Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution
toms in weakness, the aggregate of their strength having been less than forty men ; and, on the thirteenth of that month, these assembled at Wilsey Dusenberry's, in "Harrison's Precinct," and arranged themselves into a single Troop, electing their Officers, and duly reporting their doings to the Provincial Congress. The following is the official report of the Election of its Officers, made by two members of the County Committee and transmitted to the Provincial Congress :
"On the 13'" of February, 1776, The Troops of " Horse in the County of Westchester was Called together at the House of Willsey Dusinberry in Har- " sons Precinct and There being Present between " Thirty and fourty went into an arrangement for the " Choice of officers under the Inspection of Col"' "Thomas, Samuel Haviland, and William Miller " Three of the Committee where Samuel Tredwell " was Unanimously chose Capt. and Thaddeus Avory '' was chose Leu' unanimously Likewise Abraham " Hatfield was Chose Cometh by a majority and Uy- " tendall Allair was Chose Quartermaster by a ma- " jority also. Certifyed by us
" Thomas Thomas.
" Wm. Miller." 2
The Return was laid before the Provincial Congress on the twenty-first of February, when the Commissions were issued to the officers-elect; 8 and thus, probably, a beginning was made of that notable Troop of Horse, in Westchester-county, of which so much has been said, in romance, if not in history.
Early in February, 1776, General Lee, then chief in command, in the City of New York, informed the Committee of Safety, then in session, that he was " of opinion that the two Connecticut Regiments " and Lord Stirling's would not be sufficient for the " services he will have to perform ; and he desired to " know whether it would be agreeable to the Com- " mittee that he should send to Pennsylvania for a " Regiment from thence." After due consideration, the introduction of troops from other Colonies having been found unsatisfactory, because of outrages inflicted by them on the inhabitants, the Committee of Safety adopted the following Resolution :