{"id":7569,"date":"2014-07-02T15:22:58","date_gmt":"2014-07-02T15:22:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=7569"},"modified":"2021-04-21T14:05:37","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T18:05:37","slug":"where-was-george-washington-revolutionary-war-fact-checking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/where-was-george-washington-revolutionary-war-fact-checking.html","title":{"rendered":"Where Was George Washington? Revolutionary War Fact Checking"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of my family traditions tells us that George Washington made his headquarters, from 4 July to 19 August 1781, at the home of my 5th Great-Grandfather, Joseph Appleby (1732-1792) in Greenburgh, New York, in the Dobbs Ferry section of town, during the American Revolutionary War.<\/p>\n

Joseph Appleby served as a 2nd lieutenant in the First Regiment of Westchester County, New York Militia.<\/p>\n

I found this interesting 1935 newspaper article reporting that in 1935 Messmore Kendall (1872-1959) was living in a house in Dobbs Ferry\u2014and erroneously stated that<\/em> was the house that George Washington used as his headquarters in 1781, not the home of my ancestor Joseph Appleby.<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Seattle Daily Times (Seattle, Washington), 27 August 1935, page 8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kendall took great pride in his home\u2019s supposed connection to George Washington and its key role in the American Revolution.<\/p>\n

It was an impressive home.<\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>
Photo: Philipse Manor. Source: Library of Congress.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kendall served as the national vice-president of the Sons of the American Revolution and as the president of the Empire State Chapter of the NSSAR. In 1894 he had a monument erected in front of his house commemorating its place in history.<\/p>\n

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Kendall collected dozens of historic heirlooms previously owned by George Washington and had them on display at his home.<\/p>\n

It was a nice story\u2014but it was not true.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Historic American Building Survey Report issued 29 March 1934, written by Thomas Hotchkiss (Re: Messmore Kendall Residence<\/em>), stated that:<\/p>\n

The 1894 monument\u2026incorrectly alleges that Washington and Rochambeau met at this house [Philipse Manor] to plan the Yorktown Campaign in 1781. As explained authoritatively\u2026these commanders of the allied armies occupied the Appleby and Odell houses respectively on country roads back in the hills, and conveniently held their conference there surrounded by their troops.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It turns out that Kendall lived at the Philipse Manor built by Frederick Philipse. His great-grandson, Frederick Philipse, was a Tory and \u201chis lands and houses\u201d were seized and sold. The manor house was purchased by Philip Livingston.<\/p>\n

See: Historic American Building Survey, Report HABS No. 4-105
\nhttp:\/\/www.historicmapworks.com\/Buildings\/index.php?state=NY&city=Dobbs%20Ferry&id=25738<\/span><\/p>\n

Genealogy Tip:<\/em><\/strong> Historical claims can be wrong\u2014even when they make it into print in a newspaper, such as Kendall\u2019s claim about his home being a former headquarters of George Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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The Appleby home which George Washington did<\/em> use as his headquarters stood on what is now Secor Road in Dobbs Ferry, New York.<\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>
Photo: aerial view of the Appleby farm. Source: Google Earth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is a video interview with Mary Sudman Donovan, Ph.D., Village Historian of Dobbs Ferry, New York. See the interview on YouTube here:<\/p>\n