Digitized Newsletters Series
Each Friday this summer, the Putnam History Museum is excited to share an assortment of articles from our collection of newly digitized newsletters. These newsletters are a fantastic local history resource, assembled by dedicated museum volunteers, local historians, and community members. These articles are not only useful historic narratives, but also provide us with a glimpse of the important historic talking points of the era in which they were written, commemorating anniversaries, important dates and people, and community events.
A special thank you to our team of PHM Summer Interns for transcribing these articles! Adriana B. and Clara F. transcribed the articles, and Abi B. is helping to format them for the web. A team effort!
|
|
Sketch of Beverly Robinson, from Retrographs: Comprising a History of New York City Prior to the Revolution;
Biographies of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Nathan Hale; sketches of
John André and Beverly Robinson; schemes of Aaron Burr and Benedict Arnold, page 159.
|
|
“Beverly Robinson, Arnold's Loyal Host,”
Foundry Casting, Autumn 2000.
|
|
Arnold’s Flight by way of Beverly Dock was from Beverly House. Beverly Robinson, Tory loyalist, had lost his home after refusing to join the American cause. Benedict Arnold had used the house as his headquarters (as George Washington had before him) and it was there Arnold learned of the capture of Major John Andre and the collapse of his plot to turn over West Point to the British. Ironically, Robinson was among those waiting for the fleeing Arnold aboard the British warship Vulture. Society Historian Minette Gunther gives us this picture of Mr. Robinson, who suffered ruin and exile for his political beliefs.
|
|
It rarely occurs to us that Tories were as dedicated, courageous and self-sacrificing for their cause as were the American patriots, but heroic stories usually are not written for losers.
The Robinsons emigrated from England to Virginia in the mid-17th century and became gentry farmers and political leaders. Beverly’s grandfather was presiding as Speaker in Virginia's House of Burgesses when cries of “Treason, treason!” rang out in response to Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty of give me death” speech.
Beverly, after serving in the French and Indian War, settled in Manhattan and made a fortune in the mercantile trade.
|
|
Illustration of Benedict Arnold
|
|
Beverly became richer in 1748 when he married Susannah, daughter of Frederick Philipse and heir to her father’s 60,000 acres in the Hudson Highlands. In the 1760’s the Robinson’s retired to their estate, called Beverly, in what is now Garrison. Robinson became a farmer, oversaw his grist mills, saw mill, potash works and 147 tenant families, was politically active and helped organize St. Philip’s church in Garrison. King George III appointed Robinson its first warden.
|
|
Hudson Highlands/West Point Area Map 1778-1780.
MP0139, Maps. PHM Collection.
|
|
But the events of 1775 overwhelmed this placid life. Every fiber of Robinson’s being was Anglican loyalist and he could not sign the Oath of Allegiance to the revolutionary cause. Under a Bill of Attainder, he lost his lands and became an enemy of the state. The Robinsons fled to Manhattan where Beverly offered his services to the British. He raised the Loyal American Regiment with himself as colonel. Among its members were three of his four sons and many of his former tenants and neighbors.
|
|
He helped plan the attacks on Forts Clinton and Montgomery (across the Hudson from his former estate) and led his regiment in an attack on Stony Point and in campaigns in Philadelphia and later in the South under Lord Cornwallis. In September 1780 Beverly was onboard the Vulture and gave his final instructions to Major Andre when the young British officer left on his ill-fated mission to Benedict Arnold, and he received Arnold on his return after Andre’s subsequent capture (and hanging) while carrying the incriminating evidence that triggered Arnold’s flight.
|
|
After the war, Beverly, Susannah and their two daughters sailed for England, in June 1783. The exile years were lean with only a retired officer’s pay. Beverly died in 1792 at the age of 71. Susannah lived until 1822. The site of the Robinson house (it burned in the 1800’s) is marked today by a historical marker on Route 9D, just south of Route 403.
|
|
Beverly Robinson House after fire, Garrison, N.Y. GPNEG0066 - Glass Plate Negative. PHM Collection.
|
|
"The Old Beverly House," Below West Point. From the Mark Forlow Postcard Collection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
