General Jacob Odell. at the early age of 21 years, embraced the military profession, and in the year 1776, took uparms in defence of his country. He used to recount with pleasure, the time and the very spot, where himself and three other cousins of the name, volunteered their services to the Continental Congress. It was beneath the white-wood tree where the Westchester farmers stopped Major Andre, and found the papers ihat revealed the treason of Arnold. After enlisting, he served in Captain Samuel Drake's regiment, belonging to the brigade of General Scott. On the memorable retreat after the battle of Long Island, he was on piquet guard. At the close of the war, and as soon as the mili-

» See Pedigree of Odell Family.

Vol. II. 62

4^Q\ > : HISTORY OF THE

tia was formed, he received his commission from Major General Morris.

Like the rest of the ^^ Neutral Ground.,^'' this part of Yonkers was infested with marauding parties of Cow Boys and Skinners, the former of whom claimed the title of Loyalists, the latter under the mask of patriotism, called themselves Whigs.

During the war when General Odell's father and family were living in the homestead, a party of these lawless ruffians, with blackened faces, armed with muskets, entered the house. Their first act appears to have been, to secure the females in the cellar; having effected this, they proceeded to interrogate the general's father, and demanded his money. On refusing to satisfy their demands, they immediately hung him by his neck to an adjoining tree ; and when life was well nigh extinct, they cut him down, and again repeated their threats, but to no better purpose. Whereupon, they once more suspended and lowered him, leaving him for dead. During these proceedings, the females had escaped from the cellar, and Mrs.