Interview with Barker, William
[margin: 158 219] [margin: 1845] October 22d William Barker of White Plains: "I had been sent on an errand on horseback to Captain John Tredwell and was returning home, being then about fourteen, when between my father's (Squire Bonnals) and the next house south (Bates's) I met a detachment of soldiers and was accosted by one of Colonel Simcoe's officers on the return of his party from the capture of General Thomas. This officer bade me dismount, threatening to cut my head off if I did not, and mounted the horse I had been riding himself. I followed on and enquired for the Commanding Officer, and at length found Simcoe who, after I had represented my case to him said: "Well, don't be afraid, my little man, you
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[margin: 159 220] [margin: 1845] shall have your horse. march on with us for the present, and I'll send for him." Presently a soldier came along leading the horse which was then given up to me. They had one or two other prisoners besides Colonel Thomas. Before I recovered my horse we had come near to Ward's House which had just then been burnt. The roof and beams had fallen in and it was still burning." "Jacob Purdy of White Plains had a brother Henry who was a captain in De Lancey's, and went to Nova Scotia." "Joshua Barnes and Benjamin Hunt, a Captain and Lieutenant of DeLancey were taken at Tuckeyhoe or near there by a company of Meigs's regiment. I saw the prisoners as they passed up, that is, Barnes, Hunt, and their company consisting of about thirty men. The time I think was in 1777 or 1778.