THE TOWN OF YONKERS. 65 1 



from two springs, one on the land of Job Collins, the other on the pro- 

 perty of Willett Kipps. Its descent from the springs lies nearly in a 

 south course of sixteen miles through the rich bottoms of a valley bor- 

 dered with high woodlands ; and not unfrequently its waters become lost 

 in some rocky dell or amongst dark foliage. At times it is seen stealing 

 through some green meadow with a babbling sound, or occasionally be- 

 coming impetuous, it rushes over rocks and stones in its headlong course; 

 but more frequently 



"Clear are the depths where its eddies play, 

 And dimples deepen and whirl away."— Bryant. 



At the foot of Boar hill a bridge crosses the stream nearly opposite the 

 Parsonage. 3 It was here that Eden Hunt, brother of Major David 

 Hunt, was waylaid and attacked by two soldiers belonging to the British 

 Refugee Corps. It would appear that the unfortunate man being better 

 mounted than the rest of his companions, who were all retreating before 

 Col. De Lancey, rode considerably in advance ; and on coming to the 

 cross roads near the Methodist church, he mistook his way, and was fol- 

 lowing the course of the Saw Mill road when he was mortally wounded. 

 The rest of the party made good their retreat by the Albany turnpike. 



The old Parsonage, formerly called Babcock's house, appears to have 

 been frequently garrisoned by the troops of both armies. It was here 

 that Lord Howe fixed his head-quarters, and here the American Col. 

 Gist was visiting in 1778, when the enemy determined upon his sur- 

 prisal. At this period the house was occupied by the handsome and ac- 

 complished widow of the Rev. Luke Babcock and Miss Sarah Williams, 

 a sister of Mrs. Frederick Philipse. To the former lady Col. Gist was 

 devotedly attached; consequently when an opportunity afforded, he 

 gladly moved his command into that vicinity. On the night preceding 

 the attack, he had stationed his camp at the foot of Boar hill, directly 

 opposite the parsonage, for the better purpose of paying a special visit to 

 this lady. It is said that whilst engaged in urging his suit the enemy 

 were quietly surrounding his quarters ; he had barely received his final 

 dismissal from Mrs. Babcock when he was startled with the firing of 

 musketry. The following account of the attack is thus given by the 

 British commander, Lieut. Col. Simcoe : — 



<; Colonel Gist, who commanded a light corps of the rebels, was posted 

 near Babcock's house, from whence he made frequent patrols. Lieut. 

 Col. Simcoe had determined to attack him ; when, a deserter coming 

 in, at night, who gave an accurate account of his position, the following 



a This is a description of 184S. 



