59. Livingston's Mansion

HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY. 205"

with a flag-staff near, and the grounds around garnished with. cannon. That is the famous Headquarters of General Washington" during one of the most interesting periods of the war, and at its close. Then the camp was graced by the presence of Mrs. Washington a greater part of the time, and also by the cultivated wives of several of the officers; and until a comparatively few years ago, says Lossing, the remains of the borders around the beds of a little garden which Mrs. Washington cultivated for amusement, might then be seen in front of the mansion. That building, now the property of the State of New York, is preserved in the form it was when Washington left it. There is the famous room, with its seven doors and one window, which the Commander-in-Chief used as a dininghall. In that room, a large portion of the chief officers of the Continental army, both American and foreign, and many distinguished civilians were at different times entertained.

We cannot forbear a mention of a jolly Dutchman, named Burgune Van Alst, who once lived near Hopewell. He was a man that could tell his own stories, crack his own jokes, and never whimper a muscle. Uncle Burgune had a pair of fleet horses. He went to the river once upon a time—his own declaration so states—to do an errand, and drove, as usual, his airy black nags. When about half way home on his return, a shower came up as black as a black hat. He had not observed it until the rain was close upon him; so he whistled to his blacks, and they started at a pace at which only his horses could travel; but Uncle Burgune declared it was about the evenest race he ever had; could distance anything else, but this time it was neck and neck, throughout. For when he got home the butter tubs had lost their lids and were full of water

* An anecdote is told illustrative of Baron Stenben, when the American army was• encamped at Newburgh, at the time of the disbanding of the army. Colonel Cochrane was stan.ting in the street, penniless, when Steuhen tried to comfort him. "For myseit;" cried. the brave officer, " I can stand it; but my wite and daughters are in thg garret of that wretched tavern, and I have nowhere to carry them and no means to remove them.' The Ba on hastened to the fam ly of Cochrane. poured the whole contents of his purse upon the table, and left as suddenly as he had entered. As the Baron was walking toward the wharf a wounded tie ro soldier came up to him, bt'terly lamenting that he had no means to get to New York. The 23arou borrowed a dollar, handed It to the negro, hailed a sloop and. put him on board.

Dutchess County Historical Society

206 HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.

in the back part of the wagon, and not a drop had touched him, not one. As Uncle Burgune grew old, he enjoined upon his family that he must not be buried at Hopewell church. "You must bury me on the hill behind the barn," said he, "1 won't stir a step if you take me anywhere else," and it is related when the funeral procession started the horses balked, and many old ladies were slyly winking and intimating that Uncle Burgune was holding the horses. His reason for being buried behind the barn was that he wanted to be where he could hear whether his black folks threshed or not, for they wanted a good deal of watching.

Petition for aid to erect a church at fish creek Duchess County. TO his Excellency JOHN MONTGOMERIE Esqr Capt Generall and Governor in Chief in and over his Majesties Provinces of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America and Vice Admirall of the same &c. The Humble Petition of Peter Debois and Abraham Musy

Elders and Abraham Brinckerhoff and Hendrick Phillips

I)eacons of the Dutch Reformed Protestant Church of the fish Creek in DUCHESS County in the Province of

New York in the behalf of themselves and the rest of the members of the said church. HUMBLY SHOWETH.

That the members of said Congregacon being in daily expectation of a minister from Holland to preach the Gospel amongst them according to the Canons Rules and Discipline of the Reformed Protestant churches of the United Neitherlands and therefore have agreed amongst themselves to erect and build a Convenient church for the Publick worship of God nigh the said fish Creek in the county aforesaid but finding that the said building would be very Chargeable and therefore as in the like cases has been Practiced and is usuall in this Province they would desire the aid help and assistance of all Charitable and well disposed Christians within this Province for t1 e Compleating of said Building.

They therefore most humbly Pray for your Excellencys Lycence to be granted to the said Protestant Congregacon to collect gather and Receive the benevolence and free gifts of all such Inhabitants of this Province as shall be willing to con-

Dutchess County Historical Society