THE TOWN' OF WEST FARMS. 



443 



ade that was thrown in drove the enemy from the upper story ; and before they 

 could take any measure to defend it, the blockhouse was on fire in several places. 

 Bome few escaped, and the rest surrendered without our having lost a single 

 man. Though many shots were fired at us, we did not fire a gun."« 



Although the inhabitants appear to have suffered much during the 

 Revolution, they generally continued firmly attached to the interests of 

 their country. In 1775 occurs the following petition to the Hon. Pro- 

 vincial Congress, from the subscribers, inhabitants of the Manor of Ford- 

 ham and West Farms, in the county of Westchester, which 



"Humbly Showeth that we were summoned to appear at Westchester in order 

 to choose officers, according to the resolution of the Congress, it having been 

 represented, as we understand, that there was not a competent number of men 

 in our district to form a company, we therefore beg leave to inform you that the 

 Manor of Fordham and the West Farms, have, in the militia, always been con- 

 sidered as a district by themselves ; and that within their limits there are upwards 

 of seventy men fit to bear arms, and that an attendance at Westchester upon the 

 meeting of the company will be attended with great inconvenience to many of the 

 inhabitants, and therefore injurious to the service intended to be advanced j from 

 which considerations your petitioners humbly pray the Honorable Congress will 

 be pleased to order that the Manor of Fordham and the West Farms have a com- 

 pany with themselves, and that they elect their own officers under such inspec- 

 tion as the Honorable Congress, in their wisdom shall think best ; and your peti- 

 tioners shall ever pray. 



Nicholas Berrien, 

 Isaac Valentine, 

 Peter Valentine, 

 John Stevens, 

 Benjamin Curser, 

 Abraham Dyckman, 

 John Farmer, 

 Benjamin Valentine, 

 George Pilpet, 

 Isaac Valentine, Jr., 

 Peter Bussing, Jr , 

 Abraham Wilson, 

 Benjamin Curser, Jr., 

 Hendrick Ryer, 

 John Lent, 

 John Ryer, 

 Isaac Curser, Jr., 

 Tunis Le Joye, 

 Philip Hunt, 

 Stephen Emboli, 

 Nathan'l Lawrence, 

 Peter Devoe, 

 James Swain, 

 Nazaretn Brewer, 

 Edward Harris, 

 John Collard, 

 Cornelius Jacobs, 



Hezekiah Ward, 

 Tunis Garrison, 

 Isaac Cant, 

 Gilbert Taylor, 

 Robert Gilmer, 

 Benjamin Archer, Jr., 

 Daniel Devoe, Jr., 

 John Embrie, Sen. 

 Jacob Lent, 

 Abraham Lent, 

 Dennis Hyer, 

 Jacob Valentine, 

 Abraham Garrison, 

 James G. Groot, 

 Thomas Hunt, 

 Abraham Leggett, 

 William Leggett, 

 John Learsrett, Jr., 

 Robert Hunt, Jr., 

 Cornelius Leggett, 

 Mr. Woods, 

 John Hedger, 

 Thomas Hedger, 

 Stephen Edwards, 

 James Rock, 

 George Higby, 



Levi Hunt. 

 Jeremiah Requa, 

 James McKay, 

 Robert Campbell, 

 Eden Hunt, 

 Isaac Hunt, 

 James Archer, 

 Samuel Embrie, Jr., 

 John Embrie, Jr., 

 Thomas Cromwell, 

 G. Cromwell, 

 Obediah Hide, 

 John Curser, 

 Simon Williams, 

 John Ryer. Jr., 

 Jacob Chappel, 

 John Garrison, 

 John Jacobs, 

 Thomas Dogherty, 

 John Clark, 

 John de Noo, 

 John Blizard, 

 John Walbin, 

 John Warwick, 

 Thomas Gemble, 

 Peter Bussing, 

 Isaac Curser. 



Jacob Hunt, 



Congress was pleased to grant the prayer of this petition. 

 a Davis's Mem. of Aaron Burr, vol. i, 164. 



