Van Wart, Alexander
John M. McDonald interview — 1848
The Reverend Alexander Van Wart (1799-1890) was a son of Isaac Van Wart, one of the three American militiamen who captured British Major John André in 1780. Alexander Van Wart states his belief that his father and his comrades were concealed on the west side of the Post Road (present-day Broadway) in Tarrytown when they captured André. He suggests the names of three men in the area who can verify this information. Van Wart also notes that General Philip Schuyler was headquartered at the farm of his maternal grandfather, Nicholas Storms. A woman who had been enslaved by Storms told Van Wart about Schuyler’s style of dress. Van Wart concludes by noting that Storms’ Wood, the site of the ambush of a force of American cavalry under Captain David Hopkins by a British force on July 30, 1779 (not 1774), was part of the Storms farm.
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Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 828 -
Revd Alexander Van Wart: “My strong impression and believe is that I always heard my father say that at the time Major André was taken, he and his two comrades were lying concealed on the west side of the Post road and on the south side of the brook. I think I cannot be
- Hufeland Index Page 829 -
mistaken in this. Messrs. Nathaniel Baylies, Pierre Wildey (Supr.) and Martin Smith, all of Tarrytown, well know, &c. When the American army lay at White Plains, General Schuyler’s Headquarters were at my grandfather’s (Nicholas Storms) now owned by Jonathan Baylies, and situated in the fields about one mile from my house. A lane running in a westerly direction leads to it from the Saw Mill river road. An old black woman, owned by Mr Storms, used to tell me of the style in which General Schuyler dressed and powedered his hair, &c. Storm’s Wood, adjoining the road where Hopkins was ambushed in July 30th 1774, was part of Mr. Storms’ farm.