" Before the troops went into winter quarters, it was necessary that sufficient boards should be procured to hut those who were to remain in the vicinity of King's Bridge, and the light troops were of the parties who collected them. Lieut. Colonel Simcoe proposed to General Tryon, who commanded the British, to take down Ward's house,"* and the build ings in its vicinity ; and that, while a covering party should halt there, he would attempt to surprise Col. Thomas, (a very active partizan of the enemy,) and a post of dragoons, nearly twenty miles beyond it. General Tryon acquiesced in the proposal, and directed it to be put in execution, but seemed very doubtful, whether so wary a person as Thomas could be circumvented. Lieut. Colonel Simcoe marched all night, with Emmerich's and the Queen's rangers, and surrounded Thomas' house by daybreak. Pie never lay at home before that night, and had done so in consequence of the British troops in general being gone into winter quarters, and one of his own spies being deceived, and made to believe that the Queen's rangers were to march to Long Island. One shot was fired from the window, which, unfortunately killed a man by the side of Lieut.

a James Thatcher's Military Journal. Feb. 1T7T. B. 77.

6 This gentleman Was the last W<jh Sheriff of the county before, and the first appoint*11 after, the war.

c General Thomas was elected chairman of Public Safety, in 177C </ See East Chester.