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Sept. 30th. Captain John Romer: “Peter and Cornelius Van Tassel were cousins. The out-post was kept at Cornelius’s house and the guard at The night on which the houses were surprised and burnt was one of the coldest of the season. Cornelius Van Tassel on the first alarm sprang from the window and tried to escape being almost naked. He was taken but never recovered from the exposure of that night, and died about years after of the cold he then caught. Captain Joshua Barnes

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acted as Guide when Emmerick and his wife voice was heard above the tumult: “The houses ae both owned by d—d Rebels – burn them!” I have heard that Emmerick had as many as four hundred men with him. Cornelius Van Tassel was confined eleven months and eleven days. Peter who was the Committee Man held a Lieutenants commission in the militia (?) and was entitled to and received his parole I don’t know how long he was absent. The Van Tassel taken in the Summer of 1779 about the time of Tarleton’s execution excursion to Poundridge was probably John Van Tassel of Tarrytown who was taken and soon after paroled and was suspected of being in the British interest subsequently. I don’t know who commanded the party that burnt Gen DeLancey’s house at Bloomingdale on the 26th of November 1777, but

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believe it was Captain Buchanan of the water guards. The party came down the river from above in whale boats with muffled oars and stopped at Tarrytown. They then went down the river after taking some volunteers on board. I think the party consisted chiefly of volunteers from West Chester County. They burnt the house and brought off considerable plunder. One man when they came to re embark had a pair of brass hand irons slung across his shoulders. In the Fall of 1779 7 a body of militia under Colonel Luddington of Dutchess, lay a little west of Hammond’s house near the school house. Colonel Hammonds regiment also was there under the command of Luddington. The British on their way up the river landed to strike at this force and to distract the Americans. Luddington not knowing the force waited for them, preparing

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his baggage for a retreat. He had with him a British drummer who had deserted named John Stuart. The British were advancing rapidly in column. Stuart said he could play something that would stop them. Luddington told him to do so. He then beat a parley. (?) The British then halted and drew up in order of battle, and Luddington took advantage of this delay to secure his retreat. They exchanged a few vollies at long shot which did no injury.” When Colonel Thompson was surprised at Young’s house he had with him fifty or one hundred pairs of snow shoes which he was advised to put upon his men and thereby secure a safe advance or retreat, but he refused all advice to the last saying, “They are only a handful of Cowboys” – “I’ll take another drink,” and then stopped at a sutler’s and drank a glass of brandy. Just then the

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enemy’s main body appeared in view and the battle immediately commenced. Roberts being killed and the Americans yielding to superior numbers, Thompson ordered a retreat, and he was moving off northerly when his horse was killed and he surrendered to the pursuers. His conduct was much censured.” I remember Dominie Ritzema well. He came out from Holland and preached in New York, until it was discovered that he had not taken all his degrees. This subject then came up before the Dutch Classis (or Ecclesiastical council of some kind) and he was sent back to Holland for further study and honours, from whence he afterwards returned. He preached before the war four times a year at the Tarrytown church and also came up occasionally to attend christenings, marriages, funerals, &c.”

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The arms used by the American army at the commencement of the war were of the worst description and continued bad until the French musquets came in use. The Morrisania fever which prevailed along the Refugees settlement and was a species of camp fever was very fatal. Persons going below frequently returned with the seeds of this disease which afterwards carried them off. Joseph Young Esqre. father of Samuel, was a Justice of the Peace and a man of some consequence before the Revolutionary War. John Paulding was born on the Saw Mill River, near the present County house, and near the course corners formed by the Saw Mill River and White Plains road His mother’s name was S Gardenier. He died at Peekskill, near where

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a monument is erected to him. Isaac Van Wart was born on the Saw Mill river near the meeting house or church, and afterwards bought the Youngs house and farm where he lived and died. His mothers name was Williams. David Williams was also born near the Saw Mill river. These three captors of André were all born within about two miles of each other, and were all of Dutch ancestry or mostly. ? When the American Galleys attacked the Phoenix and Rose off Tarrytown I think they were more than a mile apart. Abraham Martling formerly of Tammany Hall was on board one of the Galleys.