Evidently some local pressure hostile to the Thomas interest was brought to bear upon the conservative element of the Rye people; and evidently, also, not a few of the signers had been overpersuaded, for in Rivington's next issue appears a humble disclaimer, signed by fifteen of them, who say that, after mature deliberation, they are fully convinced that in indorsing the former paper they " acted preposterously and without properly adverting to the matter in dispute," and " do utterly disclaim every part thereof, except our expressions of Loyalty to the King and Obedience to the Constitutional Laws of the Realm." A " Weaver in Harrison's Purchase" writes to Holt's New York Journal of December 22, 1774, combating the sophisms of the Tory pamphleteer, "A. W. Farmer"; and letters from correspondents in Cortlandt Manor, representing both sides, appear in Rivington's Gazetteer and Gaines's New York Gazette during the early months of 1775.

EVENTS Some

of this newspaper

FROM

discussion by Westchester

contributors is

couched in very strong- terms. Indeed, there is abundant evidence that nowhere in America were stronger passions aroused by the unfortunate divisions of the period than among the farmers of Westchester County. When the final conflict came, both parties in the county were ripe for the most bitter persecutions and the most revengeful reprisals, which frequently recognized neither neighborly considerations nor the sacred ties of blood.

CHAPTER WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

IN LINE FOR

INDEPENDENCE

9, 1776

EVENTS

TO JULY

was destined to be the last session of the general assembly of the Province of New York convened on the 10th of January, 1775, in New York City. Although the general aspect of affairs had undergone no improvement siuce the adjournment of the Philadelphia congress-- and, indeed, the tendency had been toward a further estrangement from Great Britain, especially through the operation of the "Association" recommended by the congress, -- the state of the public mind was rather that of expectancy than of active revolt.