• The Forgotten New York State Historical Marker: John Dean Rock in Hawthorne, NY

    Who Was John Dean? John Dean was a youngster in the town of Mount Pleasant, NY before the American Revolution. His family’s farm sat squarely in the middle of what was known as the Neutral Zone. Like many from the area, John was forced to take a side. He clearly chose the side of being

  • The Life of James LeRoy Yerks, b. 1892, d. 1973

    By Published On: February 6th, 2024Categories: Surname: Yerks, Uncategorized

    The Early Years James Leroy Yerks, originally known as Leroy Yerks, embarked on a remarkable journey from Northern Westchester County to Greenwich, Connecticut. His story is marked by transformation, adaptation, and a significant change in his name. Born on November 6, 1892, in Mount Kisco, New York, Leroy's early life was marked by

  • The Yerkes (Yerks) Tavern of North Salem: Separating Fact from Fiction in Historical Mythology

    By Published On: October 30th, 2023Categories: Uncategorized

    The Yerkes (Yerks) Tavern I extend my heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to Robert Treadway and North Salem Town Historian Susan Thompson. This article owes its existence to their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts to unravel the layers of history surrounding the Yerks Tavern. Their years of meticulous research and passionate pursuit

  • Life in the Crossfire: The Yerks Family in the Neutral Zone during the American Revolution

    By Published On: June 2nd, 2023Categories: Uncategorized

    Skinners assaulting a family, from James Fenimore Cooper’s The Spy, published in 1821 by Wiley & Halsted. The American Revolution unleashed a tumultuous period in which families were caught in the crossfire between British forces and American Patriots. Families like the Yerks, residing in the Neutral Zone, experienced a unique set of challenges,

  • Abridged: THE “NEUTRAL GROUND”, By CHARLES PRYER.

    By Published On: January 23rd, 2023Categories: Uncategorized

    During the War of the Revolution, the County of Westchester, and particularly the lower towns (now forming the (Borough of Bronx or Bronck’s’[1]), was the prey of the foraging parties of both armies, as it lay directly between them and was permanently occupied by neither. Being common property to both parties, it was, therefore, called

  • 1925 Chappaqua Map Overlaid with 2023 Google Map

    By Published On: January 22nd, 2023Categories: Uncategorized

  • The Book of Life for John J Hayes and His Ancestors

    By Published On: November 7th, 2022Categories: Uncategorized

    This is a presentation I built for Christmas several years ago.  It may be hard to understand some of the slides without any context, but it is shared here in the interest of sharing information. https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0c62zm304e5m56AXVyTrWzkpg#Book_of_Life_-_The_Hayes_Family  

  • John Deans Account of a Revolutionary Skirmish in Mount Pleasant

    By Published On: November 5th, 2022Categories: American RevolutionTags: , ,

    Sergent John Dean is Collen’s first cousin, 7x removed, and a well-known revolutionary patriot.  Johns's mother is Maritie Jurckse (Yerks), the daughter of Harmon Jurckse.  He is the patriot who reportedly hid behind a large rock on the upper portion of the  William Jurckse (Yerks) farm and attacked British troops as they marched up and

  • Philipsburg Manor…A Must Visit For Yerks (Jurckse) Family Members

    By Published On: November 4th, 2022Categories: Places: Philipsburg, Surname: YerksTags: , ,

    I vaguely remember visiting Philipsburg Manor as part of a school trip I went on when I was little. I didn't remember much about its history, but I definitely remembered it was there, across the street from the well-known Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.  I would never have imagined that I would marry someone with a direct