THE TOWN OF NEW CASTLE. 577 



LIST OF CLERGY. 



Reotoes. 



Ret. Robket W. Haeeis, 



Rkv. Isaac Dyckman Veemiltea, 



Rev. Joseph W. Hyde, 



Rev. C. W. Bolton, 



Rev, Alexandeb Hamilton, 



Rev. James W. Spaeks, 



Rev. Joseph H. Young, 



Rev. Chaeles B. Mee. 



During the Revolution, this part of the country was greatly annoyed 

 by the enemy, who frequently made sudden inroads, plundering and 

 capturing the defenceless inhabitants. February 7th, 1782, (says Gene- 

 ral Heath,) about fifty of De Lancey's horse came out within four miles 

 of Chappequa, where they halted. On the 8th they moved toward 

 North Castle, but turned off by Wright's Mills ; from thence to King 

 Street, Rye." a For a long time St. George's church was occupied as a 

 guard-house and hospital by the Continental troops. 



In the vicinity of Abraham Week's mill-dam, in this town, a party of 

 British refugees waylaid and murdered a French doctor of some dis- 

 tinction. It appears that the unfortunate man was on his route to the 

 American hospital at New Castle, when arrested by his murderers, who 

 dragged him from his horse, and conveyed him into an adjoining 

 swamp. Here, having secured their victim, they proceeded to play a 

 game at cards — as to which of them should be his executioner. In vain 

 their victim pleaded in broken English for his life, numbering his chil- 

 dren upon his fingers. The lot fell upon one Totten, who, approaching 

 the doctor, instantly shot him dead as he knelt on the ground. He 

 was now stripped of his clothing, watch and money, and dragged a few 

 rods further into the bushes. The skeleton was afterwards found, and 

 interred upon the spot. b 



Near the centre of the town is situated the small hamlet of Sarles- 

 ville. Here the town business is principally transacted. 



In the south-west corner are located the Friends' meeting houses. 

 The Friends' Society was organized here some time prior to the Revo- 

 lution. c 



a Heath's Mem. 328. 



b Tradition reports that the following remarkable accident befell the assassin soon after: 

 he was struck by lightning, which dissolved the metal on his shoe buckles. When asked if 

 this was a fact, the conscience-stricken murderer replied, " If I should say yes, that would be 

 an admission of my guilt." Totten is said to have been a terror not only to himself, but all 

 who knew him. This miserable man lies in the Friends' burrying-ground at Pines Bridge. 



c The Methodist Episcopal Church was ereoted in 1845. 



