In the. library are preserved the elbow chair and writing desk of Diedrich Knickerbocker.

?unny Side, the residence of the Eon. Washington Irving.

" Van Tassel House" occupies the site of " Wolfert's Roost," which was built by Wolfert Ecker, an ancient Dutch burgher of this town.

In 1697, we find recorded the name of Jan Ecker, first accepted deacon of the Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow, which office he appears to have held for several years. By his wife, Magdalentje Jan Ecker, left issue Wolfert, Cornelis and others.

The will of Wolfert Ecker bears date 1753, " wherein he bequeaths to his son, Stephen, a cow, or the worth thereof, more than the others, for his birth right, and to the child of his grandson, Wolfert Ecker, son of Sybout, twenty shillings, beside other bequests to the remainder of his children, viz. Sybout, Abram and Mareijc."a A branch of this ftimily still resides in the neigh-

Rec. Surrogate's Office, N. Y. lib. .\ix. 29-

COUNTY QF WESTCHESTER. 193

boihood. From the Eckers, tliis property passed by marriage lo the gallant family of the Van Tassels, who figure so coiispiciionsly in the writings of Died rich Knickerbocker.

During the stormy period of the revolution, it belonged to "Jacob Van Tassel, or Van Texel, as the name was originally spell, after the place in Holland, which gave birth to this heroic line." The following graphic sketch of the exploits of this redoubtable hero, is taken from the chronicle of the Roost :.