In June, 177C>, he was appointed by the New York provincial congress brigadier-general of the militia miliof Westchester County, and later he was made major-general of tia. Alwavs devoted to agricultural pursuits, he resumed his favorite avocation as soon as peace was restored. He lived to witness the complete realization of all the patriotic aims and governmental prinmost radical prociples of which he had been one of the earliest andsacrifices, dying on moters, and for which he had made conspicuous . seventy-two the 22d day of January, 1798, aged

CHAPTEK

STATE

YORK

BORN

AT WHITE

12, 1776

PLAINS

EVENTS

OCTOBER

HE third provincial congress, in discontinuing ils sittings in New York City as a consequence of the sighting of the British fleet, adopted a resolution which provided for its reassembling at White Plains, the county-seat of Westchester County, on Tuesday, The 2d day of July. Bu1 it did not again come together, either on that day or subsequently. On the morning of Tuesday, the 9th of July, representatives from a majority of the counties of New York appeared in the court house in White Plains, and promptly organized the fourth provincial congress, electing General Nathaniel Woodliull as president. From that date until the 27th day of July, White Plains continued to be the seat of the Revolutionary government, which now, for the first time, became the responsible government of a new commonwealth. It was there that the Declaration of Independence was formally proclaimed, that the name of the State of New York was substituted for the ancient designation of the Province of New York, and that the original steps for the organization of the State machinery were taken. To the lasting regret of all who hold venerable associations dear, the historic court house where these ever-memorable events transpired ceased to exist very soon afterward, being burned by some vandal soldiers of Washington's army on the night of the 5th of November, 177(i.