Sabine, in his sketches of American Loyalists, states that, "at the period of the French war, Oliver de Lancey occupied a commanding position," and perhaps he did not overrate his personal influence when he said, that if in the expedition against Crown Point, he " should accept the command of the New York regiment, he could, in ten days, raise the whole quota of troops allotted to that colony." This standing he maintained after his brother's death, and until the Revolution. '• He opposed the dismemberment of the emnire, and put his life and property at stake to prevent it. In 1776, he was appointed a Ijrigadier-general in the royal service. Skinner, of New Jersey, Brown, a former Governor of Bahamas, Arnold, the apostate, and Cunningham, of South Carolina, were of the same grade ; but their commissions were

b S-ibiiK-'i Skctchoi of American Loyalists.

428 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTKK.

of a later date. Gen. de Lancey was, therefore, the senior loyalist officer in commission during the contest. His command consisted of three battallions, known as "' De Lanccfs Battalionsy

" Previous to the Revolution, Gen. de Lancey v/as a member of tl;e Council, and was-considered to be in office in 17S2, though a constitution was formed in New York in 1777, and a government organized under it. By this government he was attainted of treason, and his large property confiscated." "At the evacuation in 17S3, he went to England, and died at Beverly, Yorkshire, in 17S5, aged sixty-eight. His body is interred in the choir of the Minster, while a monument standing near the transept records his services." '"His son, Oliver de Lancey, Jr., was educated in Europe; put early in the 17th Light Dragoons; was a captain at the' commencement of the Revolution ; became Major in 1773, a Lieutenant Colonel Oct. ist, 1781, and succeeded Andre as Adjutant-General of the British army in America.