A Winter of Waiting

Pound Ridge in December 1775

This summer, Westchester celebrates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As we look back, how did life in Pound Ridge change in the months before that moment? In the winter of 1775, Pound Ridge found itself in a period of change. The battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill had happened earlier that year, but the war had not yet reached New York. For people living in Pound Ridge and nearby towns, December brought a growing sense that war was approaching.

The British Army was still in Boston, but Colonial leaders expected it to move toward New York. General Washington wrote that "The communication by Hudson’s River must, at all events, be kept open, and every precaution taken to secure it.” Continental troops and local militia from Pound Ridge strengthened defenses at Kingsbridge, along the Hudson River, and on roads connecting Westchester to Connecticut. These efforts were part of a larger Patriot plan to hold the Hudson River and keep communication open with New England. The British wanted to capture New York City, control the Hudson River, and split the colonies. By controlling the waterways from New York City to Montreal, they aimed to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies and shorten the duration of the conflict. Westchester sat in the middle of these plans.

Pound Ridge was a small farming community, divided in its loyalties. The county was a mix of Patriots, Loyalists, and undecided residents. Families like the Haights and Lockwoods in Northern Westchester supported the Patriots, while the Pells and Vernons near Manhattan backed the Loyalists. In December 1775, although there were no official elections or large public meetings, political debates were important in shaping Westchester’s identity during the war. Town records from Bedford, Salem, and Pound Ridge document discussions about funding the militia, enforcing Continental Association boycotts, and handling neighbors who would not sign Patriot pledges; at one Bedford meeting, a resident strongly objected, saying supporting militia taxes was “to hazard the wrath of the King’s Government.”

Pound Ridge’s residents were active participants, not just bystanders, in the preparations in Westchester. Well-known local families—Hoyts, Scofields, Lockwoods, Browns, Bennetts, and Meads—often appeared on militia lists and in committee records. Many served in the Company of Poundridge and Lower Salem, called “The First Company of Minutemen of the County.”. In Pound Ridge, Ebenezer Slason was elected captain, Henry Slason first lieutenant, Ebenezer Scofield second lieutenant, and Daniel Waterberry ensign. Lower Salem was included with Pound Ridge because Salem "did not have enough Patriots to form their own company." In addition to scouting the wooded borderlands, these soldiers delivered messages and escorted supplies between Connecticut and the Hudson Valley, making Pound Ridge a key part of the Patriot communication network.

Westchester’s split loyalties and its proximity to Manhattan made it a natural place for the emerging Patriot intelligence work. Before the British had a strong presence in New York, most information gathering happened locally, often involving neighbors reporting on those they thought were still Loyalists. The system was not very organized; instead, people mostly spread news through gossip. In mid-1775, the Committee of Safety was created partly to encourage and facilitate this kind of activity. 

Years before Tarlton’s Raid, the town already felt the threat of war. Local residents knew that British forces would soon look west, and the Continental Army’s preparations made this even clearer. Within a year, Westchester would become one of the most heavily militarized areas of the Revolution. Yet in December 1775, the town was still preparing for and grappling with internal divisions. As we reflect on these moments, join us in celebrating Revolution 250 throughout Westchester in 2026!