The New York and Albany Post Road: From Kings Bridge to "The Ferry at Crawlier, over against Albany," Being an Account of a Jaunt on Foot Made at Sundry Convenient Times between May and November, Nineteen Hundred and FiveHine, C. G. (Charles Gilbert)
History
The New York and Albany Post Road: From Kings Bridge to "The Ferry at Crawlier, over against Albany," Being an Account of a Jaunt on Foot Made at Sundry Convenient Times between May and November, Nineteen Hundred and Five
Hine, C. G. (Charles Gilbert)
Hudson River Valley (N.Y. and N.J.) -- Description and travel; Hudson River Valley (N.Y. and N.J.) -- History
The name Frederick Philipse was originally written Vreedryk, or
Vrederyck, Felypsen, the former meaning "rich in peace," indicating,
we presume, the difference between his peaceful occupation of breaking
into the new wilderness and that of his ancestors in Bohemia who,
being persecuted for their religious opinions, fled to Holland, from
whence Frederick emigrated to New Amsterdam, some time before 1653,
becoming a successful merchant, and later a patroon. Sen, meaning son
in Dutch, Felypsen meant the son of Felyp, Frederick the son of
Philip. On the west bank of the Pocantico Philipse built his first
manorial residence, called Castle Philipse on account of its strength
and armament, it not only being loopholed for musketry, as was common
in those days, but was also defended by several small cannon. All
these evidences of the strenuous days of old have been covered by
unsightly clapboards, and the place as it stands now looks as though
it might have seen better days, but gives no hint of its former
important station. It is related that in 1756 a Virginia colonel named
Washington called here to pay his respects to the beautiful Mary
Philipse, but the lady saw nothing attractive in the tall, ungainly
countryman. In 1784, when the state parcelled out the confiscated
lands of Philipse, this part fell into the hands of Gerard C. Beekman,
whose wife was Cornelia Van Cortlandt, a connection of the Philipse
family. An interesting incident connects this place with the Andre
matter. Some time before his capture, John Webb, one of Washington's
aides, left a valise containing a new uniform with Mrs. Beekman,
asking that it be delivered only on a written order. Some two weeks
later Joshua Het Smith, whose loyalty was at that time regarded
doubtful, called and asked for Lieutenant Webb's valise. Mrs. Beekman
disliked the man, and refused to deliver it without the order, which
Smith could not produce, and he rode away much disappointed. Andre was
concealed in his house at this very time, and the uniform was wanted
to help him through the American lines. Thus Mrs. Beekman forged the
second link in the chain leading to the Andre capture.
The little old Dutch church is believed to be the oldest church
edifice now standing in the State. It was built in 1699 by Frederick
Philipse. Irving says of it: "The sequestered situation of this church
seems always to have made it a favorite haunt of troubled spirits. It
stands on a knoll surrounded by locust trees and lofty elms, from
among which its decent whitewashed walls shine modestly forth like
Christian purity beaming through the shades of retirement."
"To look upon its grass-grown yard, where the sunbeams seem to sleep
so quietly, one would think that there, at least, the dead might rest
in peace," and there Irving himself rests in peace with a plain white
stone at his head which modestly tells that
WASHINGTON
SON OF WILLIAM AND SARAH S. IRVING
DIED
NOV. 28, 1859
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