died after seeing his son elevated to 

 the second office in the gift of his country. 



Governor Tompkins was educated at Columbia college in the city of 



a The fox meadow estate originally belonged to the Griffin family, and passed from Jona- 

 tban Griiliu to bis adopted son, Jonathan Griffin Tompkins. 



b Herring's Nat Portrait Gallery. 



c Shattucks' Hist, of Concord. 



(I Lambert's Hist, of New Haven, 144. 



c The D was added to his name merely to distinguish him from another Daniel Tompkins 

 who attend- d the same school or college with him. From his grand-daughter, Helene T. 

 tcbester Co. 



