A few plunderers remained behind to take off what remained of our clothes My brother Samuel (a Lieutenant) was concealed between two beds and suffocated almost. He at last got his gun, went out and fired at them. This alarmed them, and an officer came back, struck the plunderers with the flat of his sword and made them give up the plunder They took off all our cattle but when my brother fired at them they abandoned the cattle. They then took the road towards Stanwich. This occurred in the last of the Revolutionary war.

Peace was declared the very next year. Our cattle were taken three different times and every time retaken.

They spared the torries when the Refugees came up, but plundered the whigs."

[Does not the foregoing account of the plundering excursion to Middle Patent towards the close of the war relate to Colonel Hatfield's foray of July 1st 1780? J. M. M.]

"Colonel Holmes insisted upon taking my father prisoner, notwithstanding all he could say, and sat down and wrote and gave him a parole requiring him to go down to Morrisania in ten days, but it being towards the end of the war he didn't go.

My brother, Samuel, was so bold

in advancing and firing upon them that they supposed there was a large force supporting him and following them, and they consequently retreated in haste. After the Refugees had left the room where he was concealed, - Samuel said: "I'll follow them!" We tried to stop him but he insisted upon our helping him out of the second story window to the ground. We then followed his directions. Took his hands and held on till he was ready to jump to the ground, then handed out his musket and cartridge box. When we endeavoured to dissuade him from the rash attempt, Samuel said: "I haven't the least fear of them and I'll have our cattle back."

After the Refugees had left the room where he was concealed, - Samuel said: "I'll follow them!" We tried to stop him but he insisted upon our helping him out of the second story window to the ground. We then followed his directions. Took his hands and held on till he was ready to jump to the ground, then handed out his musket and cartridge box. When we endeavoured to dissuade him from the rash attempt, Samuel said: "I haven't the least fear of them and I'll have our cattle back."