This marker (pictured here still in the box) will be dedicated in a ceremony at Bethel Cemetery on Wednesday July 1 at 10 am.
On Wednesday, July 1, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson will hold a ceremony to place a marker honoring two heroes of the American Revolutionary War buried in Bethel Cemetery. One of then, John “Rifle Jack” Peterson, is quite well known in local history and lore, although recently some controversy has arisen about exactly what he did in the war.
The other soldier, Sylvanus Tompkins, is less well known, although his tombstone in the cemetery is clearly marked (see photo below.) This marker honoring both heroes will be placed on the Old Post Road South side of the cemetery, we are told by Village Manager Bryan Healy.
However, some weeks from now, in a separate ceremony, Croton’s American Legion Fox Eklof Post 505 will place its own marker at the cemetery, this time on the Cleveland Drive side. This one will only honor Peterson and not Tompkins. William Tuttle, commander of the post, told the Chronicle that the marker honoring both Peterson and Tomkins was “the village’s thing, not ours” and that the Legion’s marker was ordered and on the way. Tuttle did not comment on why there would be two markers instead of just one.
We found this situation confusing, so we asked Healy if he could help clear it up. He told us that initially, the Legion post, through its member Ed Riely (a well known presence at official Croton meetings) had made contact with the Pomeroy Foundation, which among its other history-oriented activities provides grants for historical markers. The idea was to obtain a historical marker for John Peterson. But during the “research phase,” Healy told us, it was discovered that Tompkins was also buried there.
Indeed, Riely provided the Chronicle with some of his research into Tompkins, including rosters of the company he served in—Cols. Pierre Van Cortlandt & Samuel Drake's 3rd Westchester Militia Regiment, Capt. Ebenezer Boyd's Company—and we were able to locate some other sources such as the following from an 1850 report from the House of Representatives:
However, Healy told us, in the end the Legion post decided to go with a marker honoring just Peterson. Nevertheless, Healy asked the Pomeroy Foundation “to proceed with their marker honoring both patriots,” adding that “The marker is being donated by the foundation so there was no cost to the Village.” This is the marker (pictured above) that will be officially placed on July 1.
Interestingly, Village Historian Marc Cheshire apparently was not involved in any of this planning, for reasons that are not entirely clear. We have heard from some sources that his conclusions regarding John Peterson—that while Peterson was a Revolutionary War hero who fought in a number of battles, he was not involved in firing on the British ship The Vulture from Croton Point, as local legend has long had it—were not popular in certain quarters.
Whatever the case, during this 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation, Croton will have not one but two markers honoring our local revolutionary heroes, and that will be something to celebrate.
Records of the Third Regiment; Sylvanus Tompkins listed in second image (courtesy of Ed Riely):
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