VOL L, 131.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

During the winter of 1782, Capt. Daniel Williams, of the New. York levies, (stationed on the lines), having just returned from an excursion to Morrisania, was surprised by a party of the enemy's horse, in a barn near the Ferry House. George McClain, who behaved with the utmost gallantry on this occasion, was killed ; the rest of the party effected their escape on the ice.°

The Van Cortlandt Cemetery is situated on the summit of a hill west of the mansion. Here is a marble tomb erected to the

Memory of the Honorable

PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT,

late Lieutenant-Governor of the State of New York,

And President of the Convention that

framed the Constitution thereof during the Revolutionary War with Great Britain.

He departed this life on the first day of May, in the year of our Lord 1814, in the ninety-fourth year of his age.

He was a patriot, of the first order, zealous to the last for the liberties of his country ; A man of exemplary virtues ; kind as a neighbor, fond and indulgent as a parent ; an honest man -- ever the friend of the poor ; respected and beloved.

The simplicity of his private life was that of an ancient Patriarch.

He died a bright witness of that perfect love which casts out the fear of death, putting his trust in the living God, and with full assurance of salvation in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ, retaining his recollection to the last, and calling upon his Saviour to take him to Himself.