The house was inmiediately forced, and, no resistance being made, the officers shut the doors of the different rooms, to prevent the irritated soldiers from revenging their unfortunate comrade. The man who fired, was the only person killed : but Thomas, after Lt. Col. Simcoe had personally protected him and ensured his safety, jumped out of the window, and, springing over some fences, would have certainly escaped, notwithstanding most of Emmerick's riflamen fired at him, had not an hussar leapt after him and cut at him with his sword, (which he crouched from, and luckily escaped,) when he surrendered. The cavalry proceeded on to the enemy's picquet, at a mile distance. They had been alarmed by the firing, and were formed. They fired their carbines (by which Captain Ogden, of Emn}erick's, was wounded) and fled ; they were pursued, but to no purpose. The troops returned to General Tryon, who was, in person, at Ward's house, and who was much pleased at this mischievous partizan's being taken. This march was above fifty miles. "^

General Tliomas \vas subsequently paroled, and ultimately exchanged. Upon his death, which took place in 1824, the Thomas property in this town passed by will to the heir of his sister, Charity Thomas, who married Jan:ies Ferris of Throckmorton's neck. Their grandson Thomas Ferris is the present

• Simcoe's Military Journal, Barttett & Welford, X. Y. p. 92, 93-

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258 HISTORY OF THE

proprietor. Of this family is the Hon. Charles G. Ferris, late member of Congress from the city of New York.