THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. 155 



the American barracks and store-houses, and the whole village of Peek- 

 skill was sacked and burnt and the country pillaged. " a The Weekly 

 Mercury of Feb. 16th, 1778, (published by Hugh Gaines,) contains a 

 letter from Commodore Hotham to Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Howe, 

 which by his lordship was transmitted to all ships in service, &c, dated 

 on board his Majesty's ship the Preston, lying off Peekskill creek. 

 Major Burr was stationed at Peekskill on the 21st July, 1777, when he 

 received a lieutenant colonel's commission in the continental army, and 

 from this place the traitor Arnold likewise received his appointment to 

 West Point, dated August the 3d, 1780. 



In the village of Peekskill was born John Paulding, one of the Ameri- 

 can farmers who intercepted Andre the British spy, at Tarrytown, some 

 fifteen miles below this place. For his services on this occasion the 

 State presented him with a farm situated within the town of Cortlandt. 

 The property now belongs to Jacob Strang. 



The following abstract is taken from a deed given by Samuel 

 Dodge, Daniel Graham, and John Hotham, commissioners of foreitures 

 for the middle district of New York, to John Paulding, of Cortlandt 

 Manor : 



' ' For and in consideration of the services John Paulding, of Cortlandt Manor, 

 in the County of Westchester, hath rendered his country, in apprehending and 

 securing the British deputy adjutant Gen. Major Andre, who was returning to 

 New York after having in the character of a spy concerted measures with the 

 infamous Benedict Arnold, then commanding at the posts in the Highlands, for 

 betraying the said posts into the hands of the enemy, and for his virtue in re- 

 fusing a large sum of money offered by the said Major Andre as a bribe to per- 

 mit him to escape ; and for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings 

 lawful money of the State of New York, and for the further sum of twenty-five 

 pounds ten shillings like lawful money of the said State, by the said John Pauld- 

 ing paid into the treasury of the said State, the said commissioners by virtue of 

 the powers and authorities in and by the several acts to them given, hath by 

 their deed bearing date on the 16tb day of June, 1783, granted and sold unto the 

 said John Paulding all that certain tract or parcel of land, situated in the manor 

 of Cortlandt, in said county of Westchester, and State aforesaid, now in pos- 

 session of said John Paulding, and is commonly known by lot No. 14 in great 

 lot No. 1, containing 100 acres. 



"Also, another tract, part of farm No. 13, in great north lot No. 1. containing 

 21 acres. Also, another part of farm No. 13, in great lot No. 1, and is part of 

 the land which Palatiah Haws purchased for Thomas Lee in Magragaria swamp, 

 10 acres. Also, another part of farm No. 15, a part of great north lot No. 1, 37 

 acres."& 



a Burr's Mem., Vol 1. 180. 



6 County Rec. Register's Office, abstract of sales, p. 137. 



