Rye during the Revolution
Rye was a largely agrarian community with scattered farms
and no local newspaper. Many farmers were tenant farmers, although the leases were often long-term creating stable communities.
Freeholders were men who owned property worth 60 pounds or more. Freeholders could vote and serve on juries, but in Westchester County
only made up about 22 percent of the population.
One of the main outlets for
farm goods was the employment of sloops which ran down the long island sound.
- Only two carriages known,
one was owned by Mrs. Roger Park
- There was a Rye Ferry,
which traveled to Long Island towns such as Oyster Bay
- 34 men from Rye had served in the French and Indian war
- The was a school for writing,
but no “grammar school”
Loyalist vs. Patriot
One of the difficulties in
studying any time period is the inherent lack of contemporary perspective from living outside the particular period. In today’s
America, the choice to separate ourselves from England and form our own country seems like an obvious one. However, for many residents
of Rye, the decision between being a patriot or a loyalist
was not at all obvious or easy.
Despite mounting grievances,
it is important to note that many Patriots considered themselves subjects of the King until the brink of war, and often were
proud of being British. Britain had won
the French and Indian War just over a decade before the outbreak of the Revolution, and colonists were still experiencing
national pride as a result of the important victory. In addition, Britain
was widely perceived as one of the more progressive governments in the world. Interestingly, the emphasis on individual liberty
that colonists so cherished as Britons added fuel to Patriot rhetoric – how could a government that proclaimed individual
rights and due process for their mainland citizens ignore the will of their colonists?
Loyalist Argument
- Common Heritage and Culture with England
- Benefit from the trans-Atlantic trade
- Many were first generation or had close relatives in England
- Strong sense of duty to British Crown
- Farms and Farm products could be greatly reduced in value
- Liberty could degenerate into anarchy
- Actions taken by revolutionary committees were “illegal”, and a symptom
internal tyranny
Patriot Argument
- The individual liberty threatened by greater government
- A series of acts and laws passed by British Government were oppressive and indicative of a decline in colonial rights.(add list of acts)
- The Quartering of British troops (In a letter sent by Captain Francis Rawdon to
his uncle the Earl of Huntington he described: "...that he appreciated Southern women because they did not publicly take issue
after being raped by British soldiers. As for the women of Staten Island, they were 'fair
nymphs' for the British soldiers, who were 'as riotous as satyrs. A girl cannot step into the bushes to pluck a rose without
running the most imminent risk of being ravished, and they are so little accustomed to these vigorous methods that they don't
bear them with the proper resignation, and of consequence we have most entertaining courts martial every day.'")
Resolution submitted by Rye
Patriots to New York Gazette and the Weekly Mercury, August 15, 1774
“…This meeting
being greatly alarmed at the late Proceedings of the British Parliament, in order to raise a Revenue in America, and considering
their late most cruel, unjust, and unwarrantable Act for blocking up the Post of Boston, having a direct Tendency to deprive
a free People of their most valuable Rights and Privileges, an Introduction to subjugate the Inhabitants of the English Colonies,
and render them Vassals to the British House of Commons,
RESOLVE FIRST. That they think it is their greatest Happiness
to live under the illustrious House of Hanover, and that they will steadfastly and uniformly bear true and faithful Allegiance
to his Majesty King George the Third, under the Enjoyments of their constitutional Rights and Privledges, as fellow subjects
with those in England,
SECOND. That we conceive it a fundamental Part of the British
Constitution, that no Man shall be taxed but by his own Consent, or that of his Representative in Parliament: and as we are
by no Means represented, we consider all Acts of Parliament imposing Taxes on the Colonies, an undue exertion of Power, and
subversive of one of the most valuable Privileges of the English Constitution.
THIRD. That it is the Opinion of this Meeting, that the Act
of Parliament for Shutting up the Port of Boston,
and divesting some of the Inhabitants of private Property, is a most unparalleled, rigorous and unjust Piece of Cruelty and
Despotism.
FOURTH. That the Unanimity and firmness of Measures in the
Colonies are the most effectual Means to secure the invaded Rights and Privileges of America, and to avoid the impending Ruin
which now threatens this once happy Country.
FIFTH. That the most effectual Mode of redressing our Grievances,
will be by General Congress of Delegates from the different Colonies, and that we are willing to abide by such Measures as
they in their Wisdom shall think most conducive upon such an important Occasion.
By order of the Committee,
Ebenezer Haviland, Chairman
Counter-Resolution submitted
by Rye Loyalists to the New York Gazetteer October 13, 1774:
“We the subscribers, freeholders, and inhabitants of
the town of Rye, in the County of Westchester, being much concerned with the unhappy situation off public affairs think it
our duty to our King and country to declare, that we have not been concerned in any resolutions entered into, or measures
taken, with regard to the disputes at present subsisting with the mother country; we also testify our dislike to many hot
and furious proceedings, in consequence of said disputes, which we think are more likely to ruin this once and happy country,
than remove grievances, if any there are.
We also declare our great desire and full resolution to live
and die peaceable subjects to our gracious sovereign King George the Third, and his laws.”
Some Known Rye Loyalists:
Alexander Stewart
Captain Joshua Purdy
Isaac Gidney
Daniel Erwin
Philemon Halsted
Roger Park
James Budd
John Collum
Roger Kniffen
Thomas Kniffen
Henry Bird
John Hawkins
Gilbert Merritt
Robert Merrit
Andrew Merrit
Some Known Rye Patriots
Dr. Ebenezer Haviland
James Horton jr.
Robert Bloomer
Jay Family
Judge Thomas
John Thomas jr.
Zeno Carpenter
Outbreak of War
The battle of Lexington took place April 19th, 1775. However, New York was not compelled to summon troops until May, when the second
Continental Congress took measures to raise an army. At that time, New York’s
quota was three thousand men. Rye promptly answered the call
by forming three companies of men.
On June 27, 1775, 1,800 Continental
troops pass through Rye on their way to New York
under the command of General Wooster. It is possible Wooster liked what he saw in Rye, as he later made it his headquarters for a length of time. Only
a day before, General Washington passed through Rye on his way to Boston to take command of the Continental troops. It is Rye’s
location on the Boston Post road that enabled the town to bear witness to such important movements.
Along with escalations in
military conflict came increased violence on the civilian front. Tensions between Loyalist and Patriots exploded, with Rye caught in the middle. In November of 1775, a plot was discovered
at Rye for the capture of Judge Thomas – a well known
Patriot – by several local Loyalists with the goal of delivering him to a British man-of-war anchored in the sound.
However Captain Gilbert Budd of Mamaroneck heard of the plot through his neighbor, and subsequently
arrested several of the participants.
“Spiking of the Cannon”
In January 17th, 1776, a
group of Loyalists from Rye Neck, Mamaroneck, and the surrounding area descended upon a large cache of cannon stored near
Kings Bridge,
and proceeded to “spike” several hundred, rendering them useless. The act of spiking involves driving metal spikes
into the cannon’s touch hole. If done properly, the only way to use the cannon is to re-drill the hole. After an investigation
by the Committee of Safety in New York, William Lounsberry
of Rye Neck and his collaborators were arrested. Interestingly, a Rye Blacksmith named Isaac Gedney was responsible for forging
the spikes out of old files.
In reaction to Loyalist mischief,
Sub-committees of Safety in various towns were empowered with the right to search any suspicious persons. The committee in
Rye had their hands particularly full with the activities
of such notorious Loyalists as Lounsberry, Godfrey Gains, and countless others. Rye Loyalists consistently endevoured to sabotage
the Patriot cause by supplying food and provisions to British troops, carrying information, recruiting for the royal army,
and other activities. To be sure, the Rye area had no shortage
of Loyalists. According to American Archives, one area of Maroneck had 120 loyalists
for eight to ten patriots. It is difficult to estimate exact numbers, but it seems reasonable postulate that Rye was somewhat evenly divided. The Committee of Safety in Rye Consisted of Samuel Townsend, Isaac Seaman, Fredrick Jay, Samuel Lyon, Gilbert Lyon,
and John Thomas jr.
Chaos, Anarchy, and the Neutral ground (temporary title)
In the stable community of
modern Rye, it is hard to imagine a time when the populace
was thrown into chaos and upheaval so severe it bordered on anarchy. However, of all the areas involved in the American Revolution,
Rye and Westchester County suffered among the very worst. A major reason for this was Rye was located in what was known as the “Neutral Ground” (possible map)
In early October, 1776, the
twentieth regiment of the Connecticut militia was stationed at Rye under the command of Major Zabdiel Rogers. This posting was at the request of the Committee
of Safety for New York, which feared insurrection by Loyalists
in the area.
Larger Quotes with “old
time” lettering
Good one describing the state
of depravity and Boston Post Road by Reverend Dr.
Timothy Dwight:
“Their houses in the
meantime were in a great measure scenes of desolation. Their furniture was extensively plunder or broken to pieces. Their
cattle were gone. Their enclosures were burnt when they were capable of becoming fuel, and in many cases thrown down when
they were not. Their fields were covered with a rank of growth of weeds and wild grass. Amid all this appearance of desolation,
nothing struck my eye more forcibly that the site of this great road, the passage from New York
to Boston. Where I had heretofore seen a continual succession
of horses and carriages, and life and bustle lending sprightliness to all the environing objects, not a single, solitary traveler
was visible, from week to week, or month to month….the very tracks of the carriage were grown over and obliterated.
Describing how area was plundered
by foraging raids by NY Congressman Philip Pell Jr.:
“I was in Westchester County
last Saturday and found that
Acts of Violence in Rye:
- Fire to Major Hachaliah
Brown’s house, April 1st, 1770 (revolution cause?)
- Jonathan Kniffin’s
Daughter murdered along Post road, 1777
- Judge Thomas was dragged
from his home by British troops and sent to a prison in New York,
where he died.
The Square house and Dr. Ebenezer Haviland
- 1770 Dr. Haviland nominated
by petition of 57 men to oversee a yearly fair in Rye
- 1774 Dr. Haviland appointed
Chairman of Rye committee to choice delegates to Philadelphia
congress. Meeting possibly held at Square House
Timeline of Events
1774, August 10th
– Rye Patriots meet to discuss closing of Boston port
1774, August 15th
– Rye Patriot Resolution printed in New York Gazette and
the Weekly Mercury
1774, September 5th
– Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia and adopts
a Declaration of Rights
petitioning their grievances
1774, October 13th
– Rye Loyalist Counter-Resolution printed in New York Gazatteer
1775, May 10th
– Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia.
Rye Resident
John Thomas jr. sent as delegate
1775, June 26th
– George Washington passes through Rye on his way to Boston to take over command of Continental
Troops. General Washington Stops at the Square House
1775, June 27th
– 1,800 continental troops under the command of General Wooster pass through Rye on their way to New York
