Almost directly opposite the house with the wrought iron railings described in my last post is a small and unassuming cemetery. It’s called the Little White Church Cemetery and its interesting for a number of reasons:

1. There is no little white church. “On 43 Ashford Avenue in Dobbs Ferry, on nearly 3 acres of land, stands a peculiar sight, a cemetery named for a church, yet there is no church on this ground. Even if a church stood there, the name of the cemetery would not match the name of the church, for surely, no one would actually name their church The Little White Church. The land on which this cemetery now stands once belonged to Dirck Storm, who at some point in the 1800s, sold it to Martin and Rebeccah Lefurgy. In 1823 the couple sold it to a group of Presbyterian ministers looking to form a church. Two years later, they officially founded their church. At the time of its founding the congregation consisted of only six members. The name of this church was the South Presbyterian Church of Greenburgh (I can only assume that the church was small and white and popularly known as “The Little White Church”), which still exists today, although at a different location. Its members gave it the nickname The Little White Church. In 1842, Martin and Rebeccah Lefurgy’s son, Isaac, gave the church an additional half acre. The church conducted religious services and burials on the property from the time of its founding until 1869 when it moved to a new location on 515 Broadway. The building was torn down in 1883 and the property was then sold to Dr. Champion Judson who on his death deeded it to The Village of Dobbs Ferry”.

2. There is an interesting Revolutionary War connection. A monument in the cemetery reads: “August 19, 1781. In mid-August 1781, when the allied American and French armies were encamped in Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Hartsdale and White Plains, General George Washington adopted the strategy that would win the Revolutionary War. He decided to risk a march of more than 400 miles from the Hudson to Virginia. Hoping to trap British General Cornwallis at Yorktown.

On August 19, 1781, near the intersection of present day Ashford Avenue and Broadway, the Continental Army was assembled for the march. Only a few trusted officers knew that the destination would be Virginia. The troops, who expected to turn South at the intersection and march towards the British in Manhattan were surprised to receive orders to turn North instead and head for the Hudson River Crossing at Kings Ferry.

Two months later, at Yorktown, Virginia General Cornwallis surrendered to the allied American and French forces. The surrender of Cornwallis led to victory in the war and to uncontested independence for the United States. Dedicated 2013”.

3. A number of Civil War soldiers (including one general: Brigadier General James Bowen) are buried here.

Taken with a Sony A6000 and E 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 OSS