242 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



James church Scarsdale. " He lived the life of a noble man and died 

 the death of a happy Christian " 



The following general order was issued by the New York State So- 

 ciety of the Cincinnati, dated New York, Sept. 27th, 1847. 



NEW YORK STATE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI. 



GENERAL ORDER. 



New York, Sept. 27th, 1S47. It has become the painful duty of the Vice 

 President to announce to the society the death of their venerable President, 

 Major William Popham, at the advanced age of 95 years. Major Popham was 

 also President General of the General Society of the Cincinnati of the United 

 States. 



He was a native of Ireland, and came to this country previous to our Revolu- 

 tion, and was at its commencement, appointed a lieutenant in the army ; and at 

 the battle of Long Island, with a detachment of troops under his command, cap- 

 tured and brought to head quarters in this city, a British guard with its com- 

 manding officer, and was highly complimented by General Washington on the 

 occasion ; he was afterwards appointed an aide-de-camp to General James Clin- 

 ton, and subsequently to Baron Steuben, by whom he was much beloved ; he con- 

 tinued in the service till the termination of the war, was a brave and accom- 

 plished officer, and a gentleman of considerable legal and literary acquirements. 

 He held for a long time an important cival office connected with our courts of 

 justice. He always sustained the character of the most exemplary punctuality 

 in the execution of his official duties. In private live he was respected and 

 beloved by all who- knew him ; his mental faculties were retained with great 

 vigor until the hist moment of his life, and died as a Christian soldier — with the 

 confident hope, that his piety and faithfulness would entitle him to the reward 

 in the life to come, promised to those who continue faithful to the end. 



" Sweet sleep the brave who sink to rest, 

 With all their country's honor blest." 



The members of the society are requested to wear the usual badge of mourning 

 for thirtv davs. By order. 



GEN. ANTHONY LAMB, Vice Preft. 

 Edward P. MaboBLLOT, Sec'y. 



Major Popham was President of the New York State Society of Cin- 

 cinnati, and as the oldest member, President General of the General So- 

 ciety of the United States — an office first held by General Washington, 

 in 1 7 S3 ; secondly, by Alexander Hamilton; thirdly, by Charles Coles- 

 worth Pinckney ; fourthly, by Thomas Pinckney ; fifthly, by Aaron Og- 

 den; sixthly, by Morgan Lewis, and seventhly, by Major Popham. As 

 President General he had in his possession the golden eagle of the or- 

 der, most splendidly set in diamonds. It bears the following inscription : 

 " Presented in the name of the French sailors, to his Excellency, General 



