On one occasion a small party of Continentals concealed themselves in ambush on the margin of the river, and lay waiting for the usual approach of the horse, A long interval elapsed, but at last the well-known tramp declared the enemy near at hand. Every gun was cocked, and a death-like stillness prevailed ; but whether the enemy suspected their designs or obtained information, was never ascertained ; for at this time they came with nearly their whole force. To have fired upon them would have been but the prelude to a massacre ; the patriots therefore lay snugly concealed until their departure.
The following extracts from the town records, relate to the first election of town officers, in 1756, and immediately subsequent to the Revolution.
"At a public town meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of the Yonkcrs and Mile square, at the house of Edward Stevenson in said Yonkers, on the first Tuesday of April, in 1756. being the day appointed by act of the General Assembly of this Province of New York, for choosing town officers, and likewise to make regulation of creatures and fences. The under written officers and orders of creatures and orders of fences, Avere made by majority of votes.
James Gorton, Supervisor and Pounder, Benjamin Fowler, Town Clerk, Thomas Sherwood, Constable and Collector.
David Oakley, ) . William Warner, ^ Assessors.
See Corporation Doc. p. 36 to 375. Records of Roads, Co. Records.
496 HISTORY OF THE
Edward Weeks, ] . .-'■ . "William Crawford, I