IT HAS BEEN STATED that the burning of Kingston, New York, by the British in 1777 was due to the firing from the redoubt at the mouth of the Rondout Creek. This redoubt was located on or near the site of the trading post of 1610, where tradition states a fort was erected in 1614, as authorized by the States General. But while this firing, at a time when the British commander was stung by reports of repeated disasters to Burgoyne's army, may have led to the landing of troops and the overpowering of the garrison, the real causes of the burning of the town lie farther back. They can be found in brave little Holland, whose standards and principles were those of the inhabitants of Kingston from its settlement in 1652 until long after the American Revolution. Indeed, these remain still, to some extent.

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    On a neighboring corner was the home of Judge Dirck Wynkoop, where were kept the county papers. This was only partially burned, and is, as rebuilt, the home of the Misses Forsyth. The papers were rescued by young Mr. Bancker, and presumably thus was saved the wampum belt given by the Indians as a token of friendship, and now in the County Clerk's office.

    Across what is now Fair Street, near the church, was the large stone house of the Widow Mary Crooke Elmendorph. She had hoped to appease the enemy by having a substantial meal ready for them. They ate it, it is said, and then burned the house. When this word reached Mrs. Elmendorph in Hurley, a slave said this could not be, for she had the key in her pocket. Strange to say, in this connection, this ruin was never restored, as were most of the houses, the stone of which they were built to some extent resisting the flames. It was, however, so far repaired that the family of Cornelius Wynkoop took refuge there after the burning. One of his children handed down the story to later generations that when terrible noises would startle the Household on a windy night, the mother would say: "Don't be frightened, children. It is only part of the house falling down." [More...]

Source:

Forsyth, Mary Isabella, "The Burning of Kingston, New York", The Journal of American History, New York, N.Y., Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., Volume 7, No. 3, (Fall, 1913)

    The Wynkoop family mentioned here is probably Col. Cornelius D. Wynkoop of Kingston and his wife, Anna Gansevoort, according to Richard Wynkoop's 1904 edition of Wynkoop Genealogy in the United States of America, pages 45-46:

    94. Cornelius D. Wynkoop, Colonel, (Dirck 13, Maj. Johannes 2, Cornelius 1,) born March 5, 1734, baptized March 10: died, in Hurley, N. Y., in November, 1792: married 1st, May 28, 1762, Leah Du Bois, both described as living in Ulster County. She was baptized May 2, 1742, seventh child of Cornelius and Margaret (Hoogteyling) Du Bois, of New Paltz, N. Y. Hoogteyling is now written Houghtaling. Cornelius married 2d, in Albany, January 2, 1778, Anna Gansevoort, who died, in Albany, August 9, 1794, aged 49 years, 10 months, 3 days. She was daughter of Harmen and Margaret (Douw) Gansevoort.
    Cornelius D. was appointed, June 30, 1775, Major of the Third Regiment, Col. James Clinton, raised in Ulster and Duchess counties. He was made Lieut.-Col. of the same regiment, August 2, 1775, and was ordered to muster the companies of Captains Hasbrouck and Brown. He became Colonel, April 11, 1776. A list of the officers of the regiment is given in Force's American Archives, 5th Series, vol. i., p. 1311. He was one of the Associators of Hurley, July 6, 1775. He was, probably, the "General Wynkoop," who made the address of welcome to General Washington, at Hurley. (See Cornelius E. 295.)
    Cornelius was killed by one of his negroes, who had been infuriated by punishment received from the son of Cornelius, on account of a disturbance that he had made in the kitchen, and by a reprimand from Cornelius himself. The negro mistook the father for the son, probably.
    The last will of Cornelius D., dated Hurley, May 2, 1776, was proved June 13, 1793.
    Children of Cornelius D. and Leah Wynkoop:
258. Derrick C.: b. Apl. 4, 1763: m. Elizabeth Sparling.
259. Leah: b. Apl. 9, 1766: m. Abraham Ten Eyck De Witt, M.D.
    Children of Cornelius D. and Anna Wynkoop:
260. Gertrude: b. Dec. 26, 1781, bp. in Kingston, Mch. 28, 1782. "Gerritje": d. in infancy.
261. Herman Gansevoort: b. Dec. 16, 1785: d., in Albany, Mch. 3, 1854. He is mentioned, in 1813, as a druggist, at 124 Market Street, Albany.
262. Gertrude Magdalen: bp. Nov. 29, 1788, "Geretje," Kingston church record.