From the Book: A history of the city of Brooklyn and Kings County

Alexander Whaley (or Whally ) was one of those decided characters of whom we should be glad to learn much more, than we have been able to ascertain, in spite of much inquiry and research. He was a blacksmith, residing at the Bushwick Cross Roads, on land forming a part of Abraham Rapalye 's forfeited estates, and which he purchased at the commissioners' sale, March 21, 1785 . (Liber VI, Convey. Kings Co., 345). The building which Mr. Whaley occupied was erected by himself, on the south side of the present Flushing avenue, his liberty-sign pole rising from a little knoll some twenty feet west of the house. His blacksmith-shop was on the site of the present house, east of the old Whaley house. He died at Bushwick , in February, 1833 , in the eighty-eighth year of his age. Bold, faithful, and patriotic, and odd withal, he made his mark upon the day and generation Boston harbor . He was the confidential friend of Washington and in all the relations of life he always did his duty."

His patriotism indeed always blazed out, during the latter part of his life at the sight of any of the tory tribe, who lingered within the precincts of Bushwick . Brave and generous to a fault, he could brook nothing that savored of disloyalty to the government, or the country which he had aided to preserve. An example of this is contained in the following characteristic advertisement, published in the Long Island Star, of May 7, 1810 :

"Twenty Dollars Reward! On Saturday night, the 10th instant, about the time when "wander forth the sons of Belial , fraught with insolence and wine," a gang of midnight desperadoes proceeded to the property of the subscriber, and cut down his sign, together with the Liberty Pole from which it was suspended. By such dastardly conduct did those heroic children of darkness, attempt to manifest their enmity not only to me, but also to the emblem of liberty, to which I have reason to conclude they were always opposed, and which I have no doubt they still abhor. One of my neighbors informs me that he saw them at a distance, galloping off as if Old Nick was at their horses' heels (and no doubt he was) as fast as their horses' heels and a guilty conscience could drive them. He says they pursued a northerly direction, and supposes if they have kept on at the same rate they started they might by this time have reached Nova Scotia , where the sight of a liberty pole may no longer present to their affrighted imaginations, the fearful idea of a gallows, which, no doubt, they have so long and so richly deserved. There their delicate ears would no longer be annoyed with the terrible sounds of 'Tompkins and Liberty.' There they may sing without censure, 'God bless Great George , our King.' Nor will their adoption of the name, as a mask, and profession of attachment to the principles of Washington be longer necessary; and from thence, I sincerely hope for the good of my country, and the peace of society, they may never again return. Should they, however, not yet have passed the lines, and should they be found skulking in any part of the United States , whoever will bring them forward, so that they may be prosecuted to conviction, shall receive the above reward.

"Alexander Whaley .
"Bushwick , May 10th, 1810 .

"P. S. It is intended in the course of a few days to erect another liberty pole, and this I hope to accomplish without drawing on the funds of the Washington , the Washington Benevolent, or the Kings Co. Humane Society.