His was the only undoubted ghost of antiquity, certified to by many eye witnesses that favored with his presence the rocky ridge from Spuyten-Duyvel to Yonkers. lu 1S30 there were many traces of the revolution remaining; an old chariot covered with gilt, taken fror.i some British officer, caltrops found on the broad river slope, thrown there to impede the charge of cavcl:y ; old English muslcets and a grind-stone, marked with the regal R, which, restored to a frame has until recently been in use.

On the turnpike stands the old stO"e farm house, then one of the best buildings in the neighborhood, occupied in turn l)y officers of either party and claimed to have more than once given shelter to Washington.

In 1830 Jlajor Dclafield built himself a bachelor establishment (destroyed by fire in 1833) directly over the river and near by a lime kiln, erected on a new plan as described in volumes imported by him for the purpose from France. This kiln, the first of its kind in America, became the model of all those subsequently built throughout the country. The enterprise proved very profitable, so long as the coal dealers of 2sew York gladly gave the coal dust in exchange for carting it away from their yards ; as lime kilns on the same plan increased and other uses were found for coal dust the profits diminished and the work was abandoned in 1S37.

In 1849 Major Dclafield built a residence in a beautiful position overlooking the river, which he occupied in summer until his death. It is now enlarged and occupied by his eldest son. His second son built at Fieldston in 1S70.