Abraham De Voe

Abraham De Voe was born in 1725 in Mount Pleasant, Westchester County, New York.¹ He was the son of John De Voe and Hester See.¹ Abraham De Voe was baptized on 10 April 1725 at the Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York.²

Abraham De Voe married first Lea Storms on 20 October 1753 at the Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York; she died in or after 1759.^1,3

Abraham De Voe married second Mary Davis on 18 August 1765 at the Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York.^1,4 Abraham De Voe became a member of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow on 18 April, 1773; he was elected an elder, 1788-1790.⁵

The following anecdote regarding Abraham and Mary De Voe is taken verbatim from Thos. De Voe's genealogy:⁶

From the descendants the author has gathered the following: In early life Abraham (father) was unfortunate in having one of his legs broken near the thigh, which rendered him lame for life; he was, however, able to do some kinds of farm work until quite an old man.

During the Revolution he and his wife became well acquainted with General Washington, who usually stopped at his house when passing that way; in fact Washington knew all the friendly families between the lines, through his “Life Guards,” several of which, previous to the war, were residents of Westchester County.

At Abraham De Voe’s he was sometimes an unexpected but always a welcome guest, he being perfectly satisfied with such accommodations and food as this family could give him, which in the latter years of the war was of a very plain character. At times provisions of all kinds were so scarce that Mr. De Voe was without seed or animals to work the ground, and thus but little food could be raised, or only what could be attended to by himself and children.

Then much of their Indian corn was pounded or broken up, and in this coarse state was cooked into a dish called samp. This with the milk of one cow, which had to be housed every night, and a few potatoes and fruit, was their principal living for years. Occasionally a little rye flour and Indian meal and a few pounds of pork were procured from friends in the upper counties, through the assistance of Washington on his orders; and thus many families in Westchester County lived during the dark days of the Revolution.

On Washington’s arrival at the house of Abraham De Voe, the usual salute from him was “How do you do, Uncle Brom? And how is Aunt Molly to-day?” After shaking hands with them he turned to their children, and perhaps left a kiss for the girls and some token for the boys; he would usually ask: “Aunt Molly, have you any suppan and milk for me?” “Yes, General,” was her usual reply. “As poor as we are we have always something for you, General.” If she had no suppan or samp, he would say, “Aunt Molly, a little bread and milk will answer just as well.” Then the round rye loaf and a good-sized pewter bowl, half filled with milk, was set before him, into which he broke up his bread, and eat of this dish with a good relish; then followed a few friendly words, when he mounted his charger, and with a few Life Guards, who had been waiting for him, disappeared from the sight of his clever host and hostess, who afterwards often related these interesting incidents of the Revolution to their generations, who have faithfully preserved them.

Abraham's name was on the muster roll of Minute Men, 1778-80, Capt. Gabriel Requa.^7,8

Abraham De Voe appeared on the census of 1790 at Township of Mount Pleasant, Westchester County, New York, where his household was recorded as including 2 white males of 16 years and upwards (including himself), one white male under 16 years (presumably John, born 1770), and 2 white females.⁹

Abraham De Voe appeared on the census of 1800 at Mount Pleasant Township, Westchester County, New York.¹⁰

Abraham De Voe died on 4 June 1805.^7,11 He was buried in the Old Dutch Burying Ground, Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York.^7,11,12 The compiler (Howard DeVoe) visited the Old Dutch Burying Ground on 25 July 1990. He was surprised to see an American flag and a marker reading "Revolutionary Soldier" at the grave of Abraham Devoe (1725-1805), since the Thos. De Voe book states Abraham had been lame since early life.¹ Bill Lent, a caretaker at the burying ground and a genealogy buff, about sixty years old, said the marker was put there by the adjacent Old Dutch Church and resulted from Abraham's being on the list "Veterans Buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Tarrytown, NY," 1930-1940 WPA project NT3.