He espoused the patriotic side in the Revolution, and his influence was greatly felt in its behalf. In 1777 a party of British troops, making oneof their frequent raids into the interior of the county, seized Judge Thomas at his house in " Rye Woods." He was particularly obnoxious to the British, who had long been seeking to effect his capture. He was taken to New York and cast in a prison, where he died soon after. He was buried in Trinity Church-yard.*

John Ward, one of the judges of the Common Pleas in 1737-39 and 1752-54, was from East Chester. He died in 1754. Probably a relative of Hon. Stephen Ward.

Lewis Morris, Jr., of Morrisania, sat on the* bench of that court in 1738-39. A notice of him will be found in the history of Morrisania.

William Leggett, of West Farms (then part of the town of Westchester), was judge of the same court in 1762-54. He was the third son of Gabriel Leggett, of Essex County, England, who " emigrated to this

>"Doc. Hist, of New York."

* Button's "History of Westctiestcr County." See also Edward F. de lancey's cliapter on tlio "Manors of Westchester County," in tliis Tolnme, and his sketcli of Maniaroneck.

•Bolton's "History of We.itcUcstor," vol. ii., Apiwndi.'i A,

^Buird's "History of Rye."

country in 1661, and in right of his wife, Elizabeth Richardson, daughter and co-heiress of John Richardson (one of the joint partners), became possessed of a large portion of the [Planting] Neck." Judge Leggett was mayor of the borough of Westchester, A.I). 1734.