Aliss Susan Valentine, when a young woman, prevented a large party from entering the house by threatening them, single handed, with a large oven shovel -- solemnly protesting she would split the head of the first man that dared to cross the threshhold. Pier courage and determination alone ser^-ed to protect the house from plunder. On another occasion, an intimate friend, Mr. Sneden, had entrusted her with the

a Simcoe's >ni. Jourcal. b Heath's Mem. 353.

6o6 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

care of ^30 in gold and silver -- not daring to carry this amount about his person, as he was going a long journey into the interior.

On receiving her charge, Aliss Valentine, for greater security concealed it in her dress, designing to keep it there until the owner's safe return.

The same evening of Mr. Sneden's departure, a party of Skinners forced their way into her bed-room, dragged her from the bed, and demanded her money. This she either denied possessing, or refused to deliver; whereupon, becoming violent, she called to her brother. During the scuffle that followed her brother's entrance, she contrived to crawl out at the foot of the bed, hoping, in this way, to escape unobserved. In this, she was disappointed; the villains observed and again seized her. In tlie violent attempt made to extricate herself the second time, the money fell on the floor, or, as she herself described it "was fairly shook put of her."- The freebooters greedily seized it, and marched off, delighted with the success of their enterprize.