The actions of these three patriots thwarted a plot between Major John André and General Benedict Arnold in which Arnold had planned to surrender West Point to the British. André was tried and convicted as a spy and hanged in Tappan, New York on October 2, 1780. Although the three militiamen were farmers of modest means, they refused the large monetary bribes offered by Major John André, and brought him to Army headquarters. 'André attempted to bribe the militiamen with large sums of money and goods. Major André was carrying papers describing the fortification of West Point, given to him by Benedict Arnold. Upon further investigation they found plans to West Point hidden in André's boot.

The three militiamen questioned André and became suspicious. 'It was September 23, 1780, when André approached the group thinking they were allies. Paulding, who had recently escaped from a British prison in New York City, was wearing a Hessian coat. André was riding south on the eastside of the Hudson River when he encountered John Paulding with David Williams and Isaac Van Wart. Benedict Arnold gave André a horse and recommended that André travel to Tarrytown, a neutral territory. 'The next day the Americans fired upon the Vulture from Croton Point, forcing it to leave without André. By then, it was determined to be too risky to take André back to his ship, the Vulture, which was setting sail for British headquarters in New York City. The meeting lasted until dawn of the next morning. 'One evening in September of 1780, Major André and Gen. André was a spy in league with Benedict Arnold in a scheme to sabotage American forces during the Revolutionary War.

The capture of British Major John André by three Westchester citizens is one of the most notable events in the history of Westchester County. American Revolution - Militiamen Capture British Spy

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