Souvenir of the Revolutionary Soldiers' Monument Dedication at Tarrytown
Johannis, Sr., was an Assessor on Philipse Planer and was an Elder of the old Dutch Church.
Edward Couenhoven was a private in. Captain Daniel Plartling's company; was taken prisoner .Sept. 27, 1 7 7 S, and held until Feb. 14, 1779. He was spoken of by his captors as being "a gentleman of influence." The records show that Edward Couenhoven was the son of Samuel and Sara Drink water Couenhoven, and bapt. in the old
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.
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Reformed Dutch Church of New York, Oct. 9, 1728. He married Annatie Roome, and had Jacob and other children before removing to Tarrytown, which was probably about 177 1-2, as the records show that lie and his wife united with the old Dutch Church here by letters from New York, date of Oct. 1, 1772. He died Feb. 26, 1786, and his widow died Nov. 6, 1797. He was the proprietor of the historic Couenhoven Inn of the Revolution, where Washington was often a guest, and which was recently removed to make room for the new "Washington Building at the corner of Broadway and Upper Main Street. It is said that in the part of the house near the chimney was what might be called an auditory pipe, or square box, built up like the passage-way of a dumb-waiter, from the side of the fire-place to the upper floor, where a person could stand, and, having removed a piece of board that seemed on a cursory view but a part of the inclosure, could apply his ear to the opening and hear everything that was spoken around the fire-place below. In the uncertain days of the Revolution it is said to have been used for the purpose of obtaining information of military movements from persons who stopped at the tavern, and in the talk around the hearth chanced to drop some unguarded word, ft was at the Couenhoven Inn, afterwards owned and occupied by the late Martin Smith, that General Washington and Governor George Clinton and their staffs met and sojourned on the night of Nov. 19, 1783, on their way to take formal possession of the city of New York.