Celebrate The Spirit Of 1776 In City Of White Plains

Press release from the City of White Plains:

June 28, 2021

In July of 1776, the White Plains County Court House, located on South Broadway, was the site of the Provincial Assembly of the Colony of New York. The Assembly approved the Declaration of Independence on July 9 and changed its name to the Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York. On July 11, Judge John Thomas of Purchase read the Declaration aloud from the courthouse steps.

Since this was the first time New York was called a state and the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in New York, White Plains became known as “The Birthplace of the State of New York.

The Battle of White Plains was not a major battle in terms of how many soldiers fought, but it was a very significant one. Directed by General Howe, British and Hessian troops drove the Continental army off Chatterton Hill, but they did not pursue them or take on the main line of Washington’s army, which was spread across White Plains. Over the next few days, while Howe waited for reinforcements and then for the ground to dry from a heavy rainstorm, Washington withdrew from Purdy Hill to Mount Misery and Miller Hill in North Castle. The rocky terrain and swamps there made a second successful attack by the British impossible. Howe and his forces returned to New York City, and Washington’s army crossed the Hudson at Peekskill. They would be victorious at Trenton and Princeton in the following weeks.

Washington probably used the Jacob Purdy House as his headquarters for the Battle of White Plains from October 23 to 31, 1776, and then moved to North Castle. He returned to Purdy House in the summer of 1778. The house was moved to its current location at 60 Park Avenue in 1973 to avoid demolition. By 1989 it was fully restored.

The Captain John Falconer House was on the Village Street, on present-day Main Street east of Broadway. British soldiers headquartered there after Washington’s withdrawal to North Castle in 1776. Falconer House was also the Frenchman Duc de Lauzun’s headquarters in 1781. His troops, known as “Lauzun’s Legion,” camped on Battle Hill before marching onto the last major land battle of the war, the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia.

To learn first hand, Explore the White Plains Heritage Trail, which takes you past 24 historic sites in an 11-mile loop through White Plains, West Harrison and North Castle and The White Plains City Clerk's Office and the Department of Recreation and Parks have created historic walking loops which highlight White Plains rich history. These loops make for fun and interesting family walks and are a great way to get your exercise and gain some local historical knowledge at the same time.

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This press release was produced by the City of White Plains. The views expressed here are the author’s own.