FORDHAM MANOR 157 



reining four jet-black steeds with her own hands. She was killed 

 by a fall from her carriage shortly before the war. Frederick 

 Philipse tried to maintain a strict neutrality during the war in 

 order to protect his property; but he failed, for he was a loyalist 

 at heart. Suspected of favoring the British, he was compelled to 

 fly for safety after the battle of White Plains. Washington and 

 his generals spent several nights under the terraced roof of the 

 manor-hall. It is said that Washington occupied the southwestern 

 chamber. It is an immense place and has an old fashioned fireplace 

 with jambs about three feet deep, and faced in blue and white tile 

 bearing scriptural illustrations and appropriate references. The 

 chimney — now over two hundred years old — is of peculiarly quaint 

 construction, and has a secret passageway from this apartment to 

 some underground retreat. The bricks of which it was built were 

 imported from Holland. Until a few years ago it was used by the 

 municipal authorities of Yonkers for its City Hall. 



That Philipse was the best-housed man in the colony is ap- 

 parent, for on every side is evidence of the luxury enjoyed by him 

 and those coming after him. The old house contains many inter- 

 esting relics of former days. The "Wishing Seat" near the open 

 fireplace has been well patronized as is evidenced by its hollow 

 bottom. In the council room there is a bust of Washington; also 

 an antique chair, said to have been used by him when he had his 

 headquarters there. 



Yonkers is a very old Dutch town, and began its existence in 

 the days of New Amsterdam, as the Colony of Colen Donck, being 

 the property of Adrien Van Der Donck, who in 1646, obtained title 

 to a tract of land extending sixteen miles along the Hudson River, 

 north of Spuyten Duyvil and thence east to the Bronx River. This 

 tract included what is now the city of Yonkers, and the entire 

 southwestern part of Westchester County. 



