THE TOWN OF YORKTOWN. 699 



was then the only road between the two places — the surrounding country 

 being infested by Indians, and wild animals. He moved to Nanahegan 

 about the year 1738, at which time the Indians had not left the neigh- 

 borhood. In 1774 he settled down at Amawalk, (Yorktown) the farm 

 then having been one of the first cleared in that section of the country, 



"During the Revolutionary war the main body of Washington's army. 

 on its way from White Plains to New Jersey, marched past the house 

 going from Pines Bridge to Peekskill. I frequently saw Washington 

 pass during the time, so that I knew him as well as I did anybody. He 

 always had a life guard of twelve young gentlemen riding before him 

 with drawn swords for protection and honor — they were said to be Vir- 

 ginians. I recollect perfectly well meeting him by the school house 

 near Parkers, and at another time a little south of the old Amawalk 

 meeting-house, and also when he passed our house. On the two former 

 occasions he was not with the army. On the latter he proclaimed his 

 intention to capture New York, and was making every exertion to col- 

 lect men and stores for that purpose; but his real object was to amuse the 

 British in New York, to prevent their sending forces to Yorktown in 

 Virginia to relieve Lord Cornwallis. Washington went down as far as 

 White Plains and then commenced forced marches to West Point and 

 so through New Jersey south to Yorktown, and succeeded in capturing 

 Cornwallis and all his army before he could be relieved from New 

 York. A sergeant's guard was kept at our house almost throughout the 

 war. 



" Major Andre, with Lawyer Smith of Orange Co., called at my father's 

 the day he was taken at about eight o'clock in the morning; they wanted 

 breakfast. Andre was on his way from West Point to New York, and 

 made many inquiries respecting the road ; his mind appeared to be very 

 much impressed, so that he could not be still a moment. Smith eat 

 breakfast (which mother prepared for them) but Andre appeared very 

 agitated, walked back and forward before the front door and eat noth- 

 ing; he had on a blue tight bodied coat, made plain, after the fashion of 

 the New England farmers of the day. Smith went back north from our 

 house, and Andre went on toward New York alone — going south by the 

 way of Pines Bridge, and Tarrytown ; near the latter place he was taken 

 prisoner. 



" In the time of the Revolution the British Light Horse came through 

 this part of the country, taking the route from Crompond to our house. 

 On this occasion they burned many houses, killed several men and 

 wounded every one they met, carrying them off prisoners to New York. 

 Every house was robbed by them, and all the cattle they could possibly 

 find, driven off. A few weeks previous to this a violent hurricane had 

 taken off the back portion of the roof of our house. The British rode 

 up very furiously, with their swords, drawn and demanded which party 

 had removed the roof; I replied "The upper party," which they under- 

 stood to mean the Whigs — the British being the lower party. They then 

 placed a sentinel at the door who prevented any of the party from going 

 into the house or taking anything from us, which we considered a re- 

 markable Providential preservation. 



