For Once, Pelham Manor Mainlanders Told City Islanders "No" in 1883

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Throughout much of the 19th century, most of the population of the Town of Pelham lived on City Island -- not on the mainland.  Thus, initiatives to appropriate taxpayer funds for improvements on City Island were nearly always successful.  In contrast, initiatives to appropriate taxpayer funds for improvements on the mainland (including appropriations to repair roads and bridges on the mainland) often failed either at the ballot box or during votes taken at Town meetings controlled by City Island Democrats.  Residents of Pelham Manor, Bartow, Prospect Hill, and Pelhamville grew angrier by the year about their circumstances. As far as they were concerned, "City Island always voted no" regarding appropriations to improve mainland roads and the like.  The battle became one between the islanders and the mainlanders.

Finally, in 1883, the Pelham Manor mainlanders said "no!" -- not in a vote, but in a lawsuit.

At an annual Town meeting that City Islanders ensured was packed with islanders, a vote was held to authorize the Town of Pelham to seek authorization from the Westchester County Board of Supervisors to levy a tax against all Pelham taxpayers to raise $25,000 to repair City Island Bridge and $1,750 for general road purposes, most of which would go to repairing roads on the mainland leading to City Island Bridge.  Pelham Manor residents were furious.  Their roads were in horrendous condition.  They wanted something done.

In 1883, Pelham Manor was not yet a village.  It was "governed" by agreement among the local residents by the Pelham Manor Protective Club, a vigilance club established in 1881.  George H. Reynolds was one of the most prominent members of the club.  In fact, he hosted many meetings of the club in his home.  He served as first President of the club.  In 1883, he served as President again, and was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Club.  

Residents of Pelham Manor felt that City Island Democrats governed corruptly via "machine" politics.  They felt that the Democratic Machine failed to represent their interests and that, through machine politics, it was able to control the appropriations process and dole out the funds for the principal benefit of City Islanders and the cronies of the Democratic Machine.  Indeed, an anonymous and sarcastic letter to The Chronicle published in Mount Vernon written at about this time claimed as much. See Tue., Jan. 19, 2016:  City Island Always Voted No.  

George H. Reynolds brought a lawsuit against the Supervisor of the Town of Pelham, City Islander James Hyatt, seeking to block any tax levy to fund the bridge and roadway repairs sought by City Island.  The suit alleged that the tax levy should be blocked because appropriations were being handled in an unfair and unequal manner to benefit certain taxpayers at the expense of others.  At some point, perhaps the same time or perhaps later, Reynolds filed a second lawsuit against the Westchester County Board of Supervisors seeking similar relief. 

At first it looked as though the lawsuit against Town Supervisor Hyatt might fail.  According to one news account, a local court initially entered judgment in favor of defendant, rejecting the claims made by Reynolds.  On Saturday, November 3, 1883, however, a local judge entered an order to show cause against the defendant directing that he appear before the court and "show cause why the judgment for the defendant should not be set aside and a reargument ordered."  Moreover, the court enjoined the defendant "from taking further proceedings in the matter until argument on the matter is heard."  It appears from a subsequent news report that, after hearing rearguments, on December 12, 1883 a local New York Supreme Court Justice entered judgment for defendant Hyatt again.  

Newspaper accounts of the day do not specify the nature of the proceedings that followed.  Most likely an appeal was taken from the December 12 decision of the New York Supreme Court (the trial court level in New York). In any event, the attorney for George H. Reynolds (W. R. Lamberton) continued battling on behalf of Pelham Manor Protective Club President George H. Reynolds.  Finally, on Saturday, March 1, 1884, Lamberton filed in both lawsuits (the one against the Pelham Town Supervisor and the one against Westchester County Board of Supervisors) a notice of entry of final judgment in favor of plaintiff George H. Reynolds "for the relief demanded" in the complaints filed in each action.  As one news account put it:  "Those decisions annul the appropriation of $25,000 for City Island Bridge, and that of $1,750 for general road purposes -- both of which were carried at the last town meeting in Pelham."

For once, the mainlanders of Pelham Manor said "no!" -- and it stuck.  For once, they had beaten "The Machine."

1881 Map of the Town of Pelham Showing the Mainland and the Islands

that Comprised the Town Before Annexation. Source:  Bromley, George

Washington & Bromley, Walter Scott, "Town of Pelham, (With) Pelham-

Manor. (From Actual Surveys and Official Records by G.W. Bromley

& Co., Civil Engineers, Published by Geo. W. & Walter S. Bromley,

1881)" in Atlas of Westchester County, New York, From Actual Surveys

and Official Records, pp. 56-57 (Washington, D.C.: G.W. Bromley & Co.

1881).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Transcribed below is the text of a number of news articles concerning the lawsuits filed by George H. Reynolds in 1883.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

In the suit brought by George H. Reynolds against James Hyatt, Supervisor of the town of Pelham, to restrain the levy of a tax of $25,000 for making repairs to the City Island bridge, Judge Dykman granted an order last Saturday to show cause why the judgment for the defendant should not be set aside and a reargument ordered.  The defendant is also enjoined, by the terms of the order, from taking further proceedings in the matter until argument on the matter is heard."

Source:  WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. Times, Nov. 5, 1883, p. 8, col. 3 (Note:  Paid subscription require to access via this link).

"WESTCHESTER COUNTY
-----
Epitome of the News. . . . 

-- In the suit brought by George H. Reynolds against James Hyatt, supervisor of the town of Pelham, to restrain the levy of a tax of $25,000 for making repairs to the City Island bridge.  Judge Dykman granted an order last Saturday to show cause why the judgment for the defendant should not be set aside, and a re-argument ordered.  The defendant is also enjoined, by the terms of the order, from taking further proceedings in the matter until argument on the matter is heard. . . ."

Source:  WESTCHESTER COUNTY -- Epitome of the News, New Rochelle Pioneer, Nov. 10, 1883, p. 3, cols. 6-7.

"JUDGMENT REVERSED. -- In the action brought by George H. Reynolds against James Hyatt Supervisor of the town of Pelham, the Supreme Court rendered judgment on the 12th day of December last, in favor of the defendant, with costs.  On Saturday an order was entered by the plaintiff's attorney, reversing this judgment and rendering judgment for the plaintiff.  At the same time an order was entered in the action of Reynolds against the Westchester County Board of Supervisors, rendering final judgment for the plaintiff for the relief demanded in the complaint.  Those decisions annul the appropriation of $25,000 for City Island Bridge, and that of $1,750 for general road purposes -- both of which were carried at the last town meeting in Pelham.  The plaintiff has been represented in these suits by W. R. Lamberton, and the defendants by Martin J. Keogh."

Source:  JUDGMENT REVERSED, The Yonkers Statesman, Mar. 3, 1884, Vol. I, No. 94, p. 1, col. 4.  

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND. . . . 

On the 12th of December last a judgment was rendered by the Supreme Court in favor of James Hyatt, Supervisor, the defendant in the action brought by George H. Reynolds against him.  On Saturday last the plaintiff's attorney entered an order reversing the judgment and giving judgment for the plaintiff.  Another order was also entered in the suit of Reynolds against the Board of Supervisors of Westchester County, being final judgment for him for the relief demanded in the complaint.  The appropriations of $25,000 for a new bridge at City Island and $1,750 for road purposes are annulled by these judgments. . . .

[I]f there is one appropriation that should be granted more than another it is certainly that one for repairing and grading City Island road and the one for bluestoning that portion of the road from City Island bridge to Marshals corner.  This piece of road has been for weeks past, literally in an impassable condition and no one could be more deeply impressed with the necessity of repairing it than the writer.  From the nature of this piece of road it would be a useless expenditure of money to attempt to repair it, by the method ordinarily employed, of putting clay or sand upon it."

Source:  PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Mar. 7, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 755, p. 3, cols. 4-5.

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Multi-Vehicle Pileup of Horse-Drawn Carriages on City Island Road in 1896

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Turn on the radio and listen to the traffic report on any given day.  Pelhamites often will hear of a multi-car pileup near the New Rochelle tolls on I-95 or a car crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway at Wolfs Lane or even a fender-bender on Boston Post Road near Pelham Parkway.  When the exhaust fumes grow thick and the traffic heading into or out of the city is thicker than molasses on a cold winter day, can we be blamed if we wish for a simpler time when horses and horse-drawn carriages ruled the roads of our region?

The days of horses and horse-drawn carriages may have been simpler, but don't assume that the roads of our region were never crowded nor the scene of multi-vehicle crashes during those "good old days."  For example, on August 31, 1896, there was a multi-vehicle crash of horse-drawn vehicles on City Island Road.

On a warm Monday in 1896, August 31 to be precise, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cook of New York City were driving their carriage on City Island Road heading from Bartow toward City Island.  At the same time Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson of Mount Vernon, New York were driving their smart phaeton, traveling toward Bartow from City Island.  A short distance behind the Johnsons were Mr. Henry Keyser of New York City and his daughter also traveling toward Bartow in their wagon.

As the Cooks drove their carriage toward City Island, a nearby tree branch frightened their horse who took off at full speed with the carriage bouncing along on the rough roadway behind it.  Samuel Cook tried desperately to stop the galloping horse, but his efforts were futile and the horse raced out of control dragging the carriage behind it.  

As Cook's out-of-control carriage reached a small curve in the road near the Little Mothers' Home, the carriage smashed into the phaeton carrying Henry Johnson and his wife.  The crash was so violent that Samuel Cook and his wife were thrown over the dashboard of the carriage onto the road.  Mrs. Cook was knocked unconscious.  Henry Johnson and his wife likewise were thrown from their phaeton.  Both were badly cut on their heads and Mrs. Johnson's face was "severely cut."

The Johnsons' horse broke free from the smashed phaeton and raced up the road toward Bartow.  The Cooks' horse likewise broke free from the smashed carriage and raced down the road a few hundred feet when it ran headlong into the wagon of Henry Keyser and his daughter.  The wagon was overturned.  Henry Keyser's daughter was thrown from the wagon and had her arm crushed and suffered a cut on her face.

A member of the Park Police, Roundsman Reed, rounded up the two runaway horses.  In the meantime, an ambulance (presumably horse-drawn) was summoned from Fordham Hospital.  In the meantime, a physician arrived and dressed the injuries suffered by the Cooks and Miss Keyser.  

It seems that no summonses were issued following the multi-vehicle accident that day.  In fact, it seems that traffic tickets in and around Pelham were unheard of for at least the next few years until the rise of the horseless carriage. . . . . . . 

Undated Image of Horse-Drawn Carriage That May Be

Similar to the One Driven by Samuel Cook with His Wife

at the Time of the Accident on August 31, 1896.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge. 

A Basket Phaeton, Circa 1870.  Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson

Were Riding in a Phaeton at the Time of the August 31, 1896

Accident.  Source:  "Phaeton (Carriage)" in Wikipedia - The

Free Encyclopedia (visited Jul. 24, 2016).

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

A Road Wagon, Ca. 1896, that May Be Similar to the

"Wagon" Driven by Mr. Henry Keyser, Traveling with

His Daughter, at the Time of the Accident.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"TWO RUNAWAYS, FIVE HURT.
-----
One Horse, Frightened by a Branch, Wrecks Three Vehicles in the City Island Road.
-----

A horse attached to a carriage containing Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cook, of No. 752 East 163d street, was frightened by a branch of a tree in the City Island road yesterday and ran away.  Mr. Cook's efforts to stop the animal were futile, and at a turn in the drive near the Little Mothers' Home the carriage ran into a phaeton in which Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson, of No. 192 Stevens avenue, Mount Vernon.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook were thrown over the dashboard, and Mrs. Cook was unconscious when picked up.  Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were also thrown from their carriage and badly hurt.  Mrs. Johnson's head and face were severely cut.  Mr. Johnson was cut on the head.

Mr. Johnson's horse darted up the road toward Bartow.  Mr. Cook's horse continued down the road, and had gone but a few hundred feet when it ran into a wagon containing Henry Keyser, of No. 7 East 132d street, and his daughter.  The wagon was overturned.  Miss Keyser was cut on the face and her left arm crushed.  

Roundsman Reed, of the Park police, caught both horses, and summoned an ambulance from the Fordham Hospital.  Before it arrived a physician dressed the injuries of Mr. and Mrs. Cook and Miss Keyser, and they were taken to their homes."

Source:  TWO RUNAWAYS, FIVE HURT -- One Horse, Frightened by a Branch, Wrecks Three Vehicles in the City Island Road, N.Y. Herald, Sep. 1, 1896, p. 6, col. 6.  

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Evidence the Battle of Pelham May Have Begun at Glover's Rock After All

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More than a century ago, most local historians and military scholars believed that the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776 began near a large glacial boulder located on what, today, is Orchard Beach Road in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx.  Little scholarly attention was given to the battle until 1901 when William Abbatt published a book about the battle. See:

Abbatt, William, The Battle of Pell's Point (or Pelham) October 18, 1776. Being the Story of a Stubborn Fight. With a Map, and Illustrations from Original Photographs and Family Portraits (NY, NY: William Abbatt, 281 Fourth Ave. 1901) (Library of Congress Control Number 01027896, Library of Congress Call Number E241.P3A2). 

Although Abbatt's book contained a wealth of historically accurate information as well as interesting photographs, some of the conclusions regarding the location of the battle and how it progressed since have been shown to be erroneous based on Abbatt's misplaced reliance on the so-called "Sauthier Map" published in London in 1777. 

The map, by Claude J. Sauthier, is 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. By C. J. Sauthier."  Today it is widely believed by scholars of the battle that the Sauthier map inaccurately shows large bodies of British troops landing at the tip of Pell's Point and also along the side of the Neck on October 18, 1776.  In addition, as others have pointed out, the Sauthier map is not a particularly accurate depiction of the area and seems to have been intended to serve as a general depiction crafted more to show general troop movements during the relevant period rather than the true lay of the land (somewhat analogous to a modern New York City Subway map that intentionally shows some distortions of geography in an effort to simplify the presentation of the truly important data compiled as part of the map: the various subway lines that traverse the City beneath the surface of the land.) 

Detail From 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.

By C. J. Sauthier  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

When he wrote his book, William Abbatt apparently was unaware of the existence in the collections of The Library of Congress of a map known as the "Blaskowitz Map."  The Blaskowitz map was created in 1776 by Charles Blaskowitz.  It 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 Blaskowitz Map is widely believed to be a surprisingly accurate depiction of the area in which the Battle of Pelham occurred and the movement of troops during that battle.  

The Charles Blaskowitz Map 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."  NOTE:  Click on Image

To Enlarge.

In his book, Abbatt analyzed the letter about the battle written by Col. John Glover who led American troops during the battle.  Col. Glover provided estimates of the distances that the British and German troops traveled on known roadways before they reached the oncoming American troops and began fighting.  Abbatt attempted to use those estimates to locate the site where the battle began.  In so doing, however, he appears to have measured from the very tip of Pell's Point where he thought the bulk of the British and German troops had landed.  Abbatt's assumption that the bulk of the British and German troops landed at the tip of Pell's Point, however, seems to have been inaccurate.  As the Blaskowitz map indicates and as now seems well-established, the bulk of the troops landed along the side of Pell's Point at the place where the roadway then ended when it reached Eastchester Bay. 

In his defense, Abbatt was not the first to make such a mistake. Earlier efforts to place the commencement and progress of the battle by Henry B. Dawson in his book Westchester County During the Revolution, pp. 233-46 (Morrisania, NY: 1886), made a similar error.  By measuring 1-1/2 miles from the tip of Pell's Point (as suggested by a distance estimated by Col. Glover in his letter), William Abbatt came to the conclusion that the battle began near a spot marked by a large glacial boulder located along what we know today as Orchard Beach Road.  He placed a photograph of the boulder in his book (Illustration 1 between pages 4 and 5) and labeled it "Glover's Rock".  The name stuck.

Indeed, on October 18, 1901, shortly after Abbatt published his book on the battle and on the 125th anniversary of the battle, the Bronx Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Mount Vernon, N. Y., unveiled a bronze memorial tablet affixed to the newly-named Glover's Rock.  It read:  

"GLOVER'S ROCK. In memory of the 550 patriots who, led by Colonel John Glover, held General Howe's army in check at the BATTLE OF PELL'S POINT. October 18, 1776. Thus aiding General Washington in his retreat to White Plains. 'Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds.' Erected by Bronx Chapter of Mount Vernon, N. Y. Daughters of the American Revolution. October 18, 1901."

Glover's Rock, A Recent Photograph by the Author Showing

The Glacial Boulder and the Memorial Tablet Affixed to It.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Since the publication of Abbatt's book, historians who have had access to the Blaskowitz map have concluded that the Battle of Pelham began nowhere near Glover's Rock.  Instead, according to more recent scholarship, the battle began near a small rise in the midst of today's Split Rock and Pelham Bay Golf Course.  See, e.g., Franko, Alfred Michael, Pelham Manor: The Forgotten Battle of the Revolution: Near Mount Vernon, N.Y. (Pelham Manor, N.Y.: The Bicentennial Committee of the Town of Pelham, New York Oct. 1975) (republication of 1963 publication, revised in 1966; 67 pp., 12 pp. of plates, ill., 22 cm with bibliographic references).

Accordingly, in recent years, local historians and battle scholars have scoffed at the notion that the Battle of Pelham began near Glover's Rock.  Such historians, it turns out, may have to revise their thinking once again.  Though it seems clear that skirmishers associated with the Americans led by Colonel John Glover first engaged the British and German forces on the rise located in the midst of today's Split Rock and Pelham Bay Golf Course, there is anecdotal evidence that other Americans who were not associated with the men led by Colonel Glover skirmished with the British and German troops shortly after the enemy landed on Pell's Point and that a party of American Militia fell back along the road we know today as Orchard Beach Road, specifically using the large glacial boulder known today as Glover's Rock for cover!

According to family tradition within the De Veaux family, on October 18, 1776, an American Militia unit of which Abel De Veau, Jr. (also known as Abel Deveau) was a member, was on Pelham Neck when British and German troops landed in advance of the Battle of Pelham.  I have written before about Abel De Veau, Jr.  See Fri., Sep. 19, 2014:  Abel Deveau, An American Skirmisher on Rodman's Neck as British and Germans Landed Before the Battle of Pelham.

Some accounts say this Militia unit was the first to engage the British and Germans, firing on the advancing enemy from "behind the large rock standing on the City Island road" -- i.e., today's Glover's Rock.  According to one account:

"When the Army of General Howe started on their march from Pelham Neck a party of Militia, of whom Abel De Veau -- the Grandfather of Capt. John D. De Veau -- lay behind the large rock standing on the City Island road and fired upon the British Army.  The British followed them up and they retreated, keeping up the fire along Pelham Lane [i.e., today's Shore Road], and lost two men before they got to Prospect Hill.  There they were joined by a large party of Militia, and then they had a brisk fight.  They then fell back to the hill of Mrs. Ronalds, and there they stood and had another brush.  As the British advanced they kept up the fire as long as possible, and only retired when compelled by the numbers of the British to do so.  They made a gallant defence."  [Source:  See full quote and citation below.]

This brief anecdote may be significant for two reasons.  First, it seems to support the longstanding tradition that the Battle of Pelham actually began near the glacial boulder known today as "Glover's Rock."  Though this initial skirmish did not involve the main body of Americans led by Colonel Glover (or their skirmishers), it arguably marked the beginning of the battle.  Second, the reference seems to suggest that the Militia unit that was not affiliated with the regiments led by Glover suffered two casualties of its own that, until now, have not been counted among the American casualties of the Battle of Pelham.  

Portrait of Colonel John Glover.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the pertinent text from the material that includes the reference to an American Militia unit firing from behind today's Glover's Rock.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"Abel, Jr., b. 1755; m. Jemima Secor at New Rochelle about the commencement of the Revolution.  At that period great excitement was produced among the people; families were divided in opinion -- brother against brother, fathers opposed to sons -- the majority of them, however, were generally loyal to King George; but Abel, being somewhat patriotic, early took sides with the Whigs and joined the militia.  We find among the incidents connected with the local history of the town the following:  'When the Army of General Howe started on their march from Pelham Neck a party of Militia, of whom Abel De Veau -- the Grandfather of Capt. John D. De Veau -- lay behind the large rock standing on the City Island road and fired upon the British Army.  The British followed them up and they retreated, keeping up the fire along Pelham Lane [i.e., today's Shore Road], and lost two men before they got to Prospect Hill.  There they were joined by a large party of Militia, and then they had a brisk fight.  They then fell back to the hill of Mrs. Ronalds, and there they stood and had another brush.  As the British advanced they kept up the fire as long as possible, and only retired when compelled by the numbers of the British to do so.  They made a gallant defence.'*  [Footnote "*" provides:  "*New Rochelle Press, local history, 1879"].

Another writer notices:  'Deveau Town is a small scattered hamlet in this vicinity, so named after Abel Deveau, an old Whig of the Revolution, and proprietor of a small estate.  This individual was fond of relating how he and others were deployed as skirmishers to waylay the British near the causeway after their landing on Pelham Neck in 1776, firing from behind the rocks near Rapelye's and retiring as they advanced towards East Chester.'

Abel De Veau was by trade a weaver, although occasionally he dabbled in politics, being found in 1791 a Constable, besides being a Collector for some five years, when he was chosen a Road-master, changed in 1804 to one of the 'Overseers of Highway.'  In 1812 he conveys some three acres and five perches of land to Elbert Roosevelt, when he signs his name Able Devous.  The next year he disposes of another piece of land on the road leading to Pelham, adjoining the land of Elijah Devoue, Sen., disposes 'of about two acres of land to Robert Devoue, adjoining to the land now or late belonging to Elias Devoe.'  Abel had children, James, Elizabeth, Anna, Joseph, Elijah, Hannah (b. 1787, died 1874; unmarried), Coles, Elias, Mary (b. 1796), Sarah (b. 1797, died 1839), Abel, and Robert."

Source:  De Voe, Thomas F., Genealogy of the De Veaux Family - Introducing the Numerous Forms of Spelling the Name by Various Branches and Generations in the Past Eleven Hundred Years, pp. 110-11 (NY, NY:  1895).

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I have written extensively about the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776.  See, for example, the following 50 previous articles many of which, like today's, document research regarding the battle:  


Bell, Blake A., The Battle of Pelham:  October 18, 1776, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 41, Oct. 15, 2004, p. 10, col. 1.  

Bell, Blake, History of the Village of Pelham:  Revolutionary War, HistoricPelham.com Archive (visited Dec. 18, 2015).  

Wed., May 25, 2016:  Did the Pell Homestead Known as "The Shrubbery" Serve as General Howe's Headquarters After the Battle of Pelham?

Mon., Apr. 25, 2016:  Extract of December 3, 1776 Letter Addressing Battle of Pelham Casualties on October 18, 1776.

Thu., Mar. 24, 2016:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Published in The McDonald Papers.

Fri., Feb. 19, 2016:  The 600-Year Old "Lord Howe Chestnut" Tree that Once Stood in Pelham.

Fri., Dec. 18, 2015:  Brief Report on the Battle of Pelham Fought October 18, 1776 Prepared Five Days Afterward.

Tue., Sep. 08, 2015:  Pelham Manor Resident Makes Revolutionary War Discovery.

Mon., May 18, 2015:  Cannonball Fired in The Battle of Pelham Found on Plymouth Street in Pelham Manor.

Mon., Apr. 27, 2015:  Obituary of British Officer Who Participated in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 as a Young Man.

Mon., Feb. 28, 2005:  Glover's Rock on Orchard Beach Road Does Not Mark the Site of the Battle of Pelham.  

Mon., Apr. 18, 2005:  Restored Battle of Pelham Memorial Plaque Is Unveiled at Glover Field.  

Fri., May 27, 2005:  1776, A New Book By Pulitzer Prize Winner David McCullough, Touches on the Battle of Pelham.  

Thu., Jul. 14, 2005:  Pelham's 1926 Pageant Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Pelham.  

Wed., Oct. 26, 2005:  Remnants of the Battlefield on Which the Battle of Pelham Was Fought on October 18, 1776.  Fri., May 19, 2006:  Possible Remains of a Soldier Killed in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Found in 1921.  

Fri., Aug. 11, 2006:  Article by William Abbatt on the Battle of Pelham Published in 1910.  

Thu., Sep. 21, 2006:  A Paper Addressing the Battle of Pelham, Among Other Things, Presented in 1903.  

Mon., Oct. 30, 2006:  Brief Biographical Data About Sir Thomas Musgrave, British Lieutenant Colonel Wounded at the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Wed., Nov. 1, 2006:  Two British Military Unit Histories that Note Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Tue., Jan. 16, 2007:  Brief Biography of British Officer Who Served During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Fri., Feb. 09, 2007:  Extract of October 23, 1776 Letter Describing British Troops in Eastchester After the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.  

Mon., Feb. 12, 2007:  Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site Opens New Exhibition:  "Overlooked Hero:  John Glover and the American Revolution."  

Thu., Jan. 18, 2007:  Three More British Military Unit Histories that Note Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Mon., Jul. 16, 2007:  Mention of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 in Revolutionary War Diary of David How.  

Tue., Jul. 17, 2007:  Mention of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 in Writings of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Aide-de-Camp to British General Clinton.  

Wed., Jul. 18, 2007:  Another British Military Unit History that Notes Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.  

Tue., Aug. 7, 2007:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Contained in the McDonald Papers Published in 1926.  

Wed., Aug. 8, 2007:  A Description of an Eyewitness Account of the Interior of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester During the Revolutionary War.  

Thu., Sep. 6, 2007:  Information About St. Paul's Church, the Battle of Pelham and Other Revolutionary War Events Near Pelham Contained in an Account Published in 1940.  

Mon., Oct. 8, 2007:  American Troops Who Guarded Pelham's Shores in October 1776.  

Fri., Oct. 12, 2007:  Images of The Lord Howe Chestnut that Once Stood in the Manor of Pelham.  

Fri., Oct. 27, 2006:  Orders Issued by British Major General The Honourable William Howe While Encamped in Pelham After the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Thu., Jan. 22, 2009:  Another Brief Biography of Sir Thomas Musgrave, a British Officer Wounded at the Battle of Pelham on October 18 1776.  

Wed., Feb. 17, 2010:  British Report on Killed, Wounded and Missing Soldiers During the Period the Battle of Pelham Was Fought on October 18, 1776.  

Fri., Apr. 23, 2010:  Charles Blaskowitz, Surveyor Who Created Important Map Reflecting the Battle of Pelham.  


Thu., Feb. 06, 2014:  A Description of the Revolutionary War Battle of Pelham Published in 1926 for the Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Mon., May 19, 2014:  Biography of British Officer Who Fought in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Wed., Jun. 04, 2014:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Presented and Published in 1894.  

Fri., Jun. 27, 2014:  Newly-Published Account Concludes Colonel William Shepard Was Wounded During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Mon., Jun. 30, 2014:  A British Lieutenant in the Twelfth Foot Who Fought at the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Fri., Sep. 19, 2014:  Abel Deveau, An American Skirmisher on Rodman's Neck as British and Germans Landed Before the Battle of Pelham.

Wed., Sep. 17, 2014:  References to the Battle of Pelham in 18th Century Diary of Ezra Stiles, President of Yale College.

Fri., Oct. 17, 2014:  First-Hand Diary Account of Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Mon., Oct. 20, 2014:  American Diary Account of Events Before, During, and After the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Tue., Oct. 21, 2014:  November 1, 1776 Letter Describing the Battle of Pelham and Events Before and After the Battle.

Fri., Oct. 24, 2014:  October 21, 1776 Report to the New-York Convention Regarding the Battle of Pelham.

Wed., Feb. 18, 2015:  Young American Hero James Swinnerton, Badly Wounded in the Battle of Pelham.

Wed., Feb. 25, 2015:  Where Were the Stone Walls Used by American Troops During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776?


Thu., Mar. 24, 2016:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Published in The McDonald Papers.  

Mon., Apr. 25, 2016:  Extract of December 3, 1776 Letter Addressing Battle of Pelham Casualties on October 18, 1776.

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1899 Archaeological Excavation of Native American Remains in Pelham Bay Park

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He was a trench-digging laborer.  He had been digging trenches for nearly a month, just doing his job as an "excavator."  The work, of course, was deadly dull.  Weeks of shoveling.  Weeks of shoveling.  

On Monday, May 15, 1899, his drudgery continued.  The anonymous laborer shoveled away until he noticed something odd.  It looked like . . . small bones . . . bones of a foot . . . a human foot!  

Ecstatic, the laborer notified his supervisor, a sixteen-year-old kid.  That sixteen-year-old kid was Raymond M. Harrington, already a well-known "authority on the subject of Indian archaeology."  Harrington was superintending a project on behalf well-known anthropologist, Professor Marshall H. Saville of the American Museum of Natural History, the brains behind the excavation.

Professor Saville had known for a long time, like virtually all Pelhamites, that much of the northeastern area of Pelham Bay Park was then -- and still is -- riddled with evidence of ancient Native American occupation.  Saville assembled an excavation project in 1899 to uncover "Indian Relics."  He chose an area along City Island Road overlooking Pelham Bay near Jack's Rock, known formerly as Van Cott's Grove.  There was a knoll there.  It was a mound in an area that overlooked productive waters.  The area was rich with shell heaps.  Professor Saville had a hunch.  His hunch turned out to be correct.

In April of that year, Saville assembled a group of laborers to be overseen by young Raymond Harrington.  The plan was to begin digging five-feet-wide trenches four feet deep, one after the other, contiguously, until the entire knoll had been stripped to a depth of four feet.  For about a month, the laborers dug two lengthy trenches across the knoll without uncovering anything.  Then, when about two-thirds of the third trench had been dug, one laborer discovered the foot bones. 

The bones of the human foot were only the beginning.  Slowly, an entire Native American burial was revealed with only a single item in the grave -- a "sharp stone instrument" or stone blade.  Some reports said it was clasped in the right hand.  Others said it was cradled within the right arm.  Professor Saville was able to determine that the skeleton was  that of an old man, some of whose teeth had worn down nearly to the jaw bones in which they were embedded.

Within two days, as the work expanded, a second burial was uncovered in the mound.  Though the skeleton was only partial and quite deteriorated, the grave was rich with relics that shed light on the life of inhabitants of the region long before the area in which the knoll sat became part of the Town of Pelham and, later, was annexed into New York City.  The excavators uncovered flints, pieces of pottery, antler arrow points, shells, stone net sinkers, a terrapin-back ornament, stone scraper, and a small diamond-shaped ornament of mica.

An article at the time in The World about the discoveries, brought to my attention by Jorge Santiago of the Northeast Bronx History Forum, included an interesting set of drawings of a number of the discoveries and of the first skeleton found.  I have included that image below, as well as the text of the article and several other articles about the discoveries.
*          *          *          *          *

Below is the transcribed text of a number of articles that address the archaeological excavation of Native American remains in Pelham Bay Park during April and May, 1899.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

Items Found During Archaeological Excavations of Native

American Remains in Pelham Bay Park in April and May,

1899.  Source:  INDIAN RELICS FOUND IN PELHAM BAY PARK,

The World [NY, NY], May 21, 1899, p. 2, cols. 2-3.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"INDIAN RELICS FOUND IN PELHAM BAY PARK

Through the efforts of Prof. Marshall H. Saville, of the Museum of Natural History, an addition of scientific value has been made to the collection within the past week.  This addition consists of bones and other relics unearthed within the limits of Greater New York in Pelham Bay Park.

The bones form the skeletons of two Indians, while the other relics are pieces of pottery, antler arrow points, shells, net sinkers, flint and mica and terrapin-back ornaments.

In years past human bones, Indian tomahawks, flint arrow points and other things indicative of an aboriginal settlement have been found in the upper part of Pelham Bay Park.  They found their way into the museum and so deeply impressed Prof. Saville that a search in the aid of science was determined upon.  The place selected is a knoll in the upper part of the park, on the shore of Le Roy Bay, near the fishing resort known as 'Jack's Rock.'

The excavations were begun more than a month ago, under the superintendency of Raymond Harrington, but there were no developments until the past week.  Then, one of the workmen came across a human foot and later unearthed nearly an entire skeleton of an Indian.

This, with a second one which was found on Wednesday, together with scores of small implements and trinkets that were dug up at different places in the knoll, are new at the museum.  The skeleton will be mounted, the relics labelled, the pieces of pottery glued together and the whole placed on exhibition within another week.

In regard to the method of excavation and the scientific value of his discoveries, Prof. Saville said to a World reporter:  

'This work was begun in the interest of the study of anthropology.  In order to cover every inch of the ground we planned to dig parallel and contiguous trenches four feet deep from one side of the knoll to the other.

'Two trenches had been dug only to be filled again before our labors were rewarded.  The third trench was nearly finished when one of the laborers came across a human foot.  I ordered the workers to proceed with care, and handful after handful of dirt was removed until a skeleton nearly complete was laid bare.  The skeleton was in a cramped condition, and the only other thing found in the grave was a sharp stone instrument, clasped in the right hand.  The left hand could not be found.

'An examination of the bones convinces me that the skeleton is that of a male long past middle age.  This I judge from the front teeth being worn almost even with the sockets.  I am sure that the skeleton is that of one of a tribe of Indians long since extinct, and that it had lain where found for more than 300 years.  I hope that it will aid materially in furnishing comparisons with the Indians of that generation, with some of later years and with those of to-day.

'The find will particularly interest the people of New York, as it was unearthed within the city limits and will show them the character of man that inhabited this section, his mode of life and the primitive utensils he used.'"

Source:  INDIAN RELICS FOUND IN PELHAM BAY PARK, The World [NY, NY], May 21, 1899, p. 2, cols. 2-3.  

"INDIAN VILLAGE UNEARTHED HERE.
-----
Skeleton of an Aboriginal Inhabitant of Greater New York Dug Up in Pelham Bay Park.
-----
BURIED 300 YEARS OR MORE.
-----
Treasure Discovered by Professor Saville and Added to the Museum of Natural History.
-----
SEARCHING THE SHELL HEAPS
-----
Many Fragments of Earthenware and Stone Implements Also Dug From Former Indian Settlement.
-----

There has just been added to the treasures of the Museum of Natural History a 'find' of the highest scientific value, in the form of the bones of an aboriginal inhabitant of Greater New York, which were unearthed on Monday in Pelham Bay Park.

The bones consist of the almost perfect skeleton of an Indian brave, and special importance attaches to the discovery on account of its affording one of the few instances of the finding of Indian bones within the city limits.

It has been known for many years that in the upper part of Pelham Bay Park there had once existed an important Indian settlement.  From time to time discoveries were made in the form of human bones, fragments of earthenware and stone implements, but the work of exploration was never conducted scientifically until it was recently taken in hand by Professor Marshall H. Saville, of the Museum of Natural History.

SELECTED KNOWL NEAR 'JACK'S ROCK.'

The spot selected by Professor Saville as most likely to repay a thorough examination was a picturesque little knoll, on the shore of Le Roy Bay, near the pretty fishing resort known as 'Jack's Rock.'  It is just off the City Island road, and about midway between that place and the railroad station at Bartow.

Judging by the enormous number of refuse shell heaps in the vicinity  of the mound, it must have formed the centre of a considerable settlement.

Professor Saville began systematic work about a month ago with a party of skilled excavators under the immediate charge of Raymond Harrington, who, although only sixteen years old, is an authority on the subject of Indian archaeology.  The plan of operations contemplated the digging of parallel and contiguous trenches, above five feet wide, from one end of the knoll to the other, so as not to leave an inch of ground within four feet of the surface unexplored.

Two of the trenches had been laboriously dug and filled in again, and two-thirds of the third had been finished on Monday afternoon, when one of the workmen discovered a human foot.  At once the utmost precautions were used, and the earth was removed bit by bit by hand, until, after several hours of hard work, a complete skeleton was revealed.

STONE KNIFE IN THE GRAVE.

In the hollow of the right arm lay a sharp stone instrument, evidently designed to serve as a knife.  This was the only object found in the grave.  

As soon as all the dirt had been brushed from the body it was photographed precisely as it was discovered, before any further examination was made.  It ws at first believed that both the hands were missing, but search revealed portions of the fingers of the right hand.  No trace was found of the left hand, and the presence of the knife gave rise to some interesting conjectures.  It was suggested that possibly the body might be that of a criminal who had been punished by the loss of a hand before execution, and that the weapon with which the mutilation was effected had been cast into the grave.

A careful examination of the bones showed them to be those of a male of advanced age, as evidenced by the teeth, which, in the front of the jaws were worn down level with the sockets.

Professor Saville said yesterday that he thought the bones had been buried at least 300 years, and possibly much longer.

The excavations on the knoll are being actively carried on, and Professor Saville and Mr. Harrington have very little doubt that many more skeletons will be found.

FRAGMENTS OF INDIAN POTTERY.

In addition to the exploration of the summit of the knoll the shell heaps in the vicinity are being thoroughly searched, and objects of high archaeological value are being daily discovered.  These consist for the most part of fragments of pottery, every shard of which, no matter how minute, is carefully preserved."

Source:  INDIAN VILLAGE UNEARTHED HERE, N.Y. Herald, May 17, 1899, p. 12, col. 1.

"BONES OF ANOTHER INDIAN FOUND.
-----
PROFESSOR SAVILLE THINKS HE HAS UNEARTHED AN ABORIGINAL VILLAGE IN PELHAM BAY PARK.

The search for archaeological specimens, which is being conducted in Pelham Bay Park by Professor Saville and Raymond Harrington, under the auspices of the Museum of Natural History, was infused with new zest yesterday by the finding of part of another skeleton, supposed to be the remains of an Indian buried there three hundred years or more ago.  On Monday a well-preserved skeleton of an Indian brave was dug up, and the uncovering of this second grave has led Professor Saville to believe that he has hit upon an ancient burying-ground and the site of an aboriginal village.  

The skeleton, or, rather, the part of one, found yesterday, was not in as good a state of preservation as the one unearthed last Monday.  Only the skull arm bones and a few of the ribs were found, and the skull was crushed, indicating that this Indian met a violent death.  From the size of the arm bones and other indications known to scientists, that person is believed to have been a woman.  The body was buried with the head north and the face to the east.  It was about six feet away from where the other skeleton lay.  In the grave were a few flints and shells, a stone scraper, a net-sinker and a small diamond-shaped ornament of mica.  The bones were cleaned and photographed and removed to the Museum, where they were placed beside the former 'find.'

Professor Saville has a force of four men at work in the trenches.  He thinks that more skeletons will be recovered in a few days."

Source:  BONES OF ANOTHER INDIAN FOUND -- PROFESSOR SAVILLE THINKS HE HAS UNEARTHED AN ABORIGINAL VILLAGE IN PELHAM BAY PARK, N.Y. Tribune, May 18, 1899, Vol. LIX, No. 19177, p. 1, col. 4.  

"INDIAN VILLAGE UNEARTHED IN PELHAM.
-----

Professor Marshall H. Saville has unearthed an Indian village in what was a part of the old town of Pelham, now a part of Greater New York.

The spot selected by Professor Saville as most likely to repay a thorough examination was a picturesque little knoll, on the shore of Le Roy Bay, near the pretty fishing resort known as 'Jack's Rock.'  It is just off the City Island road, and about midway between that place and the railroad station at Bartow.

Judging from the enormous number of refuse shell heaps in the vicinity of the mound, it must have formed the centre of a considerable settlement.

Professor Saville began systematic work about a month ago with a party of skilled excavators under the immediate charge of Raymond Harrington, who, although only sixteen years old, is an authority on the subject of Indian archaeology.  The plan of operations contemplated the digging of parallel and contiguous trenches, about five feet wide, from one end of the knoll to the other, so as not to leve an inch of ground within four feet of the surface unexplored.

Two of the trenches had been laboriously dug and filled in again, and two-thirds of the third had been finished on Monday afternoon, when one of the workmen discovered a human foot.  At once the utmost precautions were used, and the earth was removed bit by bit by hand, until, after several hours of hard work, a complete skeleton was revealed.

In the hollow of the right arm lay a sharp stone instrument, evidently designed to serve as a knife.  This was the only object found in the grave.

As soon as all the dirt had been brushed from the body it was photographed precisely as it was discovered, before any further examination was made.  It was at first believed that both the hands were missing, but search revealed portions of the fingers of the right hand.  No trace was found of the left hand, and the presence of the knife gave rise to some interesting conjectures.  It was suggested that possibly the body might be that of a criminal who had been punished by the loss of a hand before execution, and that the weapon with which the mutilation was affected [sic] had been cast into the grave.

A careful examination of the bones showed them to be those of a male of advanced age, as evidenced by the teeth, which in the front of the jaws were worn down level with the sockets.

Professor Saville said yesterday that he thought the bones had been buried at least 300 years, and possibly much longer.

The excavations on the knoll are being carried on, and Professor Saville and Mr. Harrington have very little doubt that many more skeletons will be found.

In addition to the exploration of the summit of the knoll the shell heaps in its vicinity are being thoroughly searched, and objects of high archaeological value are being daily discovered.  These consist for the most part of fragments of pottery, every shard of which, no matter how minute, is carefully preserved."

Source: INDIAN VILLAGE UNEARTHED IN PELHAM, The New Rochelle Press, May 20, 1899, p. 6, col. 2.    

"DUG UP INDIAN SKELETON.
-----
Professor Saville Unearths Many Indian Relics in Pelham Bay Park.

There has just been added to the treasures of the Museum of Natural History, a 'find' of the highest scientific value, in the form of the bones of an aboriginal inhabitant of the old Town of Pelham, which were unearthed on Monday in Pelham Bay Park.

The bones consist of the almost perfect skeleton of an Indian brave, and special importance attaches to the discovery on account of its affording one of the few instances of the finding of Indian bones within the limits of Greater New York.

It has been known for many years that in the upper part of Pelham Bay Park there had once existed an important Indian settlement.  From time to time discoveries were made in the form of human bones, fragments of earthenware and stone implements, but the work of exploration was never conducted scientifically until it was recently taken in hand by Professor Marshall H. Saville, of the Museum of Natural History.

The spot selected by Professor Saville as most likely to repay a thorough examination was a picturesque little knoll on the shore of Le Roy Bay, near the pretty fishing resort known as 'Jack's Rock.'  It is just off the City Island road, and about midway between that place and the railroad station at Bartow.

Judging by the enormous number of refuse shell heaps in the vicinity of the mound, it must have formed the centre of a considerable settlement.

Professor Saville began systematic work about a month ago with a party of skilled excavators under the immediate charge of Raymond Harrington, who, although only sixteen years old, is an authority on the subject of Indian archaeology.  The plan of operations contemplated the digging of parallel and contiguous trenches, about five feet wide, from one end of the knoll to the other, so as not to leave an inch of ground within four feet of the surface unexplored.

Two of the trenches had been laboriously dug and filled in again, and two thirds of the third had been finished on Monday afternoon, when one of the workmen discovered a human foot.  At once the utmost precautions were used, and the earth was removed bit by bit by hand, until, after several hours of hard work, a complete skeleton was revealed.

In the hollow of the right arm lay a sharp stone instrument, evidently designed to serve as a knife.  This was the only object found in the grave.

As soon as all the dirt had been brushed from the body it was photographed precisely as it was discovered before any further examination was made.  It was at first believed that both the hands were missing, but search revealed portions of the fingers of the right hand.  No trace was found of the left hand, and the presence of the knife gave rise to some interesting conjectures.  It was suggested that possibly the body might be that of a criminal who had been punished by the loss of a hand before execution, and that the weapon with which the mutilation was effected had been cast into the grave.

A careful examination of the bones showed them to be those of a male of advanced age, as evidenced by the teeth, which in the front of the jaws were worn down level with the sockets.

Professor Saville said yesterday that he thought the bones had been buried at least 300 years, and possibly much longer.

The excavations on the knoll are being actively carried on, and Professor Saville and Mr. Harrington have very little doubt that many more skeletons will be found.

In addition to the exploration of the summit of the knoll the shell heaps in its vicinity are being thoroughly searched, and objects of high archaeological value are being daily discovered.  These consist for the most part of fragments of pottery, every shard of which, no matter how minute, is carefully preserved."

Source:  DUG UP INDIAN SKELETON -- Professor Saville Unearths Many Indian Relics in Pelham Bay Park, Mount Vernon News [Mount Vernon, NY], May 25, 1899, p. 5, cols. 5-6.

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