Outdoor Living History Presentation @ Somers Library

Who remembers John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart or David Williams? 

Yet for a century they were renowned as the Westchester militiamen who captured Major John Andre in Tarrytown on September 23, 1780 and foiled Benedict Arnold's plan to surrender West Point and George Washington to the

British Army.

The captors of Andre (Paulding, Van Wart, and Williams) were praised by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton for capturing Andre and refusing his offers of bribe, and thus foiling Benedict Arnold's plan to turn over West Point to the British and capture George Washington..

They were awarded the first military decoration in our nation's history.

As Washington phrased it to Congress, “Their conduct merits our warmest esteem. They have prevented in all probability our suffering one of the severest strokes that could have been mediated against us.”

 This outdoor program will be a living history event with Dr. Vic DiSanto, PhD and Bonnie Dailey portraying David Williams and Nancy Benedict Williams respectively. 

 Title of Program: A Forgotten Hero: David Williams and the capture of Major John Andre.

 Date: Sunday, May 22, 2022 @ 2:00-3:00pm