We found many friends to our cause, who reside on their farms between the lines of the two armies, whose situation is truly deplorable, being continually exposed to the ravages of the tories, horse thieves, and cow boys, who rob and plunder them without mercy, and the personal abuse and punishments which they inflict is almost incredible.""

» Thacher's Mil. Journal. 248, 9.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 389

Shrub Oak is a small village, in the northern part of the town, containing a Methodist church, a post-office, and about fifteen dwellings. The Methodist society of this place was first incorporated upon the 22d of September, 1840; Newman Lounsherry, Benjamin Curry, Solomon Requa, Thomas Curry, jr., and Jonathan Danow, trustees."'^ The church, which was erected in 1839, is a very neat wooden structure. In the immediate neighborhood, lies Lake Magrigaries, (Hollow Lake, already alluded to,) which is a beautiful sheet of water, well stocked with fish.

A rich and picturesque vale extends south from Crompond, backed by rolling hills. Upon one of the principal heights in this vicinity, called French hill, the French forces were encamped in 1781-2, under Comte de Rochambeau. " The French army, at the lime the Marquis speaks of, (Nov. 17Si, says the translator of Chastellux,) had been for some time encamped at Crompont, near Cortlandt's manor, a few miles from that of General Washingion's, and between which there was a daily intercourse. The translator dined, in October, 1782, in General Washington's tent, with the Marquis de Laval, the Baron de Viomenil, and several French officers, within hearing of the British guns, which were at that period happily become a bnttum fulmeny^ On the north-west side of French hill, are the two ponds styled by the Indians Keakatis. The largest of these, sometimes known by the name of the Great Pond, covers an area of 200 acres, and disciiarges its redundant waters into the smaller one of 100 acres.