For those who may not be familiar with the term, "Whigs" were those who supported the Revolution, "Tories" were those folks who supported King George and Britain.

While Long Island was caught in a hard spot, being the headquarters of the British Army and virtually isolated from the rest of  the Colonies by virtue of it being an island, places outside of Long Island in New York State were less under British control and were out-right American Revolutionary strongholds.

However the civil government of America didn't come into existence at the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. In fact, the Declaration made no provisions for a civil government.  So what came to be was a Civil Government appointed by the British, whose sympathies lied with the American Revolution - an invention of necessity to maintain civil order.  A beautiful example of this contraction is illustrated in the following story, quoted from the book "Descendants of Cornelius Barentse Van Wyck and Anna Polhemus", (Anne Van Wyck, Tobias A. Wright, New York City, 1912), page 74.

"Richard [Van Wyck] served in the French and Indian War and was Chairman of the Vigilance Committee in the Town [of Fishkill, Dutchess County] in the time of the American Revolution. He was also a Civil Magistrate during that eventful period. One day an individual who cried out "God Save the King" was suddenly collared and assaulted by an ardent Whig. When the complaint was made before Judge Van Wyck, he administered justice in this wise: "You have committed the offense", said he addressing the prisoner, "and more than that you have violated the law. It is furthermore my duty as Magistrate to fine you. I therefore fine you one cent." Putting his hand into his pocket he [Judge Van Wyck] drew out a penny. "There", he said to the prisoner, "I'll pay your fine". To the bystanders he added "The next time he cries out "God Save the King" do you give him an outright flogging and I will pay you for that also."

On April 18, 1775, eleven days after the Battle of Lexington, the residence of New York City circulated a Pledge of Allegiance to the American Revolution to ascertain the sentiment of the people of the State of New York. First to sign from Beekman Precinct, Dutchess County in July 1775 was Theodorus Van Wyck, followed by Richard, William, Theodorus Jr., Cornelius R., and Abraham Van Wyck and 495 others of the Precinct.  Captain Cornelius Van Wyck, nephew of Richard Van Wyck and husband of Sarah Carman was killed at the Battle of White Plains 31 October 1776.

The home of Cornelius Van Wyck, father of Richard in the story of above, was headquarters for General Putnam during the American Revolution and his successors. During the American Army's stay in Fishkill during 1777 the house had such boarders as General George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, Baron Von Stueben, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton.  The house was later fictionalized by James Fennimore Cooper in the book "Spy" who called in "Wharton House".

07/27/2007