John Andre’s Story.
During my visit to the Old ’76 House, I learned about Adjutant General Major John Andre’s life and walked in the very rooms where he was once held captive. His story is one of the most tragic of the Revolutionary War. Despite working for the British, even George Washington said of the man, “he was more unfortunate than criminal; an accomplished man and a gallant officer.”
At the age of thirty, John Andre had quickly risen nearly to the top of the British military. He eventually became the Chief Officer of British Intelligence and served under General Henry Clinton. John Andre had a rock-solid work ethic and put his honor above all else, which earned him respect among nearly everyone whom he served with and under. Andre was hell bent on restoring his family’s honor after his father was wrapped up in a sort of financial stock scandal, and then passed away shortly after.
Rising through the ranks of the military would be the quickest and most effective way to restore dignity to his mother and siblings. However, Andre never wanted to be a soldier, he wanted to be a writer. He was poetic, a brilliant wordsmith, and an even greater artist, drawing lifelike portraits and silhouettes of people and places in his life. His work stunned viewers.
Despite the military being more of an obligation than a passion, John served valiantly. He was renowned by both Loyalists and Patriots as a gallant gentleman, admirable in every sense, and exceedingly handsome. He was beloved by both men and women.
The Crime.
In the biggest blundering betrayal in American History, John Andre was a force (though not the only force) that helped convince Benedict Arnold to turn on Washington, and thus, America. Benedict Arnold was in charge of West Point, and so would help the British win the war by turning over plans for the site.
After many months of correspondence, Arnold and Andre met in Haverstraw, New York. This allowed Andre to make a final assessment of Benedict Arnold’s willingness to become a turncoat in order to help the British. For reasons that are still highly contested, Arnold gave John Andre documents pertaining to West Point which John Andre hid within his boot. A ship called The Vulture, which had brought Andre to meet Arnold behind enemy (read: American) lines was ambushed, so John had to endure a very long journey on foot and horseback, toward the British lines.
The Captivity at the Old ’76 House.
On his way back to safety, Andre was stopped by three men (it is uncertain whether they were militia men or skinners) who found the plans tucked away in his boot. Knowing that there was a financial reward for capturing spies, the three turned John Andre over to the Continental Army. I should note that it’s also uncertain if the three men even knew the significance of the documents found on Andre, they just knew that they found something that looked important. John Andre was held captive in the building that now houses the Old ’76 Restaurant.
He was, however, treated with respect and dignity. Firstly, because he was an officer and there was a mutual agreement between both sides that officers when held captive were given dignified treatment. Secondly, John Andre was so respectable not only as an officer but as a man, that he genuinely earned the respect of his captors — people like Benjamin Tallmadge and Alexander Hamilton.
The Execution.
Following a trial which found him guilty of crimes of espionage against the United States, John Andre left the Old ’76 House to be hung October 2, 1780. His request to be shot as an officer instead of hung like a spy were denied because he was not in uniform at the time of his capture.
John Andre’s words upon walking to the gallows were, “it [the pain] will be but a momentary pang.” He also prayed that the men at his hanging would “bear witness that I meet my fate like a brave man.” Despite being an officer for the ‘enemy,’ nobody really wanted to see John Andre killed at all. Many officers, including Lafayette and possibly even Washington himself cried at Andre’s execution. Hamilton wrote a letter to both his wife and his best friend, John Laurens, expressing his lamentation about Andre.
I’ve condensed this story a LOT because I’m currently working on an entire piece about John Andre and the John Andre trail. Be on the look out for it! It’s important to note that The Old ’76 House was not a prison, despite John Andre being sequestered within its walls during his trial. It was actually a tavern and home dating back to 1686!
Brunch at the Old ’76 House.
The food at the Old ’76 House is undoubtedly as alluring as the rich history itself. My only complaint is that I have to drive close to an hour to reach this place in order to eat there. The owner is equal parts gifted chef and historian. If you’re visiting for brunch, I highly recommend skipping the bottomless mimosas. Although, let’s be real, that’s not a bad option. Instead, order the mimosa bar!
Mimosa Bar is a Must.
The draw of the mimosa bar is in the variety for me. The option includes an entire bottle of champagne, a carafe of orange juice and another of cranberry juice, and a shot of peach schnapps which adds a punch of velvety flavor into your mimosa. The option of the mimosa bar feels really ‘hip’ in a place so steeped in history.
The Food.
The red velvet muffins are exquisite and the perfect sized appetizer to brunch. They’re not too sweet, yet really flavorful. In the spirit of authenticity, I simply had to order and devour a platter of oysters on the half shell. Oysters were something of an obsession during colonial times and well into the 19th century. (Check out my piece on the history at Tawk of New Yawk.) The sauce to accompany the oysters is truly out of this world. It’s a mignonette sauce that’s made with rice vinegar and cucumbers and is substantially refreshing. I’m serious when I say that I could have drank it out of the freaking bowl.
As for entrees, there are plenty of Revolutionary-themed meals to choose from, no matter what time you show up to dine. Options such as “onion soup Lafayette,” “duckling Hamilton,” and “eggs Benedict Arnold” are as delicious as they are fun. The portions are generous and the food is exceptional. My platter of just about all breakfast items ever created was fairly named “The Glutton.” It was a great way to taste a variety of cooking from the restaurant, and did a fine job in keeping my champagne high balanced.
The Old ’76 House also offers live music on select evenings as well as hosts private events. It has even been featured in some paranormal encounters, starring expert ghost hunters who aim to make contact with folks like John Andre.
The History.
For many, wandering into The Old ’76 House for a meal feels interesting, but the depth of knowledge stops there. For me, I was highly anticipating the experience, but also felt a ‘pang’ of solemnity when walking through the door. Having just finished a crash course in John Andre’s history, I deeply understood the gravity of being in this place. Where most people saw bygone charm, I saw the ghostly footsteps of men from hundreds of years ago, the heaviest of which came from the boots of a young, unfortunate, achingly poetic man who was to be hanged shortly after being sequestered to this building.
We discussed how much of the building was original with our waiter and eventually the owner. I was astounded to learn that nearly all of interior was from the days of John Andre, Washington, and Tallmadge. The original bar, the fireplace, and even the floors were kept from the 18th century. The wooden beams were not from the house originally, but were taken from another 18th century building constructed by the same builder.
The Artifacts at the Old ’76 House.
Guests are encouraged to walk around and examine the pieces on display around the restaurant to their heart’s content. Nomadic Neen and I hardly had to be asked to do so. We were chomping at the bit to look at each and every artifact from the moment that we arrived. The fireplaces were of particular interest to me as I imagined the Colonial officers and John Andre sitting by the flames, warming up their bones in the late fall, and contemplating what the future would bring.
There are facsimiles of the correspondence between George Washington, John Andre, and General Clinton surrounding John Andre’s capture. Each is exceptionally moving to read and really humanizes all of the men. This is especially true of John Andre, as he mentions his sisters and mother. Newspaper articles from the gazettes of the time as well as portraits and uniforms are on display around the restaurant. There’s a lot to take in, so be sure to spend time carefully combing through all of the artifacts.
After your visit to the Old ’76 House, take a short walk to the DeWint House for an awesome (and free) experience traveling through time!
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