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The following extract is from "Historical Sketches," No. 61, by Benson J. Lossing, Poughkeepsie Eagle, issue of Feb. 14, 1874:

"A letter written by Gen. Washington to Gen. Lincoln, announcing the appointment by the Continental Congress of the latter gentleman to the command of troops for the defence of Charleston, is dated at Col. Brinkerhoff's, Oct. 3, 1778. The house in which that letter was written is standing a few rods from the line of the Duchess and Columbia Railway, about three miles northeast of Fishkill. It is an old-fashioned house, built of stone, with the date 1738 on one of its gables, formed of brick imported from Holland. In that year it was built by John Brinkerhoff (the Colonel Brinkerhoff mentioned in Washington's letter), and is one of a group of buildings in and around Fishkill Village made notable by their connection with historic events. In the Brinkerhoff mansion Washington remained a few days at this time, dating his letters written there, after the one just mentioned, Headquarters, Fishkill.' That village and its vicinity were conspicuous during the early years of the old war for Independence as a safe depository of military stores, a meeting-place for the Committee of Safety and the Legislature of New York, and a refuge for the Whigs after the British took possession of the city of New York, in the autumn of 1776. There Samuel Loudon, a Whig printer of New York, halted in his flight and set up his press; and there, in 1777, he printed the first book, as well as one of the most important ones, ever published in this State-that book was the Constitution of the State of New York. There

a portion of the Continental army were encamped for a while, and at the headquarters at Brinkerhoff's might have been seen groups of distinguished officers of that army.

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HOMESTEAD OF COL. JOHN BRINCKERHOFF-SWARTWOUTVILLE, DUTCHESS CO., N. Y.-1738.

Fishkill he made Colonel
He occupied the bedroom

Whenever Washington was at Brinkerhoff's his headquarters. back of the parlor, which remains the same, excepting a door that opens into the hall, which has been cut through. The Colonel's wife appears to have been one of those kindhearted, motherly women, who are never at ease unless every one around them is comfortable; and there is a tradition in the family that she always went to Washington's room after he had retired and tucked the bedclothes around him to keep him warm. The Colonel was a religious man, and a devout member of the old Dutch Church at Fishkill Village. He was rigid in his observances of Christian duties. He said to Washington when he first came there, 'I am commander-in-chief in my own house, and wish everybody under my roof to attend family prayers.' Of course Washington yielded to his wishes."

In the Records of Baptisms of the Dutch Church at Fishkill Village are the following:

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The will of John Brinkerhoff is recorded in the Surrogate's office of the City and County of New York.

JOHN BRINKERHOFF,

of) Will dated Dec. 29, 1784.

Rombout Precinct, Duchess County, N. Y.

Proved March 31, 1785.
Recorded in Liber 37, p. 476.

In the name of God, Amen! I, John Brinkerhoff, of Rombout Precinct, in Duchess County, and in the State of New York, this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, being in good health and perfect memory-blessed be God therefor―do make and publish this, my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, that is to say: Imprimis, I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it me, and my body to the earth from whence it came, in hopes of a joyful resurrection through the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ; and as for my worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me, I dispose thereof as follows: First, I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid by my Executors to be hereinafter mentioned. Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandson, Adrian Brinkerhoff, the sum of Five pounds, current money of New York, to be paid him by my Executors within six months after the decease of my wife, Jannetje Brinkerhoff, which shall be in full bar of any claim or demand which he may or can have against my estate as heir-at-law. Item: I give, devise, and bequeath unto my said grandson, Adrian, that farm which the said Adrian now possesses, situate in Rombout Precinct, containing about two hundred and ninety-two acres; also sixty acres adjoining to said farm, which I bought of Dr. Theodorus Van Wyck; also thirty acres of upland, meadow and swamp, twenty acres thereof to be meadow and swamp and ten acres thereof to be

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