290 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCKES ', 



had unwittingly snared a hornet — to his immortal glory, perhaps, but to the 

 utter ruin of his web. 



" It was not long after this, during the absence of Jacob van Tassel on one of 

 his forays, and when no one was in garrison but his stout-hearted spouse, his 

 redoubtable sister Nochie van Wurmer, and a strapping negro wench called Di- 

 nah, that an armed vessel came to anchor off the Roost and a boat full of men 

 pulled to shore. The garrison flew to arms — that is to say, to mops, broomsticks, 

 shovels, tongs, and all kinds of domestic weapons — for, unluckily, the great 

 piece of ordnance, the goose-gun, was absent with its owner. Above all, a vig- 

 orous defence was made with that most potent of female weapons, the tongue. 

 Never did invaded hen-roost make a more vociferous outcry. It was all in vain. 

 The house was sacked and plundered, fire was set to each corner, and, in a few 

 moments, its blaze shed a baleful light far over the Tappan Sea. The invaders 

 then pounded upon the blooming Laney van Tassel, the beauty of the Roost, 

 and endeavored to bear her off to the boat. But here was the real tug of war. 

 The mother, the aunt, and the strapping negro wench, all flew to the rescue. 

 The struggle continued down to the very water's edge, when a voice from the 

 armed vessel at anchor ordered the spoilers to let go their hold. They relin- 

 quished the prize, jumped into their boats, and pulled off, and the heroine of the 

 Roost escaped with a mere rumpling of the feathers." 



" Shortly after the catastrophe of the Roost, Jacob van Tassel, in the 

 course of one of his forays, fell into the hands of the British, was sent 

 prisoner to New York, and was detained in captivity for the greater 

 part of the war."* 



The present owners of Sunny Side are the daughters of Peter Ebene- 

 zer Irving, Esq., eldest brother of the late Honorable Washington Irving. 



The family of Irving is from Scotland, in the northern part of which 

 kingdom it was (as an ancient record quoted by Chambers the historian, 

 and by Sir Walter Scott, observes,) "an ancient and principal family." 

 Very frequent mention is made of them in the early annals of that 

 country ; and in several instances they are spoken of by the above named 

 writers as possessing a distinguished position and great influence among 

 the baronial families of the north-east counties. 



An old and curious manuscript history of this family is preserved by 

 one of them in this country, entitled, " The original of the Family of 

 Irvines, or Erivines, written by Christopher Irvine, M. A., State Phy- 

 sician and History-grapher to his majesty, King Charles the Second, in 

 Scotland, and gent to his brother Sir Gerard Irvine, Bart., of Castle 



a Knickerbocker Magazine, ("pon good authority McDonald says that. " Jacob van Tassel 

 was, during the Revolutionary war, a lieutenant of militia, etc. While in the service of 

 Congress he risoner at Pine's Bridge, and detained two years and four months. 



During his captivity his house, barn, etc., situated in the town of Greenburgh, etc., were 

 occupied by Captain Buchanan's company of Continentals and the water guard as aguard- 

 house a I sers and men, etc. In the month of September, 1T79, a British 



man of war. lying in the river, landed a large party of men, and, after driving the guards off, 

 set fire to his house and out-houses, and destroyed or took away all his stock, cattle, grain, 

 furniture and farming implements, etc." McDonald MSS., in possession of Geo. Moore, 01 

 N. Y. Hist. Soc'y. 



