He who extended these hospitalities for the period of half a century or more, was Pierre Van Cortlandt -- who was a member of the New York Provincial Congress, chairman of the New York Committee of Safety, and for eighteen successive years from the organization of the State Government, in 1777, was Lieut. Governor of the Commonwealth. He espoused the cause of the patriots at the beginning. Crowr officers in America tried to win him to the Tory side. In 1774, Gov. Tryon essayed to seduce him. The event is best related in the words of his eldest son, Gen. Philip Van Cortlandt, at that time twenty-five years of age: -- "I remember," he records in his diary, "Gov. Tryon came in a vessel, bringing his wife and a young lady, who was a daughter of the Hon.
John Watts, a relative of my father, and Col. Edmund Fanning, his friend and secretary; and after remaining a night he proposed a walk, and after proceeding to the highest point of land on the farm, being a height which affords a most delightful prospect; when the governor commenced with observing what great favors could be obtained if my father would relinquish his opposition to the views of the King and Parliament of Great Britain, what grants of land could and would be the consequence, in addition to other favors of eminence, consequence, &c My father then observed that he was chosen a representative by the unanimous approbation of a people who placed confidence in his integrity to use all his ability for their benefit and the good of his country, as a true patriot, which line of conduct he was determined io pursue.
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