Peekskill in Westchester County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
America’s Most Famous Cannon
Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 19, 2009
1. America’s Most Famous Cannon
Known as "Patriot's Cannon"
[ East face ]
1775 • • • 1783
“America’s Most Famous Cannon”
Sept. 21, 1780 • John Jacob Peterson of African descent • and Moses Sherwood of Van Cortlandt 3rd West, Militia took it to Croton Pt. and fired on the • Vulture • causing it to abandon Major Andre the British spy who was captured trying to escape through American territory.
• 1952 • Presented to Peekskill Museum by Paul I. Bleakley •
[ North face ]
Moses Sherwood
1761 • • • 1867
Buried in Sparta Cemetery • Ossining, NY
2nd NY Regt. • 4th NY Regt. • Hammonds, NY Regt.
[ West face ]
Aug 23, 1780 • Washington gives Arnold command of West Point. Arnold weakens the defenses of the fort.
Sept. 20, 1780 • Andre sails
this page online
Sept. 21, 1780 • John Peterson fires the cannon • the Vulture retreats
Sept. 22, 1780 • Major Andre escapes through Peekskill • Yorktown • Bedford
Sept 23, 1780 • Andre is captured in Tarrytown with plans of West Point.
Oct 2, 1780 • Andre is hung as a spy in Tappan, NY.
[ South face ]
John Jacob Peterson
1746 • • • 1850
Buried in Bethel Cemetery • Croton, NY
2nd NY Regt. • 3rd West. Militia • Van Renssalaer, NY Regt.
1st. Annual Peekskill Patriots Day
Cannon Remounted by the Moshier Family of Peekskill
Descendants of John Jacob Peterson
Erected 1952.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is May 23, 1820.
Location. 41° 17.339′ N, 73° 55.263′ W. Marker is in Peekskill, New York, in Westchester County. Marker is on Union Avenue near 1st Street, on the right when traveling south. Located in front of the Peekskill Museum in the Herrick House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 124 Union Avenue, Peekskill NY 10566, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Teachers Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Cortlandt Civil War Monument (approx. 0.4 miles away); Peekskill World War I Monument
Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 19, 2009
2. America’s Most Famous Cannon
Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 19, 2009
3. America’s Most Famous Cannon
Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 19, 2009
4. America’s Most Famous Cannon
Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 19, 2009
5. America’s Most Famous Cannon and the Peekskill Museum in the Herrick House
Photographed By Michael Herrick, September 19, 2009
6. An Older Marker
When on September 21, 1780, Moses Sherwood
and John Peterson, Continental Militiamen,
took it to Teller’s Point and fired on the
Vulture, Major Andre could not return
to New York on it, and so was captured at
Tarrytown.
Presented 1952 by Paul L. Bleakley
(This marker is located behind the museum.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 2,330 times since then and 134 times this year. Last updated on October 16, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 19, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 6. submitted on September 21, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
