History of Westchester County, New York, from its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1900
The last offer he made its was ten thousand guineas and as many dry goods as we should ask for, and he would give us his order on Sir Henry Clinton, chief commander of New York, if we would only consent to let him escape after the money and dry goods, or anything else we should please to name, should be received. We said his offers were of no use, we were resolved to do our duty to our country." One of the results of the discussion stirred up by Tallmadge's statement was the publication of the following certificate, signed by seventeen old and reputable residents of our county (the first name on the list being thai of the venerable Jonathan <i. Tompkins): We, the siil.si-ril.ci-s. inhabitants of the County of Westchester, do certify that during tin- Revolutionary War we were will acquainted with Isaac Van Wart, David William-, and -John Paulding, who arrested .Major Andre; and that at no time during tin- Revolutionary War was any suspicion entertained by their neighbors or acquaintances that they or either of them held any undue intercourse with the enemy. <>n the i-ontrar\ . they wen- universally esteemed and' taken to be ardent and faithful in the cause of the country. We further certify that the said Paulding and William- are not now resident anion- us', but that Isaac Van Wart is a respectable Freeholder of the Town of .Mount Pleasant ; that we an- well acquainted with him; and we do not hesitate to declare our belief that there is not an individual in the Count) of Westchester acquainted with Isaac Van Wart who would hesitate to describe him as a man whose integrity is as unimpeachable a- his veracity is undoubted. In these respects in. man in the Counts of Westchester i- his superior.