Katrina Van Tassel

When Washington Irving was a 15- year-old boy, he would go to the Old Dutch Church and sit in the west balcony. One day while he was sitting inside, he saw a face on a gravestone out the window. He went outside to investigate. Because the sun was setting, it had created shadows on the face of a gravestone making it look 3-dimensional. The name on the gravestone was Catriena Van Tassel, and her husband was named Petrus Van Tassel. Later, Irving would remember this name and use it for "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," changing the spelling to Katrina. As Washington Irving sat in the west balcony, he liked to look over to the north balcony at a beautiful 18-year-old girl who was Catriena's niece.

Wolfert's Roost, the Van Tassel Farm, and Sunnyside

Catriena (Katrina) was the granddaughter of Wolfert Ecker. After Wolfert Ecker was put out of business by the English, he moved from New York City to Tarrytown, where he built a house and called it "Wolfert's Roost." In 1855, Irving wrote a story called "Wolfert's Roost." In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Katrina lived on the Van Tassel farm, which is believed to be Catriena's grandfather's farm, or Wolfert's Roost. Later, Washington Irving bought this ten acres of land with the farmhouse on it and called it Sunnyside. Wolfert's Roost, the Van Tassel farm, and Sunnyside are all the same place.

Sleepy Hollow's Hessian Soldier

A young couple in the Van Tassel family had a baby daughter who was saved by a Hessian soldier. When a headless Hessian soldier was found in Sleepy Hollow, this family gave him a nice Christian burial. Because another Hessian soldier had saved their daughter's life, they wanted to show their gratitude. The headless Hessian soldier is the source for the Headless Horseman in the story.

Sam Young's Parents

Ichabod Crane

Washington Irving met Ichabod Crane when they were both serving in the United States Army. Ichabod Crane was a Captain, and Washington Irving was a Colonel. Irving used Mr. Merlin from Kinderhook, N. Y. as Ichabod's schoolteacher character. In the story, after the pumpkin was thrown and Irving disappeared, Ichabod Crane went to New York City and became a judge, lawyer, and politician. Sam Young is the character Ichabod Crane, after the pumpkin was thrown. Sam Young did legal work for Washington Irving.

Brom Bones

In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Washington Irving wrote that Brom Bones was his nickname. The character Brom Bones was a strong, young, muscular guy who rode a black stallion that was faster than all the other horses. In searching for Brom's name, it was discovered that Brom is a nickname for Abraham. The village blacksmith's name was Abraham Martling, he was always around horses, he was strong and muscular. Brom's character was inspired by this blacksmith, Abraham Martling. Whenever a shoe on Washington Irving's horse fell off, he would go to Abraham (Brom) Martling who would put it back on. Whenever the bottom of Irving's shoe fell off, he went to Abraham's son, the cobbler, also called Abraham Martling. Abraham Martling, the blacksmith, had a magnificent black horse, similar to the one in the story.

Abraham Martling, blacksmith