44- HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



An Episcopal Methodist Society was incorporated upon the 24th of 

 October, 1S31 ; Andrew C. Wheeler, Joseph Smith, John F. Fay, Thomas 

 T. Phillips, and Thomas Bolton, trustees'* 



In 1S03 there appears to have been an academy existing here, the 

 trustees ot which were the Hon. Governeur Morris, Dominick Lynch. 

 John Sloss Hobart, Abijah Hammond, James Morris, Daniel Ludlow, 

 Isaac Clason, Israel Underhill, Philip I. Livingston, Robert Gilchrist, 

 Joseph Given, Jonathan Randel, Andrew Barton, Israel Honeywell, 

 Samuel Kelly, Robert Heaton, and William H. Morris. 



During the Revolutionary war, West Farms was constantly exposed to 

 the daily forays of both armies, as they alternately held possession of the 

 adjoining country. "On the 25th of January, 1777, (observes General 

 Heath.) early on the morning, the enemy made a sally towards De 

 Lanccy's Mills, h where they surprised and routed the guard, wounding 

 several, but not killing or taking any of them ; and a regiment near that 

 place quitted their quarters." 



The Military Blockhouse, which occupied the site of Mr. Mapes's 

 Temperance House, was destroyed by Colonel Burr, in the winter of 

 1779. The event is thus related by Samuel Young, in a letter to Com- 

 modore Valentine Morris : — 



"Soon after Tryon's retreat, Colonel Delancey, who commanded the British 

 refugees, in order to secure themselves against surprise, erected a block house on 

 a rising ground below De Lancey's Bridge. This, Colonel Burr resolved to de- 

 stroy. I was in that expedition, and recollect the circumstances. 



"He procured a number of hand-grenades ; also, rolls of port fire, and canteens 

 filled with inflammable materials, with contrivances to attach them to the side of 

 the blockhouse. He set out with his troops early in the evening, and arrived 

 within a mile of the blockhouse by two o'clock in the morning. The Colonel 

 gave Captain Black the command of about forty volunteers, who were first to 

 approach; twenty of them were to carry the port fires, &c. Those who had 

 hand-grenades, had short ladders to enable them to reach the port holes, the ex- 

 act height of which Colonel Burr had ascertained. Colonel Burr gave Captain 

 Black his instructions in the hearing of his company, assuring him of his pro- 

 tection if they were attacked by superior numbers; for it was expected that the 

 enemy, who had several thousand men at and near Kings Bridge, would endeavor 

 to cut us off, as we were several miles below them. Burr directed those who 

 carried the combustables to march in front as silently as possible ; that on being 

 hailed, they should light the hand-grenades, &c, with a slow match provided for 

 the purpose, and throw them into the port holes. I was one of the party that 

 advanced. The sentinel hailed and fired. We rushed on. The first hand-gren- 



. Rcc. Religious Soc. Lib. B. p. 6. An incorporation of th ■ Methodist Episcopal church 

 occurs in 1S3C, ami again in 1843— See Lit). B. 48, 76. 

 6 Now known as Lylig's Mills. 

 e Heaths' Mem. p. 111. 



