Interview with Brown, Nehemiah
October 21st Nehemiah Brown, of Rye, near Portchester: "Shube Merritt and his brother Thomas both belonged to Emmerick's. Thomas quarreled with Emmerick and drew his sword challenging him. He left the corps in consequence. Shube got Emmerick into so many scrapes by plundering &c that Emmerick expelled him. Shube and Thomas were both from Rye. Thomas joined the Queen's Rangers afterwards. Emmerick was a severe disciplinarian, and sometimes struck his men. He was unpopular in consequence. Thomas was afterwards high sheriff of one of the counties in upper Canada.
Dole was a sergeant in Sheldon's. In 1780 (August 17th?) he was in King Street. They (Nehemiah Brown and his brother) told him that Shube Merritt Merritt and Adderton (or Addington) intended to attack him. He asked them how they were armed, and was informed [page break] Neh. Brown contd. with pistols only. "How many?" "Two." "Then", said he, "I'll stand my ground." He then stopped at Captain Joseph Wilson's, and was talking with his daughter when Shube and Adderton advanced and stationed themselves on each side of the gateway. Dole then drew his sword and advanced. As he went out of the gate Shube called on him to surrender upon which he struck at Shube who instantly fired at and missed him. - Adderton then fired and wounded him badly in the side. Dole then charged upon Adderton, but finding his strength failing from loss of blood, he put spurs to his horse and rode as far as Nathan Merritt's (about half a mile), where, faint from loss of blood, he remained and had his wound dressed, and staid till he recovered. Shube called at Merritt's and claimed Dole as his prisoner and demanded his property. Fearing Shube, Merritt's people surrendered his sword and pistol. Shube then proposed to [page break] Nehemiah Brown contd. parole him.