This Week in History, Sep 21 - Sep 27

Sep 21, 1780
Benedict Arnold commits treason. On this day in 1780, during the American Revolution, American General Benedict Arnold meets with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over West Point to the British, in return for the promise of a large sum of money and a high position in the British army. The plot was foiled and Arnold, a former American hero, became synonymous with the word "traitor."

Sep 22, 1862
Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation. On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which sets a date for the freedom of more than 3 million black slaves in the United States and recasts the Civil War as a fight against slavery. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, shortly after Lincoln's inauguration as America's 16th president, he maintained that the war was about restoring the Union and not about slavery. He avoided issuing an anti-slavery proclamation immediately, despite the urgings of abolitionists and radical Republicans, as well as his personal belief that slavery was morally repugnant. Instead, Lincoln chose to move cautiously until he could gain wide support from the public for such a measure.

Sep 23, 1875
Billy the Kid arrested for first time. On this day in 1875, Billy the Kid is arrested for the first time after stealing a basket of laundry. He later broke out of jail and roamed the American West, eventually earning a reputation as an outlaw and murderer and a rap sheet that allegedly included 21 murders.
The exact details of Billy the Kid's birth are unknown, other than his name, William Henry McCarty. He was probably born sometime between 1859 and 1861, in Indiana or New York. As a child, he had no relationship with his father and moved around with his family, living in Indiana, Kansas, Colorado and Silver City, New Mexico. His mother died in 1874 and Billy the Kid—who went by a variety of names throughout his life, including Kid Antrim and William Bonney—turned to crime soon afterward.

St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, NY
914-667-4116 www.nps.gov/sapa * Special free Programs in October 2014

Wed., Oct. 1, 1 PM
The fall concert series with a vocal performance of musical theater and jazz favorites, accompanied by keyboard, from Sarah Lawrence College.

Thursday, October 2, 7 PM
Enjoy a talk about Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 inaugural journey from Illinois to Washington, with a focus on his stop in Westchester County, by Lincoln scholar Anthony J. Czarnecki

Wed., Oct. 8, 1 PM
The Wednesday series is proud to feature a performance by acclaimed cellist Ani Kalayjian.

Monday, Oct. 13, Columbus Day recognition
The site is open, regular hours, 9 AM to 5 PM, with a 1 PM presentation the history of Columbus Day and ongoing children’s crafts projects related to the Holiday.

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 10 AM, Tour of Pell’s Point Battlefield
Join us for a walking tour of the Split Rock Golf Course, in Pelham Bay Park, site of the Revolutionary War battle of Pell's Point. Reservations must be made in advance through St. Paul's; space is limited; please call 914-667-4116 for details.

Fri., Oct. 17, 7 PM, Candlelight Tour & Historic Music Program
Tour the historic cemetery by candlelight, visiting the graves of soldiers and civilians who lived through the American Revolution; hear a performance of 18th century music by Linda Russell & Companie, in the historic Church; refreshments served.

Sat. Oct. 18, 10 AM to 4 PM, Battle of Pell’s Point Encampment
An encampment that commemorates the nearby 1776 Battle of Pell’s Point. It includes talks on the American Revolution, musket firing and militia drill, period music and dancing, crafts and cooking, historic children's games and toys, with dozens of costumed re-en-actors representing the armies that fought in the Revolutionary War.

Wed., Oct. 22, 1 PM
The fall concert series continues with 2Flutes, music for flutes, with Laura Falzon & Pamela Sklar, including Native American selections.

As many as 12.3 billion people may be living on earth by the year 2100, according to a United Nations released population projections based on a Bayesian probabilistic methodology.

Analysis of these data reveals that, contrary to previous literature, world population is unlikely to stop growing this century. There is an 80% probability that world population, now 7.2 billion, will increase to between 9.6 and 12.3 billion in 2100.