The oldest son John Cromwell was residing upon the property in Harrison at the commencement of the revolutionary war, for his name occurs in General Washington's military map of the county, dated 1778, as the occupant of the homestead.^ The present Wilham Cromwell of Harrison is the grandson of the above named Jolin Cromwell.^

From an early period, the Thomas family have resided in the eastern part of this town. The first member who purchased land here, was the Hon. John Thomas, son of the Rev. John Thomas, for many years Rector of St. George's Church, Hempstead, Long Island. Concerning the latter individual, Dr. Carmichael in his history of St. George's Church, observes, " that he commenced his ministrations there, in the spring of 1705, under the auspices of the society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts. In a letter addressed to the secretary of that society, Oct. 18th, 1724, he says, "Good sir, give my humble duty to the Honorable Society, and assure them of my utmost fidelity, as far as lame limbs and a decrepid state of health will permit. My heart is warm and sounrj, though lodged, God knows, in a crazy, broken

* SomPtimes styled Castle Hill Xeck.

b John Cromwell was taken prisoner by the British and conveyed to New York.

<^ A singular circumstance (illustrative of the strong fainily likeness which still exists between the English and American branches,) occurred in tlie village of Westchester a few years since. Oliver Cromwell, a resident blacksmith of that pldce. was accosted by a friend, who at the same moment presented him a likeness of tiie Protector ; the former (unable to read) invohinlarlly exclaimed as he gazed upon the portrait, " why there is our old tjlacksm;th himself." For a portrait of the Protector see the Hon.