At the close of the vvar, and as soon as the militia was formed, he received his com.mission from Major General Morris.

a See Kedisrcf of OdoU yamily.

654 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

Like the rest of the '■'N'eutral Ground," this part of Yonkers was infested with marauding parties of "Cow Boys" and " Skinners," the former of whom claimed the title of Loyahsts; the latter, under the mask of patriotism, called themselves Whigs.

During the war when General Odell's father and family were living in the homestead, a party of these lawless ruffians, with blackened faces, armed with muskets, entered the house. Their first act appears to have been to secure the females in the cellar; having effected this, they proceeded to interrogate the General's father, and demanded his money.

On his refusing to satisfy their demands, they immediately hung him by his neck to an adjoining tree; and when life was well nigh extinct, they cut him do^\-n, and again repeated their threats, but to no better purpose. WTiereupon they once more suspended and lowered him, leaving him for dead.

During these proceedings, the females had escaped from the cellar, and Mrs. Odell, the General's mother, a woman of great intrepidity, boldly assaulted them, upon which these cowardly villians attacked her with the butt ends of their muskets. She managed, however, to escape with a few broken ribs. On this occasion the General was too young to take an active part in the affray, and narrowly escaped by lowering himself with a cord from the garret window. His son Jacob Odell, Esq., now owns the property. The adjoining estate, north, belongs to his son-in law, Cornelius Odell, Esq.