Home / Macdonald, John. Interview with Chichester, Henry, c.1762-1849; (1847-11-04). John M. McDonald Interviews, 1844-1851, WCHS item 1392. Westchester County Historical Society. Transcribed by history.croton.news April 2026. / Passage

Interview with Chichester, Henry

Macdonald, John. Interview with Chichester, Henry, c.1762-1849; (1847-11-04). John M. McDonald Interviews, 1844-1851, WCHS item 1392. Westchester County Historical Society. Transcribed by history.croton.news April 2026. 314 words

November 4th Henry Chichester of Old Well. * Captain Uriah Raymond of the militia commanded the Old Well Company that Seth Seymour belonged to. The Coast Guard at Norwalk was command- -ed by Captain Samuel Keeler, and under him was Daniel Jackson, a lieutenant, who also commanded sometimes. Colonel St. John had the general command, and Keeler was the principal acting man under him. The Coast Guards were State troops, and enlisted for periods of one, two and three months at a time. They were called State guards. Captain Thomas commanded the Sloop that landed Saunders and his party when they captured Colonel St. John. This S. was the Refugee Lieut. Saunders and he might have commanded the party. [See N.B. 3. p. ] I was taken at the Norwalk Islands returning from a whale boat cruise. Captain James Quinbard commanded our boat. Some [margin: It would appear from certain testimony that it was Captain Hubbell who commanded the party that captured St. John. Information received from one Saunders, a loyalist. See p. 109 of original, and p. 108 of copy. J.E.] [page break] tory had probably informed of us, for on passing a narrow passage called Comstock Island Gut, we found a whale boat on each side and both fired mortally wounding one of our crew named Conklin. We then surrendered and were taken to Loyds Neck and to New York, and put on board the old Jersey Prison Ship, from which I afterwards escaped. It was the Sugar House in Liberty St. adjacent to the Mid. Dutch Church where Paulding and I were confined in 1780. He escaped with my assistance. I at his request attracted the attention of the sentry pointing with my father down the street while Paulding climbed up on a pile of boards which just enabled him to reach the fence between the Sugar House and the Church.