156 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



168 acres, 16 rods of lands, appraised for . . £529 10 

 Gratuity allowed by law 500 



Excess from him received, £29 10 



John Paulding died on the 18th of February, 181 8. A few minutes 

 before the Patriot expired, he called Dr. Fountain, (his medical attend- 

 ant,) to the bedside, and thus addressed him: — "Doctor, please tell 

 all those who ask after me, that I die a true republican." Paulding's 

 remains repose beneath a handsome monument in the Episcopal grave- 

 yard, two miles north of the village. 



Upon the north side of Gallows Hill, by the road side leading from 

 Peekskill to Albany, is situated the "Soldier's Spring," which derived 

 its name from the following tragical incident: — 



' ' The British who were in possession of Stony Point, and whose shipping lay 

 m the bay of Haverstraw, resolved upon landing a portion of their men on Ver- 

 planck's Point, and from thence make a descent upon Peekskill. Their object 

 in this expedition was to procure fresh provisions and to awake the energies of 

 the Americans who were encamped in the village and in various places among 

 the hills in the vicinity. In accordance with this resolve they effected a land- 

 ing and proceeded without opposition to Drum Hill, an eminence that overlooks 

 the village near its southern boundry. Here they commenced cannonading with 

 two small field pieces which they had brought with them, while their light 

 troops entered the village by another road higher up the river. The Americans 

 unprepared , and withal too weak to resist so formidable a foe, were obliged after 

 a short resistance to fly to the interrior. Their enemies from the commanding 

 points which they occupied, kept up a constant firing upon them as they sought 

 the various avenues of retreat. It was at this period that a soldier in his flight 

 stopped for a monent to refresh himself at the spring. While on his bands and 

 knees in the act of drinking, a ball which struck on an eimnence above him, 

 glanced obliquely, and descending the road with rapid bounds, finisbed its course 

 by shattering the thigh of the exhausted soldier, and burying itself in the ground 

 beyond. Unable to move, he lay bleeding and in agony, until a wagon filled 

 with provisions hastily collected by a bold and resolute man ere tbey left the 

 scene of commotion, passing by, he was perceived by those who followed after, 

 who immediately picked him up and placed him thereon. They convej-ed him 

 as far as Fishkill village, nineteen miles distant ; but loss of blood and the fatigue 

 of his journey, prostrated the powers of nature, and though he received surgical 

 aid, survived but a few hours."* 



A short distance north of Peekskill is Cortlandtville ; here is located the 

 property and residence formerly of Gen. Pierre Van Cortlandt, now 

 owned and occupied by James Robertson. The former occupant de- 

 rived his title to this portion of the manor from his brother Gilbert, heir 

 of his grand-aunt Mrs. Gertrude Beekman. The old brick mansion, 



a Westchester and Putnam Republican, August, 1838. 



