Some of them were Yager horse, and some, probably, belonged to the 17th Light Dragoons. The horses of most of the company were alike in color. They were the finest horses I ever saw. A party of Sheldon's (a reconnoitring party probably) came down from Salem by the Robbin's Mills road by Nathaniel (?) Purdy's within sight of our house. Tarleton's men were at dinner. They immediately turned out and pursued as far as Bedford, but though
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well mounted their horses were heavy, and Sheldon's party being mounted on light and fleet steeds escaped with the loss of one helmet. Anthony Miller went below to make his peace with General Howe where he got the smallpox and died in the provoost. Black rate which was (where the Ame- -ricans levied upon those of their neighbors who were neutrals) often enforced about the White Plains.
1846. November 21st Abraham Davis continued: - I am 80 years of age. Gilbert atfield of White Plains was a remarka- -bly powerful man and the Skinners stood in great awe of him. A party of them once attempted to rob him. One of them told him an officer wanted to speak with him, and was waiting near
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Daniel Horton's barn. He answered: "I don't believe it; but I'll go as far as that but no further." When they got there they were joined by two other Skinners, and began to ask whether he hadn't some money hid and asked where it was. He immediately, without waiting further, attacked and knocked or threw them all down and piling them upon each other returned home! John M. Fadian was a private in DeLancey's. The Purdy's, Nathaniel and Joseph, were whipped below. Persons, known to possess money, were whipped and tortured for it.