History of Westchester County, New York, from its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1900
The following item appears in "Washington's Accounts with the United States,'' under date of October 22, 177<5: " To Exp3 at Valentine's, Mile Square -- 20 Doll8." It has been claimed that while in the vicinity of Yonkers, Washington availed himself of the hospitalities of the Manor House of and the southwest room of the second story is said to Philipses, the have been his bedchamber. In our opinion, it is not possible that Washington was entertained at the .Manor House either during the period under consideration or subsequently. Amid the consuming anxieties and incessant labors incident to the great military
HISTORY
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operation in which he was engaged, he would hardly have turned aside to accept the cold courtesies of a Tory family resident at a point Washington's somewhat distant from the line of march. Besides, appearance as a guest at the Manor House at that time would have been a rather indelicate act. On the 9th of August, only ten weeks before, he had caused the removal of Frederick Philipse, the head , to New Rochelle, and from there had ordered him to of the'family a still more remote place of detention. Finally, a letter written by Washington from Valentine's Hill to Mrs. Philipse at this precise juncture is conclusive evidence that he could not have been a visitor under her roof. Mrs. Philipse had written to him in not too amiable terms about seizures of cattle belonging to her family which had been made for the American army. His reply, dated " Headquarters at Mr. Valentine's, 22 Oct., 177(5," is couched in strictly ceremonious language. "The misfortunes of war,'' he says, "and the unhappy circumstances frequently attendant thereon to individuals, are more to be lamented titan avoided, but it is the duty of every one to alleviate these as much as possible.