Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-01-28


EO weight OF snow that fell
3 upon its ancient roof. the
On ~ Reynolds house. on the out
As&kssA skirts OF Monroe. y. Y. is
at last no more. II was built i2T years
ago. in l777. by Henry Reynolds. n
Westchester County Quaker, who. with
his wife and i've children. fed 10 Or
snge County during the Revolution
Although n Quaker. he took up arms
against the British and was one OF the
band OF 100 under Mad Anthony
Wayne who Stormed and captured
Stony Point
His activity Ia plans TO rid the noun
tains hereabouts OF the notorious
Ciaudius Smith gang OF Tories gained
him their bitter enmity. and one night
in July. iTS2 on the pretence OF being
American soldiers looking for desert
ers. three or the most desperate OF that
gang gained admittancc % the Rey-
noldS house
In the presence OF his wife and his
twelve-year-old daughter. Phebe. they
bound and hanged Reynolds 90 the biz
iron crane OF the fireplace and pro-
ceeded 20 ransack the house. While
they were in another room Phebe cut
her father down. her mother having
Swooned.
The Tories came hurrying back and
hanged Reynolds again. although the
girl fought so desperately to save him
that she was stabbed several times.
Then they returned 20 their plumber
ing. and Phebc once more succeeded i'm
cutting her father down. and was
dragging him out OF the house when
the Tories again interfered
The girl placed her body over that
OF her father as he lay on the floor IN
+ her efforts 10 shield him from thu rob
bers. They stabbed father and daugh-
ter repeatedly. They at last tore Phe-
be from her fathers body and threw
I II into p large chest. closing the I'D.
and leaving both father and child Tor
I dead
As they departed from the house
F they rolled large stone against the
door. Mrs Reynolds had recovered
t consciousness. and Phebe. wounded as
she was. made her way 60 the chest.
and with the aid OF her mother.
[ dragged her father out and placed him
on the bed Finding that be was
still alive. the girl was starting out Ca
/ summon neighbors Tor aid when her
mother discovered that the Tories had
set fire 20 the house
She and Phebe succeeded in extin.
gushing the flames before they had
gained much Roadway. and Pheho
made all the speed she could to the
nearest neighbours. q mile away. That
neighb0r mounted a fleet horse. and
on his way 20 Goshen for doctor
reused others who armed themselves
and started IN pursuit OF the Tories.
When Phebe got back home hex fath
or had SO far recovered as Cd be adj,
10 talk. The doctor arrived beumes
and found that Reynolds had received
no fewer than thirty serious wounds
from swords and knives. but not one
or them had touched q vital spot one
OF his ears was nearly severed from
his head. and one arm was siashed s.,
thar IL was ever after useless
Phcbe was covered with wounds
nine being .n the breast and head. AZ
daylight Mrs. Reynolds gav. birth @,
manhood. and became the mother of
one OF the most prominent families i1
southern New York as the wife OF Or
Blake Wales. pioneer physician.
soon after Reynolds and Phebe re-
covered from their injuries he dis
posed OF his property and removed c,
sullivan County. where he became q
leading citizen. He was elected 90 IN,
Assembly in 1915.
Phebe Reynolds married Jeremiah
Drake. and became the maternal heae
OF the numerous and nspicuou,
Drake family of that part OF the State
The Reynolds farmhouse has hlt
many owners since The house IA,
been untenanted for three or foul
years. and had fallen into dnapldation
II was one OF the landmarks OF this
historic region.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gigroux. % New
York. is the present owner OF the Key
holds property New York sun.
n