Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution
When the spirit of proscription was introduced into Westchester-county, destroying the peace which had previously prevailed among its rural inhabitants, Frederic Philipse was named among those who, without the slightest evidence of any wrong-doing, were to be arrested and dealt with. 2 He does not appear to have been disturbed, however, until the organization of the notorious " Committee to Detect Conspiracies," of which mention has been already made; 3 when, at the head of the List of Suspected Persons, in Westchester-county, who were designated as the victims of that American Inquisition, was placed the name of "* Frederic Philipse X" -- the asterisk before the name indicating that he was " to be Sum- "moned;" and the cross which followed the name indicating that he was " to be Arrested." i
The Minutes of the Committee also indicate that on the twenty-seventh of June, 1776, an Order was made by that body, " That Summonses issue against the "following persons as inimical to the Cause and "rights of America, returnable on Wednesday the " third day of July next at ten o'clock in the forenoon " of the same day, viz : Frederick Philipse and " Samuel Merritt, which said Summonses signed by "' all the members present af were delivered to the "Secretary with directions to deliver them to the " messenger to be served." 5
The Summons thus issued was served on Frederic Philipse, at Philipsborough, the present City of Yonkers, on Saturday evening, the twenty-ninth of June; and, on the following Tuesday, [July 2, 1776,] he made the following reply to the Committee :