The Washburn House is one of the earliest homes in Briarcliff Manor. It was sold by the New York State Commission on Forfeiture to Joseph Washburn in 1775.

According to Mary Cheever’s wonderful history of Briarcliff Manor – “The Changing Landcape” (copies are available at the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society):

After the battle of White Plains in 1776, General George Washington set up headquarters just north of Peekskill. British headquarters were in New York City. Both armies needed provisions, and some farmers, millers and teamsters were released from active duty to get grain to the Croton River Mill and make flour for Washington’s army. Other noncombatants, particularly some Quakers managed to do well, but Westchester as a whole, for some seven years was “Neutral Ground” between the enemy camps, and suffered greatly from raids and pillage by marauders claiming allegiance to both sides. These were called Cowboys and Skinners, because they stole and skinned cattle and sold hides and meat to the armies. Livestock and provisions of all kinds were stolen and farms were burned and abandoned. When the end of hostilities was declared in 1783, the countryside was in ruins. The story of a typical atrocity was told by Joseph Bowron Washburn at the 1875 Centennary of Reuben Washburn at his house on Washburn Road in Briarcliff: “Joseph, our grandfather, lived in this house, kept bachelor hall until he was married to Freelove Matthews in 1775. The first of fourteen children was Reuben. This farm belonged to ‘Philipse Manor’ and once a year Joseph went to the manor house near Tarrytown to pay his rent. Joseph, who lived in this war, suffered severely from lawless bands of skinners, who robbed and beat him nearly to death for his money. He gave them the silver and they beat him still more for his gold. He refused to give that up“. He was then hung from an apple tree”. Fortunately, after the rascals departed, Washburn’s family returned in time to save his life

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 10-24mm f4