THE TOWN, OF GREENBURGH. 287 



During the stormy period of the revolution, it belonged to "Jacob 

 Van . Tassel, or Van Taxel, as the name was originally spelt, after the 

 place in Holland, which gave birth to this heroic line." The following 

 graphic sketch of the exploits of this redoubtable hero, is taken from the 

 chronicle of the Roost : 



"The situation of the Roost is in the very heart of what was the debateable 

 ground between the American and British lines, during the war. The British 

 held possession of the city of New York, and the island of Manhattan, on which 

 it stands. The Ameiicacs drew up towards the highlands, holding their head- 

 quarters at Peekskill. The intervening country, from Croton River to Spiting 

 Devil Creek, was the debateable land, subject to be harried by friend and foe, 

 like the Scottish borders of yore. It is a rugged country, with a line of rocky 

 hills extending through it like a back bone, sending ribs on either side ; but 

 among these rude hills are beautiful winding valleys, like those watered by the 

 Pocantico and the Neperan. In the fastnesses of these hills, and along these 

 valleys, exist a race of hard-headed, hard-handed stout-hearted Dutchmen, 

 descended of the primitive Netherlanders. Most of these were strong whigs 

 throughout the war, and have ever remained obstinately attached to the soil, 

 and neither to be fought nor bought out of their paternal acres. Others were 

 tories, and adherents to the old kingly rule ; some of whom took refuge within 

 the British lines, joined the royal bands of refugees, (a name odious to the 

 American ear, ) and occasionally returned to harrass their ancient neighbors. 



" In a little while, this debateable land was overrun by predatory bands from 

 either side ; sacking hen-hoosts, plundering farm-houses, and driving off cattle. 

 Hence arose those two great orders of border chivalry, the Skinners and the Cow 

 Boys, famous in the heroic annals of Westchester county. The former fought, 

 or, rather, marauded under the American, the latter undei the British banner ; 

 but both, in the hurry of their military ardor, were apt to err on the safe side, 

 and rob friend as well as foe. Neither of them stopped to ask the politics of 

 horse or cow, which they drove into captivity ; nor, when they wrung the neck 

 of a rooster, did they trouble their heads to ascertain whether he were crowing 

 for Congress or King George. 



"While this marauding system prevailed on shore, the Great Tappan Sea, 

 which washes this belligerent region, was domineered over by British frigates 

 and other vessels of war, anchored here and there, to keep an eye upon the 

 river, and maintain a communication between the various military posts. Stout 

 galleys, also armed with eighteen pounders, and navigated with sails and oars, 

 cruised about like hawks, ready to pounce upon their prey. 



All these were eyed with bitter hostility by the Dutch yeomanry along shore, 

 who were indignant at seeing their great Mediterranean ploughed by hostile 

 prows ; and would occasionally throw up a mud breast- work on a point or prom- 

 ontory, mount an old iron field-piece, and fire away at the enemy, though the 

 greatest harm was apt to happen to themselves, from the bursting of their ord- 

 nance ; nay, there was scarce a Dutchman along the river that would hesitate to 

 fire with his long duck gun at any british cruiser that came within his reach, a- 

 he had been accustomed to fire at water foul. 



