IfS HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



them, frightened the women and children, and raised the spirits of their tory 

 brethren in that quarter; but which, alas, as is always the case when unnaturally 

 elevated, are now again proportionably depressed." 



The old oak tree east of the Van Cortlandt residence, served the pur- 

 pose of a military whipping post. 



Upon the summit of a high knoll, south-east of the late residences- of 

 Gen, Pierre Van Cortlandt, stands the old parochial church of St. Peter 

 in which occasional services are held. Adjoining it on the north-east is 

 the Cortlandt cemetery, facing the Westchester and Dutchess county 

 Turnpike. 



A short distance from Cortlandt ville, near Locust avenue is "Rest 

 Hill," upon the summit of which the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher is now 

 erecting a splendid stone residence. From this point a most magnifi- 

 cent view is obtained of the village of Peekskill in the gorge below, the 

 mountains bounding the horizon on three sides and the Hudson wind- 

 ing like a tangled belt of silver at their bases. Northward the hill falls 

 precipitously into the valley, and through that valley winds the Annsville 

 creek and Canopus or Sprout brook. On a green slope, really about 

 three miles distant, but apparently almost at the foot of " Rest Hill," is 

 the old church of St. Peter's, just alluded to and the cemetery. 



The village of Annsville, in this town, is delightfully situated near the 

 mouth of the Peekskill creek, one mile north of the village of Peekskill. 

 This place formed a part of the Indian territory Wishqua, where was 

 anciently an Indian fort and village. Upon the survey of the manor of 

 Cortlandt, Annsville and lands adjoining, constituted a section of lot 

 No. 10, the river portion of Gertrude, wife of Col. Henry Beekman 

 and fifth daughter and devisee of De Heer Stephanus Van Cortlandt. 

 This portion of her estate she subsequently devised to her nephew Gil- 

 bert Van Cortlandt, who in 1784, bequeathed it to his loving brother 

 Pierre Van Cortlandt. 



Here are situated an extensive snuff and wire factory, both propelled 

 by water power, and the chemical works ; also some thirty dwellings. 

 The Peekskill Blast Furnace is located on the Annsville creek and is 

 connected with the Croft iron mines by a railway built for the purpose 

 by which the furnace is supplied with a superior quality of iron ore at a 

 small cost of transportation. 



The scenery of the Peekskill creek is remarkably rich and diversified. 

 This picturesque stream rises 1 4 miles north of Annsville, in the town 

 of Kent, Putnam county, south-west of Annsville ; it receives the waters 

 of the Canopus, (sprout creek,) a current of water which derives its 

 source from Horton's lake, called by the Indians the "Fire-Fly Lake," 



