Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. IV
apout Midday, as he and three other Men of Cole Reid's settlers were at work in the Meadow at their Hay, they were surprized by about Twenty Men armed with Guns, swords and Pistols, who inguired of the Deponent and his Companions if they lived in the house some time before occupied by Joshua Hide, to which they replyed no, that the Men who belonged to that house were absent about Business, the Rioters then told the Deponent and his Companions that they must go along with them (as they coud not understand the women) and March'd them prisoners Guarded before and behind like Criminals to the house where they Join'd the rest of the Mob in Number about one hundred or more men al] arm'd as before, and who, as the Deponent was told by the women had let there horses loose among the corn and wheat which Cole Reid had bought for the use of the Deponent & the rest of his settlers by which means great part of both were Destroy'd, the Mob desired the things to be taken out of the House otherwise they wou'd be Immediately committed to the flames, as they were Determined to set fire to the house without loss of time, which they did accordingly; then the Ringleader (or Captain) of the Mob whese name the Deponent afterwards learnt to be Ethan Allen order'd part of his gang to accompany the Deponent to his own house (formerly built and occupied by Capt» Gray) in order to prepare for the same fate with the other the Deponent and his Wife earnestly requested the Mob to spare their house for a few days in order to save their Effects and protect their Children from the Inclemency of the weather, till they cou'd have an opportunity of removing themselves to some safe place, but Captain Allen comeing up from the fore mentioned house, told them that his Business requir'd haste for he and his gang were Determin'd not to leave a house belonging to Colo Reid standing.