Being much about the headquarters at his father's house he was familiar with army movements in this locality, and in later years, was a solicitor of pensions for the Revolutionary soldiers of this vicinity, he became, to a large degree, their unconscious historian, as the fdes of old papers in the Pension Office at Washington give abundant testi-

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HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

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inonv. After the war he taught school, studied law, was a member of Assembly, served several terms as Surrogate of Westchester County and was a Master of Chancery. His later life was spent at Tarry town, where he died unmarried, Sept. 12, 1837, in his 77th. year. It is claimed by some that he was the actual "Ichabod Crane" of Irving's " Eegend of Sleepy Hollow."

The Wildey family, prominent at this' place in the early days, was descended from Tlios. Wilde, who probably came here from Mamaroneck, though of a still earlier date, (1 698) the names of Thos. Wilde and Elizabeth his wife appear in a census of Flushing, E. I. Quite likely the father and mother of Thomas Wilde of Philipse Manor. This Thomas is said to have been killed at the Battle of White Plains. He made his will, date of Oct. 7, 1 776, and it showed him to be possessed of a considerable estate. The farm, consisting of 262 acres, comprising the present Benedict- Cobb estate and other lands adjoining, after the Revolution came into the possession of his sous-in law Col. Hammond and Capt. Geo. Comb, who were his executors. He left sons, Griffin, Joseph, Jacob, Caleb, Thomas and John, and daughters Xeneia, wife of Col. Hammond, Elizabeth, (wife of Capt. Comb,) and Sarah.