In the changes from Dutch to Enghsh, and from English to Dutch, and again to English supremacy, he maintained a high position. Tiie demagogue Leisler, du'-ing his usurped authority, found in Bayard a formidable impediment, and caused him to be indicted for high treason. The judge -- Atwood -- like another Jeftries, compelled the jur\' to find him guilty and sentenced him to be hung. He appealed to Queen A-ne, and was pardoned."* Leisler was subsequently tried and convicted of high treason, and hung.
Nicholas was several times mayor of New York, and when not mayor was generally an alderman. He died in 1 7 1 1, leaving a son Samuel, Col. Samuel Vitch Bayard, (a descendant of Nicholas, (was owner of the Rivington property on Throgmorton's neck, lately owned by Daniel M. Edgar, Esq., and now held by La\^Tence W. Waterbury. Col. Samuel Vetch Bayard, served under the Crown of England, and was a distinguished mihtary officer. He died in Wilmot, Nova Scotia, A. D. 1832, aged seventy-five, and was the father of Capt. Stephen Bayard, born Oct. 26th, 1785, was basely murdered, July nth, 1814; married Eliza, daughter of Oliver de Lancey, (son of Peter), an officer c,f the British Navy, and owner of the Mills on the Bronx, by his wife Rachel Hunt. Their son was the late William Bayard, jNI.D., of West Farms ; the late Mr. Edward Cooper of Throg's neck, was another grandson of Col. Vetch Bayard.
Bordering the Westchester and Pelham road, in this vicinity, is situated " Stony Lonesome," a portion of the old Drake farm, lately heUl by John Benson who sold forty acres to the present proprietor, Edward Haight, Esq. On this property stands the celebrated " Spy Oak," so named from the fact that a spy found prowling around the American camp, swung for his crime, from one of its largest branches -- tradition says it was the limb that once overhung the road, but has been cut short, upon which he died -- much legendary lore is associated with this ancient denizen of the forest, which has reached the huge dimensions of feet in circumference.