It occurred while crossing the Hudson, either to or from Piermont, one account says by the upsetting of the boat in a severe storm ; another story is that they were struck by lightning -- probably on the river opposite the old homestead. An old double tombstone, now fast crumbling to decay perpetuated the fact of the death of James and Glode Requa, both on the 12th of August, 1789, the age of the former being given as 19 years, 6 mo. and 27 days, and of the latter, 14 years, 1 1110. and 22 days, but the cause of their death does not there appear.

At Court of Oyer and Terminer, held in November, 1790, Geo. Comb, Esq., Jus'ice, acting as Coroner, returned an inquisition by him taken on the bodies of James Requa, Glode Requa, Jr., and Brebay, a slave, by which it appears that they were drowned in the Hudson by the upsetting of a canoe which they were in, Aug. 12, 1789.

It seemed at first, when the family tree showed that the above James Requa had descendants, that there must be a mistake somewhere, but an examination of the records of the old Dutch Church showed a James Requa married to Betsey Helliker, as the tree indicated, on the 28th of June, prior to the 12th of August on which he was drowned, lie was then in his 20th year. And then more than six months after his death a son James was born to him, who lias many descendants.