Westchester Historical Timeline
Author: Historian Char Weigel
“The Farmer Refuted,” an anonymous pamphlet attributed to Alexander Hamilton, is published in response to anonymous pamphlets by “A West Chester Farmer.” Reverend Samuel Seabury, then rector of today’s St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site in Mt. Vernon, is assumed to have authored many of the loyalist “Farmer” pamphlets.
Westchester County residents meet in White Plains to elect “freeholders” to choose New York delegates to the upcoming second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Loyalists gather in opposition to sending delegates.
News of the Battles of Lexington and Concord reaches New York City and Westchester County.
The “Committee for the County of Westchester” is formed to organize and correspond with other colonies. This is the first official Westchester political body in support of the proceedings of the American Continental Congress.
The New York Provincial Congress authorizes Westchester County militia companies of “men and boys between sixteen and sixty years of age and capable of bearing arms. Every man must provide himself with a musket and bayonet, a sword or tomahawk, a cartridge box… one pound of gunpowder… and three pounds of balls.” These are the first American (non-British) militia companies.
Reverend Samuel Seabury, rector of what is today’s St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, is seized for his loyalism to the British Crown. He is imprisoned in Connecticut.
Thomas Paine, who will become a Westchester resident after the war, publishes Common Sense. Paine’s persuasive arguments convince many to join the growing movement in favor of declaring independence.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Initial summons is issued against Frederick Philipse, a major landholder in Westchester County, as “inimical to the Cause and rights of America.” Philipse is loyal to the British government and tries to influence the tenant farmers on his estate. New York State will eventually seize his family’s land in Westchester and beyond.
Given growing political disturbances in New York City, the Fourth New York Provincial Congress meets at the White Plains Courthouse and votes to approve the Declaration of Independence. The terms “State of New York” and “United States of America” are recognized in New York. New York has officially joined the rebellion.
The Declaration of Independence is read on the steps of the White Plains Courthouse by Judge John Thomas. Today, Westchester County owns one of five remaining copies of the “Holt Broadside” out of 500 printed at that time.
British warships The Phoenix and The Rose sail up the Hudson River, maintaining a presence in the river between Verplanck’s Point and Tarrytown.
Continental Army soldiers under Massachusetts Colonel Benjamin Tupper use small gun boats, including the Lady Washington and the Spitfire, to fire “grapeshot” on The Phoenix and The Rose off Tarrytown. Two American soldiers are killed and fourteen wounded.
Photo Credit: Mabel Brady Garvan Collection
Frederick Philipse, loyalist Lord of Philipse Manor, is arrested.
American “fire ships” damage British warships The Phoenix and The Rose off Yonkers.
Photo Credit: Mabel Brady Garvan Collection
Loyalist Westchester residents are being arrested for their political beliefs. Edmund Ward, four members of the Purdy family (Joshua, Gabriel, Joseph and Jonathan) and other loyalists write from the “White Plains Gaol” on this date to request their release.
Loyalist William Lounsberry is killed in Mamaroneck by a Westchester County American militia company. A warrant to recruit residents for British Colonel Robert Roger’s Rangers is found in Lounsberry’s pocket.
The Odell Tavern, still standing in Irvington, becomes the seat of the New York Committee of Safety when the American New York government retreats from New York City after the Battle of Long Island.
British warships in the Hudson sink the American ship carrying The Turtle submarine. The Turtle was able to navigate underwater and was used in New York harbor on September 6, 1776 in an unsuccessful attempt to attach explosives to British Admiral Lord Richard Howe’s ship, the Eagle.
American Major William S. Smith commands 25 men in the Battle of Throgg’s Neck. They use the planks of the bridge over Westchester Creek as cover while firing on a force of 4,000 British soldiers. Reinforcements arrive and help them thwart the British northward advance.
Massachusetts Colonel John Glover commands a small group of Americans in the Battle of Pell’s Point, holding off 4,000 Hessian and British troops. Glover’s stand gives Washington time to move his army from Harlem Heights to White Plains.
Skirmish of Heathcote Hill – Under cover of night, a group of about 750 Continental soldiers under Colonel John Haslet attack British Colonel Robert Roger’s Rangers in Mamaroneck. Several of Roger’s soldiers are killed and taken prisoner. The attack buys time for Washington to place his army at White Plains.
Battle of White Plains in which British, Hessian and loyalist forces under the command of British General William Howe attack American forces under George Washington’s command. One of Washington’s command posts is the Miller House, today owned by Westchester County. The British win the battle but do not pursue Washington who strategically retreats to north of the Croton River.
American General William Heath asks the Westchester “Committee of Safety” for local men to guide the Continental Army’s actions in the county. This leads to the formation of the “Westchester Guides” including John Odell, his brothers, cousins and others who will be involved in nearly all American Army actions in the county.
Gaine’s New York Gazette runs an article stating, “… four Boats full of Men came over from Rye to … Long Island and carried off a Sloop laden with Poultry and other things for the New York Market.” These “whale boat” raids continue from the sound shore of Westchester County to capture supplies and British soldiers as well as carry intelligence.
The Commissioners of Sequestration are appointed in all New York counties including Westchester with power to seize and sell the land and personal property of loyalists who have gone to the British. The proceeds of these sales go to the New York State Treasury.
British conduct a surprise attack on the Tuckahoe house of Judge Stephen Ward, a prominent citizen and American leader. His house has been an important American military staging site. Twenty-seven American soldiers are taken prisoner and about six killed. The house will be burned by the British in 1778 and rebuilt on the original footprint after the war.
British troops destroy Continental Army supplies at Peekskill, including food, weapons, ammunition and more. They burn barracks, storehouses and some homes before retreating.
The British anchor off Tarrytown, landing 3,000 men. American Colonel Ludington and his men refuse to surrender and safely retreat. The British return to their vessels and land at Verplanck’s Point. These landings divert attention from the October 6 British attacks on Forts Clinton and Montgomery on the west side of the Hudson.
The British burn the homes of two American militia leaders, Petrus and Cornelius Van Tassel (near today’s Elmsford). Both men are taken to prisons in New York City.
Lt. Colonel Andreas Emmerich, who commands many local loyalists, orders his men to raid the house of Joseph Youngs, an important post for American militia. John Dean, Hendrick Romer, Jacob Acker and about 20 other American militia surprise the British during the raid. The Americans capture or kill all but one of the British soldiers in the “First Skirmish at Youngs’s House.”
General Washington is back in Westchester with his main headquarters at the Jacob Purdy house in White Plains. The house still exists although it has been moved to a different location.
American Captain and Wappinger Sachem Daniel Nimham, his son, and their company of Wappinger soldiers (aka Stockbridge Indians) are surprised by British Lt. Colonels John Graves Simcoe and Banastre Tarleton. Nearly all Wappinger soldiers are killed in fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Today, the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians are a recognized Native American nation based in Wisconsin.
Photo Credit: Fred Compton
American Colonel Christopher Gist and his men are guarding a bridge across the Sawmill River in today’s Yonkers. They are attacked by an overwhelming force of British, Hessian and loyalist soldiers and escape up a hill believed by the British to be “where the horse could not possibly act.” Legend has it that the Widow Babcock signaled from the upper window of her nearby house to direct the American escape.
Battle of Edgar’s Lane – Hessians encamped in Yonkers head north on the Albany Post Road on a reconnaissance mission. They are ambushed by Continental cavalry and infantry in what is today Hastings-on-Hudson. About 500 soldiers engage in fierce fighting with 15 to 16 Hessians killed and others wounded in this notable American victory.
Skirmish at Youngs’s House - The house of Joseph Youngs is again attacked by loyalists under Major Mansfield Bearmore in a deadly surprise that results in the capture of Joseph Youngs and many other Americans. Youngs’s barn is burned and his cattle seized by the loyalist militia.
Lt. Colonel Aaron Burr is selected to command “the lines” - American outposts between Tarrytown and Byram River. He is wooing the widow Prevost who lives near Paramus, NJ, and allegedly crosses the Hudson for his visits from the bottom of today’s Sunnyside Lane. Burr will eventually kill Alexander Hamilton in a duel over statements Hamilton makes about Burr’s military service.
A British galley sails up the Hudson landing at Teller’s Point (today’s Croton Point Park). American Colonel Rufus Putnam captures the boat and the landing party of 11 British soldiers.
British Major General Tryon and 1,500 soldiers march to raid American salt works on the Long Island Sound shore. Americans troops attack but are pursued by the British across the Byram River Bridge. The Americans remove the planks from the bridge and fire on the British from today’s Port Chester, capturing British prisoners and wagons loaded with ammunition and property.
Nearly 5,000 British sail up the Hudson, landing at Teller’s Point (today’s Croton Point Park) on the east and below Stony Point on the west. The British take Stony Point then train their cannons on Verplanck’s Point. The next day, British Major John André receives the American surrender at Verplanck’s Point and the British control the crucial King’s Ferry river crossing.
The British send a party guided by a local Tory – Caleb Morgan - to capture the American “Committee of Safety” meeting at the Presbyterian Parsonage at Crompond (Yorktown). The Americans escape but the British destroy the parsonage and a storehouse.
British General Sir Henry Clinton issues the Philipsburgh Proclamation from Philipse Manor House in Yonkers, offering freedom to any enslaved person who flees the rebels and joins the British.
Skirmish at Pound Ridge – British Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton and several hundred troops ride overnight from southern Westchester to Pound Ridge. They intend to surprise Sheldon’s 2nd Continental Light Dragoons who are alerted in time to flee although the British take eight prisoners. Tarleton sets fire to the town meeting house and the home of American Major Ebenezer Lockwood.
Burning of Bedford – 400 British cavalry under Colonel Samuel Birch ride from southern Westchester to Bedford in search of American Colonel Stephen Moylan’s dragoons. Not finding Moylan, who had left for Connecticut, the British set fire to the village, burning all but one building.
British evacuate Verplanck’s Point returning the crucial Hudson River crossing at King’s Ferry to American control.
The Provincial Congress passes “The New York Act of Attainder or Confiscation Act,” confiscating property and banishing “persons who have adhered to the enemies of this state.” The Act states that if the named people, including Frederick Philipse III and his family, are found, they are guilty of a felony and shall suffer death “without benefit of clergy.”
Colonel Armand, a French nobleman who commands the “Partisan Legion” fighting with the Americans, engages in a daring raid from Tarrytown to the East River to capture loyalist Major Mansfield Bearmore. Bearmore’s capture reduced raids on American forces until Bearmore was released in a prisoner exchange.
American General Nathanael Greene describes the winter of 1779-1780 as “the most terrible winter here that ever I know. Almost all the wild beasts of the fields, and the birds of the Air, have perished with the cold.” Johann Dohla, a Hessian soldier, writes, “The [Hudson River] ice was… found to be eighteen feet thick.” Soldiers on both sides are demoralized by the harsh conditions.
Battle of Youngs’s House – Yet another attack on this American outpost by 600 British, Hessian and loyalist militia who surprise the Americans despite the weather and deep snow cover. At least 13 Americans are killed on the spot, many more wounded, and almost 90 taken prisoner. Youngs’s house and buildings are burned.
A party of loyalist militia are on the move from Sing Sing toward Chappaqua. Captain Cushing and Colonel Millen of the 1st Massachusetts Regiment along with several Westchester guides follow them to loyalist militia commander Delancey’s headquarters near Morris Heights, capturing many loyalists although not Delancey himself.
Delancey’s loyalist militia conduct several raids on southeast Westchester County and western Connecticut plundering homes and killing and capturing American soldiers. These raids create bitter resentment of American civilians against their loyalist neighbors.
At his headquarters in Peekskill, Washington appoints Major General Benedict Arnold to take command of West Point.
Americans John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart and David Williams capture British Major John André in Tarrytown. André is Benedict Arnold’s accomplice in his plot to turn West Point over to the British to sabotage the American rebellion. André’s capture foils the plan and American’s maintain control of the Hudson River.
New York State passes a law to tax Quakers, who for religious reasons generally refuse to enlist as soldiers, and persons whose sons “have gone to the enemy.” These taxes on parents of loyalist soldiers, known as the “Black Rate,” double for two loyalist sons, triple for three sons, etc.
Philip Pell, Jr. describes the dire situation for American civilians in Westchester saying that “…the County is altogether open to the ravages of De Lancey’s [loyalist militia commander] thieves… North Castle is now broke up… Bedford… some time ago burnt and Salem [is] now the frontier.”
