k> Who probably extended to Tappan bay.- Moulton. . . , -

« Moulton's Hist. N. Y. part i. 271, Q * Hudson's Journal.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 441

It was here too, that during the absence of the ilhistrious Peter Stuyvesant, who was then occupied in reducing the Swedish fortresses on the Delaware, a body of nine hundred Indians having crossed the river, came and landed at Spiteing devil creek. Here they posted themselves, and remained until they were apprised of his return. =^

The waters of the kil or channel derive their name from a daring Dutch burgher of the Manhattans, who, bent upon performing some deed of knight errantry, determined upon crossing this stream in a violent storm, in opposition to the remonstrances of his friends; swearing he would swim across en spyt den duyvel, (in spite of the devil,) but scarcely had he reached the middle of the channel when he was overwhelmed by the stormy billows and sank to rise no more.

This incident has been well described in the Sketch Book, by Washington Irving, although he has fixed a much later date for the origin of the name than we find it recorded in the Colonial annals. It is entitled, " The Doleful Disaster of Anthony the Trumpeter."

" Stuyvesant resolutely bent upon defending his beloved city (New Amsterdam) in despite of itself, called unto him his trusty Van Corlear, w^ho was his right hand man in all times of emergency. Him did he adjure to take his war denouncing trumpet, and mounting his horse, to beat up ihe country, night and day, sounding the alarm along the pastoral borders of the Bronx, startling the wild solitudes of Croton, arousing the rugged yeomanry of Weehawk and Hoboken, the mighty men of battle of Tappan bay, and the brave boys of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, together with all the other warriors of the country round about ; charging them one and all, to sling their powder horns, shoulder their fowling pieces, and march merrily down to the Manhattans.