The first to respond to the call of the Provincial Congress, by the election of its Militia Officers, was the Borough Town of Westchester, where, on the twenty-fourth of August, John Oakley was elected to the command of the local Company, * with Nicholas Berrian, for its First Lieutenant ; ^ Isaac Leggett, for its Second Lieutenant ; and Frederic Philipse Stevenson, for its Ensign. '■' Subsequently, when West Farms and the Manor of Fordham were separated from the body of the Town and made a separate and distinct Beat, Nicholas Berrian was elected to the command of the new Company, with Gilbert Taylor, for its First Lieutenant; Daniel Devoe, for its Second Lieutenant; and Benjamin Valentine, for its Ensign. *
1 John Oakley represented Westchester, in the County Committee, from May, 1776, until May, 1777.
2 Nicholas Berrian was one of those, at Fordham and West Farms, who, in September, 1775, petitioned for the establshment of a Company, in that portion of the Town, separate from the other portions of it, {Historical Mumwcripls, etc.: Petitions, xxxi. lU) ; and, in October of the same year, when that Petition was granted, he was elected to the command of the new Company, (Hisloriad Manuscript, etc. Militari) lielums, xxvi., 234.)
s Historical Manuscripts relating to the ll or of the lievolution : MUilAirij Ketums, xxvi.,23; xxvii., 263.
* Historical Mamiscripts relating to the War of the SevohUion: Military Hetums, xxvi., 234.
The following list of the names of those, from West Farms and the Manor of Fordham, who were summoned to meet at Westchester ; who petitioned for the organization of the new Company ; and who were its members, when it was organized, may properly find a place in this narrative. It was copied from the original manuscript, {Historical Manuscripts, Petitions, xxxi., 114.)