THE TOWN OF EAST CHESTER. 245 



This portion of Westchester County seems to have suffered severely 

 aduring the War of the Revolution, and was constantly the scene of 

 :marches, points of defence, and skirmishes. Here, also, the lawless 

 u skinner" and "cow-boy " practised their black deeds of rapine un- 

 molested. 



In October, 1776, a skirmish took place in this town between the 

 patriots, on their route from King's Bridge to Westchester, and the 

 enemy, under Lord Howe. For some time the Connecticut troops 

 were billeted in the village. Here Gilbert Vincent, Jr., who, like his 

 father, was the blacksmith of the town, was shot by order of a French 

 officer belonging to Col. Armaud's cavalry of the French Legion for re- 

 fusing to shoe his horse on the Lord's Day, in consequence of which 

 Elijah, his brother, joined the British army, took a lieutenant's com- 

 mission, and throughout this whole region became a terror to all who 

 opposed the Crown. On the 3d October, 1779, "Lieutenant Gill of 

 the American Dragoons, patrolling in Eastchester, found a superior 

 force in his rear, and had no alternative but to surrender or cut his way 

 through them ; he chose the latter, and forced his way, when he found 

 a body of infantry still behind the horse. These he also charged, and 

 on his passing them his horse was wounded, and threw him, when he 

 fell into the enemy's hands. Two of the lieutenant's party — which con- 

 sisted of twenty-four — were killed, and one taken prisoner; the rest 

 escaped safe to their regiments."* 



In the vicinity of the village a detachment under the command of 

 Gen. Parsons, fitted out in sleighs, (returning from an enterprise against 

 the enemy at Morrisania), were overtaken and almost entirely cut to 

 pieces by a party of British light horse. 6 



The small stream which waters the western part of the village of 

 Eastchester was formerly known as Rattlesnake Brook. An early town 

 order requires the inhabitants to meet together one day in the Spring 

 for the destruction of this dangerous reptile. As late as 1775 one of 

 them was killed near the brook, measuring some six feet. Feb. 1st, 

 1696-7, John Pell, Sen., had the privilege of erecting a mill on this 

 brook. In 1 7 2 1 Nathaniel Tompkins was permitted by the town to 

 erect a fish- weir on Rattlesnake Creek, "to ye advantage of himself to 

 catch ye fish that swimmeth therein, for ye space of ten years from this 

 date, providing he put it up at once." 



Near the mouth of the brook, on " Mill Lane," is situated the tide 



a Heath's Memoires, 218. 

 & Hugh. Gaines' Gazette. 



c Town Record. It appears from the Town Record, that as early as 1703 there existed a 

 mill covenant between the town and Col. Caleb Heathcote. Town Record, vol. ix, p. 54. 



