made an excursion to Morrisania, took five prisoners of De Lancey's corps and five horses; on their return they were pursued by a party of the enemy's horse, who coming rather too near, the brave volunteers faced about, charged vigorously, took one man prisoner with his horse, and put the rest to flight. The enemy again appeared," on the Eastchester road near Jonathan Ward's house, "in some force, at a distance, but dared not renew the attack."a

The following is General Heath's account of the burning of Colonel Hatfield's quarters, which stood directly opposite Archer's entrance. "About this time (January, 1780,) a detachment from Colonel Mead's regiment of levies at Horseneck, and a number of volunteers from Greenwich, the former under the command of Captain Keeler, the latter under the command of Captain Lockwood, the whole about eighty, marched to Morrisania; and about one o'clock in the morning made an attack on Colonel Hatfield. They first attacked the picket, killed three, and drove the rest into the colonel's quarters. The colonel and his men took to the chambers, and fired out at the windows, and down stairs, at those who had entered the house; it appeared difficult, if possible, to dislodge them; the house was instantly set on fire, by putting a straw bed into a closet, which compelled the enemy to jump out at the chamber windows, to avoid the flames. Colonel Hatfield, one captain, one lieutenant, one quarter-master, and eleven privates were taken prisoners and brought off. This was a pretty affair, but was a litte tarnished on the return by some of the militia, who were fatigued, loitering on the road, where they supposed there was no danger; but a party of horse pursuing, overtook, killed and captured several of them."b

Many other occurrences of the saine kind might be related to show that this vicinity was constantly harassed by small parties of American volunteers, who made every effort to dislodge their wary antagonists.

Upon a lofty eminence to the north-west of the Archer house, stand the remains of Fort No. 8. "The enemy (observes Heath)

had a redoubt called No. 8 on the east side of Haarlem creek, nearly opposite to the fort on Laurel hill, and under the fire of its cannon, for the security of their advanced troops on the Morrisania side." When the British made the bold and successful attack upon Fort Washington in 1776, the guns of No. 8, which lay directly opposite, covered the advance of the Hessians and Lord Percy. "On the 20th of October, 1782, the enemy were demolishing their works at No. 8, Morrisania."b

Fort Independence, the ruins of which are still visible on Tetard's hill, was not dismantled until 1833. Prince Charles's redoubt, and the Negro fort, both well known fortifications, in the annals of the Revolution, lie on the south side of Valentine's hill. From the former, which commands a splendid view of the surrounding country, the morning and evening gun of the British was fired.

Williams' Bridge, in the north-east corner of West Farms, is situated on the line of the Haarlem and Westchester railroad, where is a depot, thirteen and a half miles north of the City Hall; here are two taverns and a store.

The Haarlem river (Muscoota,) which forms the western boundary of the town, is one of the sweetest streams that ever gave a charm to landscape. On the Westchester shore high woods cover the sides of undulating hills, while here and there rich meadows form a gradual and beautiful descent to the water's edge. The opposite banks are abruptly terminated with rocky declivities, and present by their greater boldness a fine contrast. These waters afford an agreeable haunt to the king fisher, "the most celebrated and besung of all other birds says Aldrovand," likewise to the heron and fish hawk.

a Heath's Mem, 223.

b Heath's Mem. 357.

VOL. II.

43

ed northerly by North Castle, eastwardly by Harrison, southerly by Scarsdale, and west by Greenburgh. The river Bronx runs south along the west line, and the Mamaroneck river along the cast, forming the boundary towards Harrison township. The whole area of this town may be eight and a half square miles.a

White Plains originally formed a portion of the town of Rye, and derived its name from the White Balsam, (Gnaphaliumb Polycephalum of Linnæus,) which still grows in great abundance in and around the plains.

It was called Quaroppas by the Indians, under whom these lands must have formed a portion of the ancient domains of Weckquaskeck, as we find Shapham, or Thapham, one of the sachems of that place, conjointly selling lands here to the inhabitants of the town of Rye in 1683.

"It is so long since the Indians quitted these grounds, that their monuments are almost effaced. Once in a while a point of an arrow, or a stone axe is found, which bears the mark of In

b From the Greek Gnaphalon, a word signifying soft down or wool.

dian labor and dexterity; and there is still to be distinguished the spot on which they had their wigwams, and the cemetry a where they buried their dead." The former is situated on the lands of Mr. Gilbert Oakley, the latter on the property of Mr, Elisha Crawford. In the vicinity of the village is a small excavation cut out of a granite rock, denominated the Indians' seat. Upon the 22d day of November, 1683, the inhabitants of Rye obtained the following grant from the aboriginal proprietors.

"To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know ye, that we, Thapham, Cockinseko, Orawapum, Kewetoham, Koawanohpaatch, Shipharrash, Korehwe wous, Panawok, Memishote, Pewekanoh, Oromahqah, Pathunck, Hohoreis, Debenga Wonauahing, Owhorawas, and Onoshand, have for a valuable sum of money to us in hand, bargained, covenanted, alienated and sold unto the inhabitants of the above said town of Rye, a certain tract of land lying within the town bounds of Rye, bounded as fulloweth, on the north-east with Marrineck river, and on the south-east with a branch of the said river and marked trees till it comes to Broncks's river, and then to run by Broncks's river till it comes to the head of the White Plaines, so called, and by marked trees from thence till it comes to the uppermost branch of Marrineck river, which tract of land is commonly called by the English the White Plaines, and called by the Indians Quaroppas, which said tract of land wee, the abovesaid Thapham, Cockinseko, Orawapum, Kewetoham, Koawanoh, Moahatice, and the rest of the abovesaid Indians have sold as abovesaid unto the inhabitants of the said town of Rye, them, their heirs, executors, administrators, or assignees, for ever, and do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators, and assignees, unto the inhabitants of the abovesaid town of Rye, them, their heirs, executors, administrators, or assignees, that they may at all times from and after the date hereof appear, peaceably and quietly possess, occupy, and enjoy the abovesaid tract of land free from all former bargains, sales, mortgages, or other incumbrances whatsoever, and also to warrant and make good the above said sale against any person or persons whatsoever that shall or will make or lay any claim or claimes thereunto, and in testimony thereof we have caused this bill of sale to be made, and hereunto have sett our hands and seals this two and twentieth of November, one thousand six hundred and eighty-three. Sealed, signed, and delivered in the presence of us,

On the 30th of April, 1802, Elisha Brewster and wife sold to Isaac Valentine "all that land bounded as follows: at a mulberry stump by the road that leads to New York, thence running southerly by and with said road to a black stump, from thence by and with said road to the Indian graves," &c.

"12th of April, 1694, Hachaliah Brown and Thomas Merritt were appointed to go with the Indians and renew the marks of the White Plains purchase, agreeing with the Indians as reasonably as they can." "The same year Thomas Merritt and Joseph Galpin were chosen to lay out the land at the White Plains granted to Jonathan Horton by the town." The next notice of this town occurs on the 9th of February, 1719, when, at a public meeting held by the proprietors of the White Plains, it was voted and agreed by the said proprietors that Captain Joseph Budd, John Hoyt, sen., John Horton, Caleb Hiatt, Samuel Purdy and George Lane, jr., layers out of the said purchase chosen by the said proprietors, for laying out all the above said land, as may appear by record bearing date February 11th, 17}}, that the said layers out shall have for their trouble and industry for laying out the whole purchase and returning the bounds at or between the thirteenth day of April, which will be in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty, one hundred and ten acres of land lying between the lower end, the ridges and Mamaroneck river. At the above said meeting tis voted and agreed that David Ogden and Hachaliah Brown are to survey and lay out