Historic Pelham

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Where Were the Stone Walls Used by American Troops During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776?

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On October 18, 1776, American troops led by Colonel John Glover of the Marblehood Mariners fought British and German troops in the Battle of Pelham. Four days later, Colonel Glover wrote a letter from Mile Square describing the progress of the battle. At the outset of his letter, Glover described how the opposing troops deployed on an "eminence" and how he placed his troops behind three stone walls and had additional men and artillery pieces bringing up the rear. The pertinent excerpt of the letter reads as follows:

""Mile Square, October 22, 1776.

You no doubt heard the enemy landed all their army on Frog's Point, the 11th instant, leaving only twelve hundred men in York, and there remained until the 18th, which was Friday. I arose early in the morning and went on the hill with my glass, and discovered a number of ships in the Sound, under way; in a short time saw the boats, upwards of two hundred sail, all manned and formed in four grand divisions. I immediately sent off Major Lee express to General Lee, who was about three miles distant, and without waiting his orders, turned out the brigade I have the honor to command, and very luckily for us I did, as it turned out afterwards, the enemy having stole a march one and a half miles on us. I marched down to oppose their landing, with about seven hundred and fifty men, and three field pieces, but had not gone more than half the distance, before I met their advance guard, about thirty men; upon which I detached a captain's guard of forty men to meet them, while I could dispose of the main body to advantage. This plan succeeded very well as you will hereafter see. The enemy had the advantage of us, being posted on an eminence which commanded the ground we had to march over. However, I did the best I could, and disposed of my little party to the best of my judgment: Colonel Reed's on the left of the road; Colonel Shepard's in the rear, and to the right of him, Colonel Baldwin's in the rear and on the right of Shepards, my own regiment, commanded by Captain Courtis. (Col. Johonnot being sick and Major Lee being Brigade Major), bringing up the rear with three field-pieces of artillery. Thus disposed of, I rode forward . . ."

Source: Sanborn, Nathan P., Gen. John Glover and his Marblehead Regiment in the Revolutionary War - A Paper Read Before the Marblehead Historical Society May 14, 1903, pp. 47-50 (Marblehead, MA: Marblehead Historical Society, 1903).

A critical issue in trying to understand the progress of the battle is the lack of information regarding the layout of the countryside at the time of the battle. Where were the stone walls? Where was the "eminence which commanded the ground we had to march over" on which the British and Germans placed their troops?

There are two maps from the period that shed light on the Battle of Pelham and what the countryside may have looked like at the time. The first is a map created by Joseph Claude Sauthier in 1776 entitled "A plan of the operations of the King's army under the command of General Sir William Howe, K.B. in New York and east New Jersey, against the American forces commanded by General Washington from the 12th of October to the 28th of November 1776, wherein is particularly distinguished the engagement on the White Plains the 28th of October." The accuracy of the map with regard to the area of the Manor of Pelham in question has been thoroughly discredited both with respect to the improper placement of local roads and the improper placement and relationships among locally-known landmarks. In any event, a detail from the map of the area in question shows that it does not reflect the placement of stone walls.

Detail from 1776 Map by Claude Joseph Sauthier Showing
Area Around the "Skirmish of the 18th of October".
Source: Sauthier, Claude Joseph, A plan of the operations of the
King's army under the command of General Sir William Howe, K.B.
in New York and east New Jersey, against the American forces
commanded by General Washington from the 12th of October
to the 28th of November 1776, wherein is particularly distinguished
the engagement on the White Plains the 28th of October (1776)
(Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington,
D.C. 20540-4650 USA; Digital Id g3804w ar105400;
Library of Congress Catalog Number gm71000649).
NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

The second map, created at about the time of the Battle of Pelham, was prepared by British Engineer Charles Blaskowitz and is entitled "A survey of Frog's Neck and the rout[e] of the British Army to the 24th of October 1776, under the command of His Excellency the Honorable William Howe, General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's forces, &ca, &ca, &ca." The map is considered by most historians and experts to be a far more accurate depiction of the area in October, 1776 as well as a more accurate depiction of the progress of the Battle of Pelham.

A detail from the so-called Blaskowitz map showing the area where the skirmish began contains a number of dotted lines that may be Blaskowitz's effort to depict stone walls in the area. A detail from the map appears immediately below.

Detail from 1776 Map by Charles Blaskowitz Showing

Area Around the Skirmish of October 18, 1776.

Source: Blaskowitz, Charles, A survey of Frog's Neck and

the rout[e] of the British Army to the 24th of October 1776,

under the command of His Excellency the Honorable William Howe,

General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's forces, &ca, &ca, &ca.

(1776) (Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington,

D.C. 20540-4650 USA; Digital Id g3802t ar115200; Library of

Congress Catalog Number gm71000648).

NOTE: Click to Enlarge Image.

It appears that Blaskowitz depicts stone walls as dashed lines, most extending perpendicular from the roadway later known as Split Rock Road, although there are a few that appear to be parallel to the roadway. It is, of course, impossible today to know whether the dashed lines accurately depict the location of stone walls at the time of the engagement on October 18,1776. Today much of the area is covered by the Split Rock Golf Course and the Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Courses Clubhouse. Additionally, I-95 now cuts across the upper portion of the map and, near Split Rock, the Hutchinson River Parkway and the entrance ramp from the Hutchinson River Parkway to I-95 North cut across the left side and upper portion of the map. However . . . . much of the area is within today's Split Rock Golf Course which, though landscaped, has remained undeveloped for the most part since the Battle of Pelham 239 years ago.

Interestingly, in 1905 the Topographical Bureau of the Office of the President of the Borough of the Bronx created a topographical "Map of Pelham Bay Park City of New York." A low resolution image of the entire map appears immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.

1905 Map of Pelham Bay Park.

Source: Office of the President of the Borough

of the Bronx Topographical Bureau, Topographical

Survey Sheets of the Borough of the Bronx Easterly

of the Bronx River, Sheet 29 "Map of OPelham Bay Park

City of New York Forming Sheet 29 of the

Topographcial Atlas of the Territory East of the

Bronx River" (1905) (Lionel Pincus and Princess

Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library).

NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

A high resolution detail from the Map of Pelham Bay Park showing the area in which we are interested is fascinating. It shows stone walls as they existed at the time the map was created, 129 years after the Battle of Pelham. There is, of course, no way to know whether any of the walls depicted in the early 20th century map existed at the time of the Battle of Pelham. It is, however, at least possible that some of the walls did exist at the time of the battle, particularly since the area was very sparsely populated throughout the 19th century, remained relatively undeveloped, and landowners knew as early as the 1880s that New York City was working to acquire the area and turn it into Pelham Bay Park (so they refrained from further improvements). For purposes of discussion, for now it will be interesting to consider the possibility that some or all of the stone walls depicted in the map detail below existed at the time of the Battle of Pelham. Moreover, I have rotated the detail from the map to place it in essentially the same direction as the detail from the Blaskowitz Map set forth above.

Rotated Detail from 1905 Map of Pelham Bay Park.

Source: Office of the President of the Borough

of the Bronx Topographical Bureau, Topographical

Survey Sheets of the Borough of the Bronx Easterly

of the Bronx River, Sheet 29 "Map of OPelham Bay Park

City of New York Forming Sheet 29 of the

Topographcial Atlas of the Territory East of the

Bronx River" (1905) (Lionel Pincus and Princess

Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library).

NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

When the detail from the Blaskowitz Map is placed next to the detail from the 1905 Map of Pelham Bay Park, things become even more interesting. The scale of the maps, of course, is slightly different. Moreover, the more recent map is far more accurate and a far better depiction of the area. There are, however, interesting similarities in the number of and placement of many of the stone walls depicted in both maps.

Juxtaposition of Detail from the Blaskowitz Map

on the Left and Detail from the Map of Pelham

Bay Park on the Right. Source: Created by the Author.

NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

Near the top of both map details, there is a slight bend in the road later known as Split Rock Road. Split Rock sits just to the left of that bend in the roadway. Indeed, if you enlarge the detail sufficiently, you will barely be able to see in the map detail on the right the words "Split Rock" and a tiny circle with a line that depicts split rock. In that immediate area there appear to be four stone walls perpendicular to the roadway in both map details, although one of the four in the map detail on the right is very short compared to what may be its counterpart on the left.

The upper three stone walls nearest split rock and closest to the New York City line appear to be prime candidates for debate and consideration as to whether they may be the three stone walls referenced in Colonel Glovers letter from Mile Square. A rise (or "eminence" as Glover's letter indicates) appears in front of the three walls when viewed from Glover's perspective. Moreover, Glover's letter says he placed "Colonel Reed's on the left of the road; Colonel Shepard's in the rear, and to the right of him, Colonel Baldwin's in the rear and on the right of Shepards".

It is possible to imagine the placement of American troops behind stone walls that appear on the map details (particularly the detail from the Pelham Bay Park Map), in such a way so as to fit Glover's description of how he placed his men. The Pelham Bay Park map detail immediately below depicts one interpretation of Glover's description of his placement of troops, assuming stone walls depicted in that map detail existed at the time of the battle. Interestingly, Glover's description of his troop placement and my imagined placement below both depict a type of military formation known as a "right echelon" where each unit is stationed behind and to the right to form a diagonal series of steps. Typically the right or left echelon formations are used because of the excellent range of vision they offer to each individual of each unit that together make up such formations.

Detail of 1905 Map of Pelham Bay Park Proposing

One Possible Placement of American Troops

Consistent with Glover's Description in His Letter from Mile Square.

NOTE: Click to Enlarge.

Of course, it is not possible to know what stone walls existed at the time of tne Battle of Pelham, nor where such walls were located. Nor is there any way to know if the stone walls depicted in the Map of Pelham Bay Park created nearly 130 years after the battle were remnants of walls that existed at the time of the battle or were walls that had been built at some point after the battle. Yet, the purpose of today's posting is to propose one possible theory as to how Glover may have placed his troops during the battle in the hope that it will prompt additional creative thinking about such issues, will promote knowledgeable debate about these issues, and eventually will promote work that will further our understanding of the battle.

* * * * *

I have written before about work by the Park Department of the City of New York to restore and preserve a potion of the ancient roadway once known as Split Rock Road and a section of an ancient stone wall that stood alongside the roadway in 1938. See Fri., Jan. 09, 2015: The Closing of Split Rock Road in December, 1937.

During the week that began on Monday, December 27, 1937, work to tear up the asphalt pavement of the roadway started. The then-historian of the Town of Pelham, William R. Montgomery, immediately began lobbying the Park Department of the City of New York to restore and preserve a portion of the ancient roadway as well as stone walls that stood along the same portion of the roadway. He argued that a portion of the roadway with walls should be restored and preserved because they marked the site where a portion of the Battle of Pelham was fought on October 18, 1776 with Americans using such stone walls to slow the advance of British and German troops attempting to cut off the Continental Army's retreat toward White Plains.

The Park Department agreed and restored a potion of the roadway within the Split Rock Golf Course and associated stone walls. On October 18, 1938, The Park Department also erected a Historic Marker dedicated to the “Old Indian Path” long known as Split Rock Road.

Today the area restored by the Park Department is overgrown and difficult to access because it lies along one of the fairways of the Split Rock Golf Course.

Portion of Ancient Split Rock Road Sunken

from Surrounding Land Through Extensive Travel;

Part of the Roadway Restored by the Park Department

of the City of New York in 1938. Photograph Taken by the Author in 2005.

NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

Portion of Stone Wall Along Ancient Split Rock Road Restored

by the Park Department of the City of New York in 1938. Photograph

Taken by the Author in 2005. NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge.

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

Labels: 1776, Battle of Pelham, Battle of Pell's Point, Blaskowitz Map, Charles Blaskowitz, Claude Joseph Sauthier, Sauthier Map

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Account of the Revolutionary War Battle of Westchester Creek, Leading Up to the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

The Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 during the early months of the Revolutionary War was a seminal event in the history of Pelham. That battle, of course, was preceded by a host of troop movements and a skirmish on nearby Throgg's Neck on October 12, 1776. That skirmish often is referenced as the "Battle of Westchester" since it occurred at the causeway between Throgg's Neck and the mainland where the Village of Westchester stood.

I have written frequently about the Battle of Pelham. A list of numerous such examples appears at the end of today's Historic Pelham Blog posting.

I have written less frequently about the events in the week before the Battle of Pelham including the Battle of Westchester. Today's posting transcribes a lovely article published in 1915 that recounts not only the events of the battle, but also a number of the legends and traditions surrounding that battle.

Detail from the 1776 Charles Blaskowitz Map Depicting

Events Leading Up to and Including the Battle of Westchester.

Source: Library of Congress American Memory Collection,

Digital Image of Blaskowitz, Charles, A Survey of Frog's Neck and the

Rout[e] of the British Army to the 24th of October 1776, Under

the Command of His Excellency the Honorable William Howe,

General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces,

&ca, &ca, &ca. (1776).

"Marching to the Battle of Westchester Creek.

-----

Retracing the Steps of British and American Armies -- How Charity Ferris Helped Save the Day for the Americans -- Reviewing Revolutionary History.

-----

The following article taken from The New York Times of July fourth and sent to Mrs. John H. Magee of the town of Conesus relates to her great grandparents on her father's side, her son James Ferris Magee having the name from four generations. The second house mentioned on the Middletown road was where she resided at the time of her marriage and was a member of St. Peter's church spoken of. The first Ferris came from England and settled in Boston. One of his sons went from there to Connecticut and then to Westchester, he being the grandfather of the James Ferris of the Revolutionary times. Originally they are French.

Think of the women who played their parts in our great war for independence! How their ghosts come trooping, fair and loyal, and gallant and liberty-loving! All the way from grimy, freckled, saucy Molly Pitcher, face to face with the enemy in the very front of Monmouth's battlefield, to the subtle, aristocratic Mrs. Lindley Murray of Murray Hill, with her suave entertainment of cake and wine, beguiling the unwary British officers -- what a company they are, as varied as the mingled throngs of the American soldiers themselves.

Some of them are well known to our national tradition. But among the valiant ones whose names are less familiar in history is Charity Ferris. Her memory haunts a rare old mansion which stands today within the limits of our own Greater New York, and her story is inseparably linked with that of the battle of Westchester Creek.

The first bright afternoon which comes your way is just the afternoon for a little landmark trip -- a mere triplet, but a delightful one -- to the old, old village of Westchester, of which many a Manhattanite knows just about as much as he knows of an Alaskan Indian hamlet.

It is a vague region, somewhere up in the Bronx -- to be sure, we have passed through it many a time -- but how many of us can point out the spot where the battle centered? Who can trace the landing and advance of the confident Lord Howe? Who remembers the gallantry of Heath and Hand, our loyal officers? Oh, these memories must be taken down from the shelf, and shaken and brushed and hung in the sun, or they will ere long be moth-eaten memories indeed!

If rare good fortune should be yours you might possibly be able to visit Throgs Neck with a permit to go on the Government boat which leaves Pier 12, East River, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It sails for Fort Totten, on Long Island's north shore; not so long ago it used to cross from Fort Totten to Fort Schuyler at the tip of Throgs Neck, and there its passengers might land near where the British landed on that eventful 12th of October, 1776. But the boat now seldom visits the disused Fort Schuyler and the traveler must probably content himself with an approach by land.

Otherwise, take the Bronx Park Subway to the 177th street station, and there you will find a trolley which will carry you directly to the centre of Westchester village. The entire time from downtown New York is about one hour.

If you are ready to enjoy several miles of glorious rambling over this old-time district then start betimes in the morning and give a whole summer day to the pilgrimage. But if a 'livery righ' is to be your conveyance, or if you omit the long walk to the end of the Neck, then an afternoon will be ample time to taste both the history and the snappy air of this Bronx section.

Leaving the trolley you see just beyond the old causeway. It is known to the native as 'the old bridge,' near it passes a new road, crossing Westchester Creek just above, but the original one remains for the history-lover to see.

Here Gen. Wm. Heath and his officers played their valorous part. Washington perceived, early in October, 1776, that British plans was to land on the north Shore of the Sound and cut off the Americans in the rear, and he chose Heath to ward off the advance in Westchester.

He had made a wise choice. Heath was from Roxbury, Mass., of sturdy New England stock. His ability had advanced him to the rank of Major General, and although he was not favored by fortune with dramatic opportunities, he did much for the liberty of his country.

In 'Heath's Memoirs' we read that as early as Oct. 3, the General made an inspection of the causeway and its surroundings with a view to checking the British. A tide-mill stood beside it; as the western end of the causeway, the side of the American army, was a range of cordwood, which was 'as advantageously situated' to cover a party to defend the pass as if constructed for the very purpose.

Here, then, lay the Americans' chance to wreck the British plans. That little Westchester creek was to aid and abet them. It marked a line of defense, Providentially arranged for 'impertinent rebels,' as the British styled them, and these same rebels did not mean to lose the advantage.

Orders were accordingly given to Col. Hand that he choose a subaltern officer of ability, and twenty-five picked men, and assign them this pass, 'as their alarm post at all times.' If the British landed, as was expected, at Throgs Pint, at the end of the peninsula, the planks of the bridge were to be torn up and, in case of absolute necessity, the mills was to be burned.

And now, if you're ready for a long and glorious tramp on one of the best roads anywhere near Manhattan, go down to the end of the Neck to meet the British upon their arrival. The Throgs Neck trolley will carry you as far as Eastern Boulevard, but beyond that point you must foot it between green, wind-swept meadows, past luxurious country estates, under giant trees which have seen history unfold under their branches. The walk out to Fort Schuyler is a treat that no pedestrian ought to miss. The old fortifications are worth the trip in themselves -- huge stone walls, old guns, the lighthouse, the deserted parade ground of other years.

Near the end of the Neck stretches the great Haveymeyer estate. It was here, on this very ground, that the British made their aggressive landing on the morning of Oct. 12. Howe had determined to break up the passivity of the conditions, which made him restless. He had given Earl Perry command to take charge of New York, and he himself had taken eighty or ninety floatboats, loaded them with men, protected them with several ships of war, and started Soundward, sailing through Hell Gate and East river. On the way his fleet had merrily shelled a stone farmhouse which used to stand beside the water on Clason's Point. The poor little farmhouse fell, but some of its immortal stones are now built into the walls of Clason's Point Inn.

We have records to the effect that it was about 9 in the morning when Howe arrived here and landed where you stand, on the Havemeyer property. Likewise we have records that the Ferris family, in their fine mansion near the upper end of the Neck, were breakfasting. Hence we see that they were a family of luxurious habits for that period, when 'early-to-bed-early to rise' customs were building the substantial foundation of our nation.

This long point of land, thrusting a gaunt finger out into the blue waters of the Sound, looked to Howe, no doubt, a simple solution of his problem. All he had to do was to march with his ninety boatloads of redcoats straight up the long Neck and on into Westchester county. As easy as rolling off a log! To be sure, the rebels might pepper his troops a bit -- one could hardly expect them to be sleeping -- but what of a trifle like that?

That he might have a suitable headquarters while completing his occupancy of Throg's Neck, the British General set out for the house of Jas. Ferris.

Now when you have completed your inspection of his landing place you, too, may betake yourself to the self-same mansion. The Ferris family has long since vanished from it, but the house is in excellent preservation today, one of the finest of our historical dwellings.

It may be reached by retracing those three miles of beautiful Fort Schuyler road to Eastern Boulevard, and continuing a bit further up the Neck to Bradford avenue. Turn to your right -- eastward, in a general direction -- and this street, continued by a crosscut through a field, will lead you to the house. It is almost obscured by the high hedge surrounding it, but a glimpse of its yellowish walls and dark green, old-time shutters identifies it. It is owned by the Ellis family, the elder Mrs. Ellis having lived here; at present it is occupied by the Rollins family, and by their name it is best known to the neighbors. It is within the grounds of the Westchester Country Club.

Look at this ample, restful old colonial dwelling and picture the Ferris family at their breakfast that October morning. Beyond their windows stretched a broad lawn, beyond that; to the east, blue glimpses of the Sound's waters could be caught just as they are today. The same broad-limbed trees shaded the hospitable doorway, the shingled walls. In the seventeen hundreds the house was much isolated.

They were fairly launched on the morning meal when the report of a gun in the British flagship sounded, announcing the disembarkation of the troops at the point. At once came another report; the reply was made by the British shipping which lay anchored in the waters toward City Island. On the instant excitement reigned in the quiet homestead.

Lord Howe and his officers arrived at the door, arrogantly demanding full occupancy. In fact, to make sure that the Americans understood what British domination was, one of the officers rode horseback directly through the length of the hall, in at the front door and out at the back. For many years the scars made by hoofs on the floor were distinctly visible, but repairs in the floor have at last obliterated them. Nevertheless, you can see the same hall today and follow precisely the arrogant ride of the officer, past the little white stair-railing of Colonial pattern.

Tradition has it yet that Charity Ferris saved the house from a bombardment by remaining on the veranda, walking back and forth, until the British vessels lying outside gave up their aim. The presence of mind of this remarkable woman is shown in more ways than one. During the occupancy of the house she contrived to get her daughters out of harm's way, sending a negro slave with them, to row them across the Sound in the night. A member of the Floyd family, their uncle, received them in safety.

Nor did her cleverness confine itself to her own household. She remained at home during the invasion, cooking for the British officers, and she offered them a colored boy, one of her slaves, to wait upon their table. They readily accepted this service, never dreaming that Mrs. Ferris had carefully instructed this boy to listen to every word the Englishmen uttered, to commit their words to memory, and to be ready to repeat them exactly. So faithfully did he accomplish this feat that Mrs. Ferris soon found herself in possession of important secrets.

She now told the officers that this same boy would willingly perform errands for them in the village, and he was sent back and forth to wait upon their every whim. They were easily caught in her clever net. Not a trip did the boy make to the village without turning over a message to American officers there, which messages were promptly transmitted to Washington.

Valuable secrets of the British were thus laid bare to the Americans by Charity Ferris' fearless efforts. It is said that Lord Howe could never cease wondering how Washington understood his plan so thoroughly.

Charity's husband, Jas. Ferris, was captured later on by the enemy and was so long held in the old Sugar House Prison of New York that his health was permanently wrecked and he lived only a short time after his release.

The Ferris property covered vast tracts of land hereabout. The grandfather of this James was the first James, one of the ten promoters of Throgs Neck. He was descended from the house of Feriers, whose first member in England obtained large grants of English land from the Conqueror. Many branches of the family spread through the Westchester region, and another old house once belonging to them can be seen today.

Upon leaving the house occupied by Howe, go out through the main entrance of the Country Club grounds, leading into Country Club Avenue. This route will give you a bit of a walk and take you through some of the loveliest land anywhere to be found. Delightful homes are scattered over the flawlessly groomed land. Nature here is dressed in her best Sunday-go-to-meeting garb the whole week through.

You arrive at Middleton road. Follow this toward the village, and close to it, on Mayflower Avenue, you will find the other Ferris house with large pillars. It is unoccupied and used only by a moving picture firm, a fine background for old-time romances.

And now to the village centre once more and the causeway. Toward it marched Lord Howe, while the picked Americans awaited him and another group too, at the head of the creek. At a given signal the planks of the bridge were taken up, and Howe arrived to find himself upon an island.

He raged furiously and moved toward the head of the creek, there to be abruptly checked again. The Americans opened fire upon his troops at the causeway. They were sheltered by the tide-mill, and from this point they poured forth their heavy rifle fire upon the British. Nowhere could the enemy force a way past the determined patriots.

Howe retreated and the day was won. So enraged was the British General that he summoned his guides before a board of officers and charged them with having deceived him, for he believed that they had landed him upon an island. How dared they?, he demanded, striking the table with a resounding blow with his sword. Although the situation was explained to him he still raged, and he vowed he would hang every man of them unless they conducted him safely from the trap he was in. At last the British retreat was completed by boats, which carried the forces on to Pell's Point.

Before you leave the village, which, by the way, is the oldest in all Westchester county, you must glance at the old village store, just west of the causeway. Across the causeway is a hill occupied by the Presbyterian church, the same spot where the British set up a breastwork to defend themselves in that fight of '76.

For old times' sake you may want to walk out the Pelham Road a little way, or take the Pelham Bay Park trolley in that direction, to see what remains of the famous 'Spy Oak.' It is a tragedy to see this monarch among trees decapitated now; its wonderful height, gained proudly in its life of centuries, has been hewn so that its old friends almost weep at the sight. It is said to measure 30 feet in girth at the ground where its roots spread.

A British spy, caught by vigilant Americans, was hanged to its branches, says tradition; and furthermore, strange wailings of that British ghost were said to be audible after dusk.

Walking west from the village square a short distance you come to old St. Peter's church, the fourth house of worship erected on this site. In its yard are headstones dating back as far as 1713. Upon the tombstone of Philip Honeywell, who was active during the Revolution, this inscription was placed:

Look on this stone and you will find

My journey's o'er, and yours behind;

Think, then, before you turn away,

That yours may end before this day.

This was one of the early churches upon which Queen Anne bestowed gifts. In her day its chime of bells was given it. The old bells have since been melted and made into a new one which rings Sabbath day pilgrims to service as of old.

Across the street stands the parish house. The building, says Dr. Clendenin the rector, was the one used for two weeks as the Colonial capitol of the state of New York when an epidemic of fever prompted a sudden move.

A few blocks further west you come upon the picturesque rectory, standing quite alone on a green knoll. Its surrounding land was part of the 'ancient glebe' given by the town in 1703. Records state that it was found necessary to lay out parsonage lands, and twenty acres were made up by taking 'four acres where Edward Collier's old lot was,' 'the eight acre division of land in the old lot fronting the sheep pasture,' and so on.

From 1683 to 1759 Westchester was the shire town. The village was settled in 1642 by Throckmorton, (for whom Throgs Neck was named,) who arrived from Massachusetts with a group drives thence along with Roger Williams. They procured permission to make their homes at Westchester, settling thirty-five families there. The Dutch had called the spot Vredeland, meaning Land of Peace, and perhaps the name had something to do with attracting these weary worshipers."

Source: Marching to the Battle of Wetchester Creek, The Dansville Express [New York], Oct. 14, 1915, Vol. 51, No. 17, p. 1, cols. 5-7.

* * * * *

I have written extensively about the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776. See, for example, the following 30 articles:

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

Labels: 1776, Battle of Pelham, Battle of Pell's Point, Battle of Westchester Creek, Blaskowitz Map, Charity Ferris, Charles Blaskowitz, James Ferris, Pelham Road, Revolutionary War, Shore Road, Spy Oak, Throggs Neck

Historic Pelham

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Where Were the Stone Walls Used by American Troops During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776?

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Account of the Revolutionary War Battle of Westchester Creek, Leading Up to the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776

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