THE TOWN OF YONKERS. 653. 



During the winter of 17S0 a gang of six or eight " cow boys" broke 

 open the Parsonage and robbed the defenceless ladies of everything 

 valuable. To escape detection, they had blackened their faces and 

 disguised their persons. Upon the departure of this gang their leader, 

 after making a profound bow, thus addressed Mrs. Babcock : — 



"Fare you well and fare you better, 

 And when I die, I'll send you a letter." 



Fortunately, Mrs. Babcock, through the intervention of Col. James van 

 Cortlandt, obtained restitution of everything. Within a few years, trees 

 have been cut down near the site of Gist's camp and found to contain 

 balls buried six inches in the w r ood. 



North of the Parsonage, on the Saw Mill river road, is situated the 

 residence and property of the late Mr. Robert Reed. This patriotic in- 

 dividual having obtained certain information from King's Bridge, that the 

 enemy w r ere fitting out an expedition against Col. Thompson — then sta- 

 tioned at the Four Corners — and were on the eve of marching, he 

 instantly mounted his horse and rode up to the American quarters, a 

 distance of thirteen or fourteen miles, thus giving Thompson timely 

 warning of the enemy's approach. The horse upon which he rode died 

 a few minutes after his arrival. 



In the Saw Mill valley is also situated the residence of the late Gen- 

 eral Jacob Odell, a descendant of the ancient and honorable family of 

 the Odils. "The river Ouse," says Camden, "runs under Odil or Wood- 

 hill, formerly Wayhull, which also had its Barons of Wayhull, eminent 

 for their ancient nobility, where was a castle." The first ancestor of the 

 family in this country, was William Odell, of Concord, who removed to 

 Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1644. His son William was one of the prin- 

 cipal proprietors of Rye, in 166 1-2. a 



General Jacob Odell, at the early age of 2 1 years, embraced the mili- 

 tary profession, and in the year 1776, took up arms in defence of his 

 country. He used to recount with pleasure the time and the very spot 

 where himself and three other cousins of the name, volunteered their ser- 

 vices to the Continental Congress. It was beneath the white-wood tree 

 where the Westchester farmers stopped Major Andre, and found the 

 papers that revealed the treason of Arnold. After enlisting, he served in 

 Captain Samuel Drake's regiment, belonging to the brigade of General 

 Scott. On the memorable retreat after the battle of Long Island, he was 

 on picket guard. At the close of the war, and as soon as the militia was 

 formed, he received his commission from Major General Morris. 

 a See Pedigree of Odell Family. 



