Van Cortlandt was in all respects a match for Philipse and the de Lanceys, to whatever elevation of ISAAC WILKIN!: dignity or social importance they pretended; and it was his personality which gj to the Revolutionary movement in Westchester County a far different aspect than that of a mere propaganda of agitators. His support of the cause stamped it necessarily as one demanding Hie most respectful consideration of honest and intelligent men; for it was beyond question that his attachment to it was wholly due to a conception of its singular righteousness and of his high duty. He was no new convert, but had stood for the rights of the colonies from the beginning. The arts of the tempter and briber had, moreover, been practiced upon him in the British interest. The late Mrs. Pierre E. Van Cortlandt, in her historical account of the Van Cortlandt family, tells how he nobly rebuked the royal Governor Tryon when approached by that personage with corrupt offers:

In 1774 Governor Tryon came to Croton, ostensibly on a visit of courtesy, bringing with him his wife, Miss Watts, a daughter of the Hon. John Watts (a kinsman of the Van Cortlandts), and Colonel Fanning, his secretary. They remained for a night at the Manor House, and the next morning Governor Tryon proposed a walk. They all proceeded to one Van Cortof the highest points on the estate, and, pausing, Tryon announced to the listening landt the great favors that would be granted to him if he would espouse the royal cause and added to be would land of grants Large give his adhesion to the king and the parliament. his estate, and Tryon hinted that a title might be bestowed. Van Cortlandt answered that approbation of a people who placed confidence "he was chosen a'representative by unanimous benefit and the good of his country as a true in his integrity to use all his ability for their Tryon, finding persuasion and patriot, which line of conduct he was determined to pursue."