THE TOWN,' OF GREENBURGH. 357 



of the hamlet, it was erected AD. 1832.* The burying ground lies 

 near the Railroad. 



A fine line of hills extend south from Hart's Corners to the foot of 

 Thirty Deer ridge in Yonkers, watered on the east and west by the two 

 branches of the Spraine, called by the Indians Armenperal. These hills 

 were formerly so covered with thick woods as to be almost impassable, 

 and abounded in deer, wolves, bears, wild-cats and rattle snakes. Deer 

 were numerous as late as 1760. 



One of the earliest settlers of the place was John Tompkins of East- 

 chester, who purchased a large tract upon these hills in 1731. For 

 some time after this purchase, Mr. Tompkins was in the constant prac- 

 tice of spending the week here, and returning to his family on a Satur- 

 day. During the whole of this period he was surrounded by Indians, 

 but they never once offered to molest him. A small hill to the south-east 

 of the present Mr. John Tompkins, still bears the name of Indian hill, 

 and the adjoining spring is called Indian spring. Two descendants of 

 the original proprietor, John and James Tompkins, yet occupy a large 

 portion of the estate. 



A little west of the Methodist church at Hart's Corners stands the 

 residence of Jackson Odell, son of the distinguished Colonel John Odell. 

 This gentleman, during the early part of the Revolution served in the 

 capacity of a guide to the American army, and subsequently received a 

 colonel's commission from Congress. He was the second son of 

 Jonathan Odell, Esq., by his wife Margaret Dyckman, and descended 

 from a common ancestor with the late General Jacob Odell of Yonkers. 

 Col. Odell died 26th of October, 1835. 



At one period of the war the house was occupied as headquarters by 

 the French commander, Count de Rochambeau, General Washington 

 having encamped on the west bank of the Spraine. On several occa- 

 sions large tables were arranged for the military staffs of Generals Wash- 

 ington and Rochambeau, in the adjoining stables, the mangers serving 

 as a repository for their hats and swords. 



Mrs. Churchill, daughter of Mr. Taylor, former proprietor of the place, 

 remembers to have danced with the celebrated Marshal Berthier, at that 

 time one of the aids of the Count de Rochambeau, in the parlor of the 

 present mansion. 



It was near this house that General Washington appointed one of the 

 daily markets to be opened for the supply of the army in 1781, as ap- 

 pears from the following document : 



a For incorporation of this church see Religious Soc. Lib. B. 7; first trustees, TJhderhill 

 Tompkins, Stephen Leviness, Gilbert Tompkins, Joseph Porster, John Crawford, and Elijah 

 Tompkins. 



