This distinguished gentleman was a warm whig, and took an active part in the scenes that preceded the Revolution, on which account he was particularly obnoxious to the enemy. Judge Thomas was seized in his bed by a party of British troops, at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning, March 22d, 1777, and conveyed to New York where he was committed to the provost. Here he lingered until the 2d of May, 1777, when (between four and five o'clock in the morning of that day,) death released him from his sufferings. His remains were interred the following Saturday evening, between seven and eight o'clock in Trinity church yard.6 "The following is a brief summary," says Dr. Thatcher, of the systematic method adopted and practiced for "the destruction of American prisoners," as taken from the New London Gazette, from General Washington's letter of complaint to General Howe, and from the verbal statement of the officers and soldiers who have returned from New York by exchange. They were crowded into the holds of prison ships, where they were almost suffocated for want of air, and into churches, and open sugar houses, etc, without covering or a spark of fire. Their allowance

a Carnilchaers IIlsU of St. GeorRe'8 church, p. 2S. 6 Extracted from James l'raukliu'3 Bible.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

of provisions and v/ater for three days, was insufficient for one ; and in some instances, they were four days entirely destitute of food. The pork and bread, for they had no other sustenance, and even water allowed them were of the worst possible quality, and totally unfit for human beings. A minute detail of their dreadful sufferings, would only serve to harrow up the feelings of surviving friends. As a gross outrage against the principles of humanity, suffice it to say, that in consequence of the most barbarous treatment, not less than fifteen hundred American soldiers, died within a few weeks, brave young men, the pride and shield of our country.